Zander Shine is fast making a name for himself within Electronic Music; emerging as an unmissable talent, working with top Artists like Robbie Rosen, he appears as a Producer and DJ to watch out for. So, as his reputation continues to grow, we’re thrilled to be sitting down with Zander Shine today to discover more about the talent that lies behind the decks.
Hey Zander Shine, how are you doing?
I’m doing pretty good, I’m just at home for the holidays right now enjoying time with my family and finishing up some music. Can’t wait to share it with you guys soon.
Let’s go back to the beginning – tell us, how did you first discover Electronic Music?
I can remember the very first time I started listening to Electronic Music. I must’ve been 10 years old, and I remember just loving the sound and the way these artists combined melodies with basslines and chords, it was just amazing. Obviously, I didn’t know what those things were at that point but I was enthralled by all the sounds that were nothing like the music my parents ever played.
Once I had access to XM radio, all I would ever listen to in my bedroom was BPM and Electric Area, I mean I always had that on any time I was home. Early on after I started listening to Electronic Music, I always knew it would be a dream come true to one day make my own music, I always had that in the back of my mind.
When did you start producing?
I really started getting serious about producing, with the intention of signing a record deal, about five years ago. I put everything I could into my composition, and it’s been a long journey but it’s very rewarding. I want to do this for the rest of my life and as long as I can.
You released your first track, ‘Don’t Hold On’, earlier this year, but can you remember the first track you ever produced? What was it like?
Oh absolutely, I remember it very clearly. The first track I ever produced was this piano House track I made and had gotten some vocals for. I have to laugh because I was so proud of myself and couldn’t wait to send it to this A&R guy I knew at Spinnin’ Records. I’m pretty sure the track wasn’t even fully mixed & mastered, I just sent it over and remember hearing back a few days later that they were going to pass on it. Man, have I learned a lot about the music industry since then.
If someone hadn’t heard any of your music, how would you describe your sound?
That’s a good question, I would say that my sound is still being developed since I don’t have a ton of releases out right now. But if I had to tell you one thing, it’s that I love to have bouncy basslines, recently I’ve been using a vocal stutter sitting in the back of the mix & I use a very specific lead in a lot of my tracks that I intend on using in the future so these elements might be more memorable down the road.
What was your first performance like? Can you remember where it was and what the crowd was like?
The first time I performed in front of people at a gig, I remember I wasn’t even going into the situation knowing that I was going to be playing a show. I had actually gone on vacation with my fiancée, and we were on an island together and whilst staying at the resort I became friends with the head of operations who was really into Electronic Music. I was showing him some of my stuff and he was asking questions like if I’d be open to playing a show, I laughed and agreeably said that I would love to. What I didn’t realize was that they actually had the equipment, so I ended up playing a party on the beach in front of maybe like 50 people for an hour or two and I was so nervous, but everything went pretty well and was a lot of fun.
What are the essential elements you consider when curating a live set?
For me, it really depends on where I’m playing the show, if I am playing at a nightclub then it’s going to be way different music than if I’m playing at a festival for instance, so I tend to look at the type of show that I’m going to be playing and base it off that.
How much of your live set would you say is impacted by the energy of a crowd and how do you adjust your set during a performance?
I would say that the crowd’s reaction plays a huge factor in determining the direction a set goes. I think one of the biggest things during a live set is reading the crowd and what they’re responding to the most and what they’re not, and once you figure that out, you’re gonna be able to control the crowd and energy in the room.
Which venue or city is next on your bucket list?
The first music festival I ever attended was Coachella, so returning to play there would be a huge bucket list moment.
What piece of advice would you give to a DJ who’s just starting their live performance journey?
One of the most foundational pieces of advice I could give to someone just beginning to play live shows would be to make sure they have a sizable and large enough library of music to change it up at any given moment. You want to make sure you have enough music to switch up the vibe if you’re reading the room and not getting the responses you were hoping for. Having the ability to switch it up and play something fresh is super important so building up a good music library is definitely well worth it.
As he continues developing an impressive signature sound, showcasing a talent for creating hard-hitting dancefloor anthems, Zander Shine is no doubt on a path to reaching more milestone successes. So, as we close out this interview, we thank him for his time and look forward to hearing more from this talented Producer and DJ soon.
Zander Shine Online
