STREAMING AUDIO INTERVIEW
It wouldn’t be stretching it to claim that UK trance trio Above & Beyond have stepped things up a notch since they last toured Australia in ‘06. Back then they were the established favourites of many a trance connoisseur, but when they return next month as a major part of Global Gathering’s debut jaunt in Australia, the righteous team of Jonathan Grant, Tony McGuinness and Paavo Siljamäki can claim status as global superstars that are edging up the DJ Mag Top 100 to challenge the likes of Tiesto, PVD and Armin van Buuren. If you can stomach a really cheesy play on words, you might even say they’re rising above and beyond.
“This year in particular, we played the biggest gig that we’ve ever done. We played to one million in Rio Di Janeiro on New Years Eve,” Tony McGuinness told ITM. Along with Jonathan Grant, he’ll be representing Above & Beyond when they hit the Global Gathering stages for a confirmed 3-hour set in late November. “It’s been a fairly eventful time while we’ve been away, but we’re looking forward to coming back.”
Above & Beyond might be smashing the clubs and festivals with their DJ performances, as well impressing fans with their consistently excellent work in the studio; but perhaps the most important reason why they’re so revered is the sterling work they’ve done with their Anjunabeats record label since its first deliciously sophisticated offerings began trickling out to the public in 2000. It’s a label that can take credit for introducing tunesmiths like Super 8 & Tab, Bart Claessen and Nitrous Oxide to the world, as well as for exposing the amazing talent of Australia’s own Jaytech through the Anjunadeep offshoot, a project that puts the spotlight on the deeper, more progressive side of the Above & Beyond sound.
“We’re very proud of the artists that we’ve got. Most of them we’ve grown from being unknown to being reasonably well known, as we’ve not really signed any existing superstar artists… We’re really happy that those people are growing with us, and growing with the label. It’s a really, really important part of what we do.”
There’s been endless speculation since their last tour on when Above & Beyond would return, but we ain’t got long to wait now. ITM’s Angus Paterson talks to the Tony McGuinness about the Anjunabeats empire, as well as the house party they’ll be playing for one lucky ITMer during their upcoming tour.
Above & Beyond’s Anjunabeats vol. 6 is out now through Stomp. You can feel the Anjunabeats love at the following shows across the country…
Sat Nov 22nd – Global Gathering, Melbourne
Sun Nov 23rd – Global Gathering, Perth
Sat Nov 29th – Foreshore, Canberra
Sat Nov 29th – Global Gathering, Brisbane
Sun Nov 30th – Global Gathering, Sydney
For all the latest on Global Gathering head to ITM’s festival page – inthemix.com.au/globalgathering.
trancejunkii says...
thank god they are not mentioned in nova - last thing we want is fluro boppers in that godskitchen arena, they can stick to their electro shite .... bring on global gathering 3 hours of pure heaven ;) !!!! TRANCCEEE AROUNNDD THE WORLLDDD!!!!
transdoubt says...
3 hours! cannnot wait!! still find it odd that above and beyond arent mentioned in the global gathering adds on nova, looking forward to them more than anyone else all summer!
skitzchik says...
probably because the majority of people that listen to Nova have no idea who they are!
fender09 says...
Some productions take years to finish off? No wonder they are so good!
spaso27 says...
Kik arse!!! wow!
StudioOne says...
Thank God the majority of people dont know who they are, as soon as anything becomes mainstream it ruins everything
trance-junkie says...
Ledgends in my books, anjunabeats has long been a massive favourite in my record collection.
HungryHippo says...
these guys are my favourite! i am wetting myself thinking about this one!!!!