Chris Agnelli and Robbie Nelson are known together, unsurprisingly, as Agnelli & Nelson, and have been a writing and producing team since 1997. Their massive trance classics ‘El Nino’ and ‘Everyday’ are known and loved world-wide and their commitment to the more melodic end of club trance has ensured a string of top thirty hits in the UK. I caught up with Chris over the Internet and ask him to tell us the story of how he and Robbie met and started making beautiful music together…
Well it’s a sweet love story, set in the rolling hills of Ireland…..Not really, to cut a long story short, Robbie had remixed one of my singles and I had remixed one of his. We both had a great respect for each other and decided to go in the studio and see what happened. The rest they say is history.
How has living in Ireland influenced your musical style? What are the best and worst things about the scene there?
It has been good for us to stay in Ireland; we can get right away from things over here and really work on the music. It was very hard at the start to get noticed, coming from Ireland though.
What is the state of trance worldwide in your opinion?
It’s in a really good state at the moment. I think the productions have gotten much better and everyone has raised their game somewhat. It did go through a bad patch a few years back, but I think it has come back really strong.
Your recent US tour has been postponed – have the strange regulations and legislation affecting dance music venues had an effect on your interaction there?
No, not really. The tour was cancelled due to reasons beyond our control. We are setting up another tour for late in the year.
Describe for us the sensation of having your tunes tagged “anthems” and how you feel when you see a dance-floor full of people enjoying them?
Its very strange, as they are our tracks and we know them inside out, so we don’t see them as ‘Anthems”, although we are aware that they are big club records. Seeing your track go off on a dance floor…best feeling in the world.
Your style’s been described as “Melodic, uplifting tech trance” – do you feel that’s an accurate description? How has your style evolved to this over time?
Yup, that pretty much sums it up. I still think we play just good records, styles; we don’t pay much attention to them.
What can Australian audiences expect from your upcoming tour?
Hopefully, just really good parties with great music and a great vibe…let’s kick off big style!!!
What are you looking forward to when you head down under?
We have always enjoyed playing Australia; they are really up for it. I also enjoy the good food and great wine!
You have residencies in a number of places around the world and have headlined at some of the biggest dance music festivals. Where’s your favourite place to play – where do audiences love your music best?
Our best ever gig was Gatecrasher in Melbourne. That to us is when trance became a global phenomenon was one moment in time that will stay with us forever. Playing all around the world, it still blows us away when you land in a country and people know our music. Don’t think I’ll get used to that.
What projects are you working on right now and with whom?
We are currently revamping our studio ready for the long winter here in Ireland…so loads of new stuff to come and maybe an album first half of next year.
You’ve worked on tracks from traditional rock artists like U2 right through to Ferry Corsten – what approach do you take when re-mixing tracks?
We have one simple rule… Make it up as we go along! Each remix is different, we look at the track and try and pull what we think is the best out of the track.
The “Crazy Frog” ringtone craze has taken over the world – any comments on its effect on the world of dance music?
Never mention that pile of shite on the same page as me.
What’s next in the world of Agnelli & Nelson?
World domination…or something…and then a rest.
Catch Chris and Robbie on their Australian tour at the following locations:
Rise (Perth) Friday 12th August
Gas – Trancetribe Experience (Sydney) Saturday 13th August
The Family (Brisbane) Friday 19th August
QBH (Melbourne) Saturday 20th August
