Coffee break with Nandu
At just 28 years old, he has already released three albums, dozens of tracks, and is proud to call himself a father and husband. Yet, he remains surprisingly low-profile and grounded. Some people were made to do something, and this seems to be the case with Danish wunderkind Nandu. We caught up with him to discuss how he started making music, how he lets his inspiration guide him and why his productions will always keep sounding different.
Who is Nandu?
Father, Husband, Producer, Dj, 28 year old, from Copenhagen.
How did you choose Nandu as a name?
Nothing deep lies behind the choice. I was brainstorming for a name, and I thought it sounded good, + it’s easy to say in most languages.
You’ve already released three albums, do you have one that feels more special?
For me, writing an EP is often about making music that works well in a club. But when writing an album, it is storytelling. So, my albums kind of reflect the certain period of my life I was in while writing them. To me they are all special. In each one of them the style and the theme is different, and you can also hear my personal journey as a musician.
Who or what has been the biggest influence on your music?
I’ve been playing music since I was a kid, and I always listened to a lot of different kinds of music. I was asked this question a lot, and I actually answer something different every time. But with time I started to realize that music is universal and comes in many different approaches. That music is a space, and within this space you are free to do whatever you want to do. So, to answer the question, music is where I can sum up all the influences in my life.
You’ve been the resident for Culture Box in Copenhagen. How did this come about, and how important has it been for your career?
Culture Box was one of the first venues I ever played in (it was back in 2010). This is where I came every weekend for many years to experience new music and to be with friends. I played more and more often there over time, and my relationship with the guys from the club lead to me also doing bookings there. Doing warmup, headlining and closing, this place ended up being where I learned to be a good DJ. I can definitely say that this place played an essential role in my career.
What’s your most valuable piece of production gear?
I always played music, and one thing I learned is that it’s not a matter of gear, it’s a matter of inspiration. Whether you get inspired by big modular systems or simple VST’s doesn’t matter. If I had to choose one thing I would say my computer with a few inputs and a mic. It is already enough.
In general, your sound is quite chameleonic, and sometimes very hard to define! Is this something you do on purpose? Especially nowadays, where it’s so easy to make music and access to tools is becoming easier and easier, how do you manage to maintain your identity throughout all your productions?
For me producing music is about expression. Many people told me that I should not do music that sounds different and try to be more regular instead. But this is not possible for me. That’s also why producing for someone is not something I like to do. I get bored. This sounds very cliché, but I need to be able to produce the music that comes to me when in the studio. This is why my music isn’t always easy to identify.
You’ve had a prolific year so far, with eight releases under your belt. Is there one for which you received particular attention, where you thought “Ok, this is special”?
I’m very proud of my Exit Strategy EP. Some of the tracks are a bit weird to say the least, but people seemed to like it anyway.
How do you spend your time when you’re not producing or playing?
I’m very much a family man and love to be around people. So almost never alone :). And I love cooking, so I often meet with friends for dinner at our place.
What’s your ideal slot to play in a club?
Warmup!
What track never leaves your USB stick?
At the moment: Ivory – Hold Your Breath
How do you like your coffee?
Would love to say espresso, but it’s a lie. I’m a caffè latte kind of guy.
What track would you play to surprise people?
Bagarre - Le gouffre (Yan Wagner Belgian Trip)
What should we expect from Nandu in the future?
A lot of new music coming soon, next one is an EP on Sum Over Histories at the end of the year.