Andy Tomlinson / YANT.

YANT is a Manchester-based techno DJ and producer, he studied Sound Engineering & Design at Spirit Studios and graduated in 2019. Since first discovering electronic music as a teenager, he has built an international reputation for his atmospheric and hypnotic techno sound, performing at world-renowned clubs including Berghain and Bassiani. YANT continues to shape his sound while also teaching the next generation of producers.

In this interview, he reflects on his journey from bedroom producer to international DJ and shares his advice for current Spirit students.

What inspired you to get into the music industry?

Well, I started producing electronic music when I was about 15. I’ve always been intrigued by how things are created which led me into making music. I started out working my way around the different types of software and watching online tutorials. But after a couple of years, I really took an interest in the technical aspects of producing. I started to experiment more and look for important connections in the industry

What made you choose to study in Manchester?

I’ve always loved Manchester since coming here as a kid. It’s always been special to me and felt like such a big and exciting place with a huge music scene. 

I obviously chose Spirit Studios for it’s music history.

I’m from a very small town but luckily I had some friends who were slightly older than us who were running music events in my area. I always wanted to see a lot of the artists that were from Manchester so that’s inspired me to want to move here.

Since graduating from Spirit, how has your career evolved from your early days as a DJ to where you are now?

I would say a lot has happened since then, it has been 7 years since I graduated. I have released multiple records, I have had so many incredible very rewarding experiences and memories playing as a DJ, while travelling and experiencing culture in different parts of the world.

I have played in many different countries, and some of the best setups in the world which is something I am very grateful to have had the opportunity to do. You have to take in and cherish those moments as you go, as you never know if you will be able to go back.

Alongside travelling to play gigs, I started teaching not long after leaving Spirit Studios. I have been teaching 1 to 1 music production lessons which I find very rewarding to pass knowledge onto others and see students progress, it’s nice to be a part of their journey.

Something I have noticed since teaching is that everybody is different, people learn differently, and people have different goals, different intentions, or different ideas of success.

It is important to follow that and for me to be flexible to what each student needs. Additionally, sharing a studio with friends has been a source of inspiration, collaboration, and a place I can work for mixing or mastering music for others.

Could you tell us a bit more teaching music production lessons?

I have over 16 years of production experience which is over half of my life. Going through this, collaborating with others, releasing records, playing gigs, running events, and working in the industry in different ways has allowed me to experience a lot.

My lessons can focus on any topic, often people come for new creative ideas, workflows, learning sound design, beat programming, processing sounds, adding character, mixdowns. We can also go into talking about how to create concepts for the music, or how to package and release music. It really is open, which is the beauty of doing 1 to 1 lessons.

Looking back at your time at Spirit Studios, what did you enjoy the most about it?

I think for me, it was a lot of the connections, people and friends I met and engaged with, from a lot of different walks of life.

But also, doing a lot of the projects which maybe you wouldn’t get to experience otherwise just from home. I came from just producing in my bedroom whereas here there is a lot of equipment, a lot of opportunity, to be able to record bands live, or visit real studios or work with amazing industry standard equipment and to be shown by some of the best in the business. It was really amazing.

What advice do you have for first years at Spirit Studios?

Definitely make the most out of the access to the equipment here. When you leave Spirit you realise how much access you have to such amazing facilities and it’s definitely something that you will regret when you leave if you don’t take full advantage of that.

Use the equipment as much as possible and really get an understanding of how you can use them in your productions by the time that you leave.

How do you approach producing music now compared to when you first started?

My workflow has changed a lot, and will forever change. You never stop learning with music. I am constantly exploring new workflows, techniques, and methods which results in my sound evolving as a musician. I think this is what fuels the passion and gives me the urge to keep creating.

Along the way I have come across depressing periods of writers block, especially during the pandemic, however going through those moments forced me to explore new ways to be creative stay inspired. A lot of focus on mindset and approach to the process is important. I also have found it helpful to attach concepts or stories to my music, whether this is before starting a project, or during the project when you gain some foresight.

Music can be a challenging industry at times, what keeps you motivated to keep creating?

It is something so deeply attached to me at this point, when I spend too long without it there is an urge which forces me to create. I can’t spend long without creating, and honestly it has been like this for a long time now. I just have to trust that I am on the right path and can make it work.

At this point I am very aware that there are a lot of ups and downs in the industry. It is also the thing I am most passionate about, so I have a lot more energy for it than anything else I would be doing.

What’s a standout moment in your career so far?

My standout moments have to be playing in berghain and bassiani.

I played the closing set in Bassiani (2024) and the sound quality there is something else. It was great to see the Georgians dancing on the dance floor as they are releasing from some politics that’s going on in their country at the moment, so that was great to experience. 

Are there any inspirations to your sound at the moment? 

There’s so many. I’m always listening to a lot of different music, not only from techno which is the prominent scene that I’m involved in but also a lot of drum and bass and jazz.

I would say Oscar Mulero and DVS1 are some of my biggest inspirations. DVS1 follows a loopy and minimalist style to build an atmosphere which I really love. Every time I see him he continues to amaze me. Luckily, I had the chance to have a quick chat with him in Spacehall Record store during a trip to Berlin.

I’d also say Ed Rush & Optical’s Wormhole Album is still to this day one of my favourite drum & bass albums because of its raw, creepy and distorted analogue sound. As far as production goes, I’d say the sci-fi sound Luke Slater creates has really influenced my sound. I’m yet to hear one of his tracks that hasn’t gone down as a Techno classic.

What piece of equipment or software do you rely on the most when creating music?

Having a fancy expensive setup is absolutely not necessary and often just creates excuses or distractions from finishing music.

Ableton Live 12 Suite, is currently the DAW I am using. It is the most important part of the studio. Also an appropriate set of monitors by Focal + headphones from Phonon and a second set by Beyerdynamic.

Around that, I have access to synthesisers, drum machines, and samplers, which I have more recently been recording material from, however it is always being processed in some way within Ableton still. The majority of my music so far has been made solely in Ableton.

What advice would you give to others hoping to build a career in electronic music?

Be patient,
work on your craft,
send music to others,
go out to gigs,
build a community of music friends,
build your confidence by doing things out of your comfort zone,
dont compare yourself to others as everyone is on their own path.

There will always be peaks and troughs in your career, the most important reason to do it is to enjoy it.

Where can we find out more about you and your work?

You can check me out on my socials at @Yant_dj.

Check out my releases and mixes on Soundcloud and Audius.