Dimitri Andreas's Five Underground Influences

‍With a career rooted deep in Belgium’s electronic underground, Dimitri Andreas has spent years developing a sound that moves between hypnotic techno, deep house, melodic electronics and jungle-infused textures. From early releases on Music Man and Systematic Recordings to appearances at Tomorrowland, Dour Festival and I Love Techno, his musical journey has always been driven by a curiosity that extends beyond the straightforward dancefloor.

As Dimitri returns with Pelican, his first major solo release in years, we asked him to look back at five artists who have left a lasting impression on his musical approach. From hypnotic rhythms and minimal tension to cinematic atmosphere, intricate sound design and playful experimentation, these are the underground influences that continue to shape the way Dimitri Andreas hears and makes music.

Oliver Ho

Oliver Ho has been a big influence on me for many years. What I find particularly interesting is the way he uses voices and vocal snippets in loops, something that really stood out to me in his productions, especially from the late 90s and early 2000s. He also has a very organic choice of percussion. The way his rhythms pull the music forward and create this hypnotic, mysterious feeling is something that is still very much part of my inspiration today. There is something very instinctive and physical about the way he approaches rhythm, while still leaving space for atmosphere, tension and unexpected details.

Mathew Jonson

Mathew Jonson had a huge influence on me during the minimal movement. I was fascinated by his ability to create so much tension and character with seemingly very little. His music can be minimalistic, strange, hypnotic and surprisingly emotional at the same time. What I particularly admire is that he seemed to deliberately move away from the atmosphere and aesthetics that many other producers were creating at the time. He created his own strange, distinctive world - and managed to make a huge number of people connect with it. That combination of being completely individual while still reaching a very large audience is something I find very admirable.

Stimming

Stimming is a master producer and someone I really look up to. What I love is his incredibly musical way of producing and arranging tracks. His productions are full of detail, but never feel like a collection of sounds thrown together. He has a very unique way of making rhythms pull, swing and interact with each other. There is always a lot happening, but it feels very natural. I also admire that his music can be danceable and work on a DJ floor, while clearly wanting to be something more than just a DJ tool. That is something I recognize in my own approach as well: I like making music that can be played by DJs, but sometimes the music itself takes me somewhere that makes it less straightforward to fit into an average DJ set.‍

Mulatu Astatke

Mulatu Astatke is a completely different kind of influence for me. It is mainly the atmosphere of his music that really gets me. Wow. I immediately imagine some strange underground café or a hidden bar somewhere in Egypt, with a few musicians playing this mysterious music late at night. There is something cinematic, timeless and slightly surreal about it. His combination of Ethiopian music, jazz and African rhythms creates such a strong sense of place. I love music that can transport you somewhere without needing to explain where you are.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxEjBw69ce0&list=RDWy-v-FgiUD8&index=6

Robag Wruhme

For me, Robag Wruhme is one of the most interesting producers in the underground electronic scene today. I’m fascinated by how he combines countless small ideas, sounds and details into a rich, coherent musical universe. His tracks reveal something new with every listen, while always maintaining their groove and identity.

He creates a mysterious tension without losing the dancefloor appeal. His music is full of character, unexpected sounds and playful experimentation, it goes beyond simply being functional DJ tools. That balance between danceability, personality, sound design and musical depth is something I really connect with.

Buy Dimitri Andreas - Pelican HERE

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