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Interview with
SGT SLICK

(20th June, 2021)

Interviewer – Dave Bruce

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Melbourne based producer and DJ Andy Ramanauskas has been a solid fixture behind the decks and on dance music charts and radio for the better part of 20 years. He has a huge list of achievements under his production aliases “Sgt Slick and “L’TRIC”, including ARIA and APRA Awards and nominations, US Billboard, UK Music Week, ARIA, Traxsource and Beatport # 1 Records, and a string of successful music releases and collaborations with the likes of Kaskade, Chuckie and Robbie Rivera to his name. His original music has been released on many of the world’s biggest labels, including Spinnin’, Ultra, Positiva, Island / Def Jam and Capitol Records, whilst on Spotify his music reaches over a million listeners every month. Andy’s career as a producer has opened doors to gigs and shows all across Australia and Asia, and also led to a 7 year relocation to the USA which included high profile gigs and residencies from Los Angeles to New York City, Las Vegas to San Francisco, Boston to Atlantic City and beyond. Andy has always kept his ear to the ground and an eye on exactly what is required to keep a party and a production moving from start to finish. Armed with a continuous and consistent delivery of club hits and remixes, he also produced the massive crossover radio hit and ABBA cover, “Gimme, Gimme, Gimme” in 2020… a track which is still filling dance floors in 2021 and one which has seen The Sarge headlining the nation’s biggest clubs and events week after week since. He has graced the cover of Spotify’s esteemed “New Dance Beats” playlist 3 times, is ranked # 6 on Beatport’s highest sellers of 2021 in the ‘Nu Disco’ genre, and reached the # 1 position on Shazam’s Discovery Australia Chart! His latest release, ‘The Night’ is already making moves with tastemaker DJs around the globe, and is due for release on revered Australian dance music label ‘Vicious Recordings’.

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Have you always wanted to work in music? When did you get the song writing bug?
Yes, I was a massive music fan growing up and always knew I wanted to be involved in it professionally but didn’t know in what capacity.. until I saw the music video of a track called “Doctorin’ The House” by Coldcut. That’s what really steered me onto the path of being a DJ and producer.

How would you describe your sound? Why do you think people resonate with your music?
It definitely has an old skool / retro feel to it due to the way I use samples and the vintage drum and instrument sounds I favour, but also very modern with the studio tricks and techniques that I have honed over the years.

Which artist’s music and/or performance, past or present, inspires you today?
Starting out it was New Order, Daft Punk, Armand van Helden and a lot of the big remixers from the mid – late 80s like Shep Pettibone, Jellybean Benitez, Francois K etc.

Your new Single: ‘The Night’ just got released. Describe its origin and evolution.
It’s based on a sample from a Cyndi Lauper album track called ‘Through the Night.’ It’s a really chill track but with a massive powerful chorus, which is the part I used.

Is there an EP or Album on the drawing board?
No I like to work more on singles. As a DJ I’m basically trying to make music I can play out, so the concept of album tracks or music just purely for listening to doesn’t really equate with what I do.

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Any tours or events coming up soon? What are you looking forward to, and what can the fans expect?Yes I play around the country regularly. Obviously with recent events (lockdown / border closures)  I’ve lost quite a few gigs, and even a week out sometimes you are unsure of whether you’ll be able to get on a plane. Best to keep an eye on my socials as everything is updated there.

If you could perform with any music artist, Alive or Dead, who would you choose? And why?
If I could share a bill with Larry Levan (RIP) I would be a happy man just to be able to have seen him play.

Do you have any long-term aspirations as a music artist?
Just to keep learning, keep improving my skills and to keep working with people who share the same passion and work ethic.

What is the best thing about performing to a live audience? What’s been the career highlight so far?Getting a great reaction to something you have produced is the best feeling ever!

Finally, a few questions for some quick answers –
FAVOURITE:
Album – Daft Punk – Homework 
Artist – New Order
Movie – Heat
Place to visit – Palm Springs 
Venue to play – Sound LA 
Food – Mexican 
Drink – Tequila 
Person in History –  Giorgio Moroder
Tattoo – (If you don’t have one, what would you get?)  Never

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Follow SGT SLICK
Instagram – Facebook – Spotify

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AMNPLIFY – DB