AnD on Authenticity, Creative Rebirth and Staying True Beyond Trends
- Undrtone Blog
- Aug 3
- 4 min read
AnD has never followed the traditional path to success. Long before social media metrics and viral moments became part of electronic music, the Greek born artist built his career through persistence, experimentation and a complete dedication to the craft.
From early influences in Greece to finding his home in Manchester, his journey has taken him through every stage of electronic music's evolution. Vinyl culture, digital releases, streaming and the current algorithm driven landscape have all shaped the industry around him, but AnD's approach has remained consistent: make music that feels honest.
Now entering what he describes as a creative rebirth, with new material arriving through his AnD Records and AnD HARD imprints alongside a fully hardware driven live show, the focus is once again on pushing himself creatively rather than looking outward.
"I've never built my career around what was popular. I built it around what felt honest," explains AnD. "Every record I've released has been made because I believed in it, not because I thought it would fit the moment."
That mindset has carried him through nearly three decades in electronic music. While trends have shifted and scenes have changed, AnD believes passion remains the one constant.
"Music has cost me relationships, sleep, comfort and certainty, but it's also given me a life I could never have imagined. I always say I'm married to music because that's exactly how it feels. Trends disappear, algorithms change, but passion doesn't."
That same philosophy has shaped his current chapter. Rather than trying to reinvent himself for a changing scene, AnD describes his recent evolution as a return to his core identity.
"The rebirth happened when I stopped looking sideways and started looking inward again," he says. "After so many years you realise your greatest strength is simply being yourself."
Years spent working across different areas of sound, from club music to film and television scoring, have all contributed to this version of AnD. Those experiences have expanded his approach to production, bringing more emotion, storytelling and contrast into his techno.
"Film scoring taught me that silence can be just as powerful as sound, and that tension is often more important than volume," he explains. "Even my hardest tracks are built like stories, with movement, emotion and contrast. I want people to feel something as well as dance."
That wider perspective comes from a lifetime of varied musical influences. Before electronic music became his focus, AnD was surrounded by everything from his father's pirate radio broadcasts to classical instruments, rock and experimental sounds.
"My father introduced me to music before I could even understand what it was. I still remember running around clubs as a little kid while he DJed," he says.
"Later Sepultura showed me raw power and intensity, while Muslimgauze completely changed the way I thought about electronic music. He taught me that music can have philosophy, identity and purpose."
That search for individuality remains central to his work today, both as an artist and through his labels. Running AnD Records, AnD HARD and Groove Generator has given him a closer view of the wider scene and what separates memorable artists from the rest.
"I always look for personality first," he says. "Technical perfection is easier to achieve than ever before, but genuine individuality is much rarer."
For AnD, originality comes from developing your own language rather than replicating what is already successful.
"I don't want to hear someone's version of what's already successful. I want to hear something that could only have been made by that person."
After more than twenty years living in Manchester, the city remains an important part of his creative identity. Arriving with little more than a suitcase and an idea, he found a place that matched his own values.
"I arrived with one suitcase and one backpack, chasing an idea more than a plan," he recalls. "The city has an honesty that I connect with. People respect hard work here."
That same authenticity carries into his live performances. Moving away from traditional DJ setups, AnD's hardware driven shows embrace unpredictability, allowing every performance to develop differently in the moment.
"Hardware forces you to live in the moment because everything is improvised on the spot," he explains. "Every decision matters because it's happening in real time. There are risks, imperfections and moments of magic that simply can't be programmed."
Looking ahead, AnD remains driven by the same curiosity that started his journey. Despite everything he has achieved, the desire to keep learning and evolving is still what pushes him forward.
"I still believe the best track I've ever made is waiting to be written," he says.
"If people remember me as someone who stayed authentic, never chased trends and never stopped learning, then I'll be happy."
As AnD continues into this next chapter, his story is a reminder that lasting careers in electronic music are built through patience, identity and a commitment to the craft. The landscape will continue to change, but his approach remains the same: create honestly, keep evolving and never lose sight of why the music started in the first place.
