Andy Vaz hails from Düsseldorf, Germany, the breeding ground of Kraftwerk. Since 1997, Andy manages and curates Background Recordings, internationally acclaimed as being one of the most instrumental labels to concentrate on what people refer to as: minimal techno.

Long before Minimal Techno turned into a genre, and subgenre after subgenre were invented, Andy has already been concentrating on providing a cultural conduit for true minimal electronic music. Some of the most influential international musicians of the minimal electronic music movement had their works presented on his Background Imprint. Artists such as:  Akufen, Sutekh, Jan Jelinek, Todd Sines, Terrence Dixon, Jeff Milligan, Submania,  Rhythm Maker, Kit Clayton, Ectomorph, Deadbeat, Baby Ford, Stewart Walker, Donnacha Costello, Geoff White, Smyglyssna, Portable,  Frivolous and many others have graced the Background stage. The Label has been a major force in the presentation of minimal techno, introducing and educating the world to the geographic variable influences that exist within the genre.

As the years have passed, house music and techno have fused, segregated, split and recombined in countless ways. Both techno and house have drawn influences from one another to create hybrids that have changed the face of music as we know it. Andy could not ignore his undeniable appreciation for house music  and therefore, decided to start a second label in order to help facilitate the growing relationship between global deep house and minimal techno: “A touch of Class “ was born.

In 2000, Andy Vaz has released his own material. At first he started his Sound Variation [---] series. A set of 10 conceptual releases, where all works were defined by the criteria of re-use, recycling of same instrumentations, within the context of boundless compositional approaches. Free Jazz was the teacher.

Next to the series Andy Vaz also started putting out minimal techno & deep house dance material. Music, that is focused on the Groove and is based on his rich experiences as an internationally rewarded Live Act. Apart from having played countless clubs, festivals and venues, he’s done everything from the legendary “Liquid Room” in Tokyo to the Mutek Festival in Mexico. Andy has build up an excellent reputation as a crowd shaking and unique sounding live act. Known for extended two hour dance live-sets to more abstract listening performances Andy proves to be diverse and suitable in various musical contexts.

In march 2007 Vaz launched a new label called “YORE”, which will focus on the authentic old school Detroit & Chicago House Sound with original artists such as  Rick Wade, Chez Damier, Terrence Dixon, Todd Sines, Alton Miller and others,  presenting a new platform for these artists as well as for himself, to ensure  spreading his musical visions further to new audiences. In 2010 Andy strated his own online Radio-show “House of Hope”. Later in 2011 he released his critically acclaimed second full lenght artist Album “Straight Vacationing” which turned out to be a major success worldwide.

Download the Biography of Andy Vaz as PDF File

Download Andy Vaz Press Kit

SOUNDVARIATION:

Sound Variation 1-1 (red)
Sound Variation 2-2 (green)
Sound Variation 3-3 (blue)
Sound Variation 4-4 (yellow)
Sound Variation 6-6 (orange)
Sound Variation 7-7 (green)
Sound Variation 8-8 (dark blue)
Sound Variation 9-9 (pink)

Live in Tokyo CD (1-1)

YORE RECORDS

Humanization (YRE-004)
Andy Vaz vs. Patrice Scott – Split EP (YRE-009)
Andy Vaz fet. Alton Miller – Different Hours Revisited (YRE-001LTD)
Andy Vaz feat. Alton Miller – Different Hours Revisited (YRE-012.5)
Different Times (YRE-012)
Shadow City EP (YRE-021)
Straight Vacationing (YRE-028)
7″ches of Straight Vacationing Part II (YRE-000.1/7″)

OTHER LABELS:

Shrinking Cities (Telegraph 016, FR)
First Aid Course (BIT-001 /12″)
People inside/- outside ep (VAZBIT-007 / 12″)
Live in Detroit (VAZBIT-008 CD)
Repetitive moments last forever LP/CD (VAZBIT-009 CD/2×12″)
Lost and Recovered Data EP (VAZBIT-010 / 12″)
Way back when EP (VAZBIT-012 / 12”)
Endings & Beginnings (VAZBIT-013 / 12”)
Moontalk Protection EP (Telegraph 031)
Andy Vaz feat. Eva Soul– Feelin’ – incl. Norm Talley Remix (Soiree Records)
Andy Vaz feat. Niko Marks – Don’t lose your Mind (Delsin Records)
Andy Vaz – Imaginary Beings (Chiwax)

REMIXES:

Pan/tone – No Pacos Remix –  “urban new calm” (BipHop)
dB  City of Dreams (Andy Vaz Remix)  - Troon ep (Background 044/ 12″)
James Din A4 – Untitled Andy Vaz Remix  (Esel 032)
Terrence Dixon – Lost Andy Vaz Remix (YRE-003)

TRACKS APPEAR ON:

Potlatch EP (12″, EP) White X Variation
Bruchstuecke

Futuristic Experiments #006 (CD, Comp)  Last Minute Variation
Background

Futuristic Experiments #006 (2xLP, Comp) Last Minute Variation
Background

Microfunk Klickhouse (2xCD)  Sound Variation
Neuton

What Was It Like Before I Got Into Electricity (2xLP) Variation
Süd Electronic

What Was It Like Before I Got Into Electricity (CD)  Variation
Süd Electronic

Quartett E.P. (12″, EP)  Glitchbitch
Level Records

The Essential Blank Dirty Grind (CD, Comp) Hardboiled Wonderland
Blank Records

The Essential Blank Dirty Grind EP 1 (12″)  Hardboiled Wonderland
Blank Records

Minimarista (Background Compilation) (CD, Comp)  Last Minute Variation …
Ward Records

Background Records 050 We’re Not Gonna Diss Y
Background

Background Records 050 (CD)  We’re Not Gonna Diss Y.
Background

The International Collection Vol. 1 Germany (CD, Comp) Mild October Days
International DJ Magazine

Monazite (CD, Comp)  I’m Only
Lantern

The Sound Of Cologne Vol.4 (3xCD, Comp) Deep Protection
Sound Of Cologne Records

Werkbund 1 (12″) Untitled  Funkfahrt
Rhythm Architecture

KÖLN I (12″, EP) Only
Ava. Records

REMIXED BY:

Andy Vaz Remixes (VAZBIT-011 / 12”)
by Farben (Jan Jelinek), Anthony Shake Shakir, Krikor, Mapstation

Andy Vaz – Sound Variation 5-5 (purple)
by Frivolous, Jeff Milligan, Portable, Smyglyssna, Geoff White, Dean Decosta, Klunder, dB

Andy Vaz – Sound Variation 10-10 (black)
by Oliver Hacke, James Din a4, Further Details, Jeff Milligan

Andy Vaz – Different Times / You Got Remixes (YRE-016)
by Trus me, Rick Wade, Lerosa, .Xtrak

Download the Discography of Andy Vaz as PDF File

Pictures by Alfred Jansen / Download the set of pictures in high resolution -> here

2013

7″ of Straight Vacationing Part II TEXTURA (CANADA)
7″ of Straight Vacationing Part II JEKYLL & HYDE (FRANCE)
7″ of Straight Vacationing Part II 5 MAGAZINE (CHICAGO/US) (DE)
Imaginary Beings (Chiwax-06) GROOVE MAGAZIN (DE)
Imaginary Beings (Chiwax-06) DIGITALDISGO BLOG(DE)