Andy Votel

Andy Votel knows what's going on. Pre-empting every good new sound or scene Votel manages to stay two miles ahead of the competition. From international artist with XL Recordings to label boss and visionary A&R for "the UK's coolest label" to award-winning graphic designer and film-maker. Still only 24 years old he is master of all trades jack of none.

Spending his teenage years providing beats and rhymes in various Northern England hip hop crews and playing warm up slots as DJ in the odd Manchester club and bar, Andy Votel quickly developed into a familiar face on the underground scene bringing him, along with his old-time partner in crime Rick Myers, a remix for the up and coming fellow Stockport oddbod Mr Scruff. This soon led to the recording of a handful of solo projects for Grand Central (for whom he incidentally does all the design work) including a cover of Black Sabbath's "Hand Of Doom", a stand out track on their highly acclaimed Central Heating compilation.

Described as "a leading light in abstract electronica" at last years In The City event, Andy's unique psyche cinematic soundscapes have brought a wide range of remix and production work to his doorstep. Credits include Texas, Quannum, Ian Brown, Badly Drawn Boy and a whole bunch of up and coming artists who with the help of Votel's Midas touch will make it.

Andy has learnt his DJ skills with a history of acclaimed residences in the North. These include Headfunk, Eardrum, Frying the Fat, Electric Chair and Rock'n'Roll Bar and Missing Link. Votel always rocks the dancefloor from Glastonbury to Geneva. His ability to educate and entertain in equal measures has seen Andy play to a number of European audiences with Ear to the Ground, Fat City and Twisted Nerve.

Aside from djing, designing, promoting clubs, and most importantly making music, Andy also set up the ubiquitous Twisted Nerve Records, which he founded two years ago with Badly Drawn Boy. Indeed it was Andy who discovered BDB alongside new hopes Alfie, Dakota Oak Trio and Mum & Dad. Twisted Nerve with its unique art direction c/o Votel, freakish one-off events and quirky sense of humour has seen it become the most exclusive label in the UK. Major labels have fallen over themselves to get their chequebooks out and early singles are circulating for obscene amounts of money.

As a result of three years travelling, touring, running the label and remixing and producing, Andy Votel finally pools his influences and commits his long-awaited solo return to disc. Styles of the Unexpected, Votel's debut mini-LP for Twisted Nerve/XL Recordings/The Beggars Group features collaborations with fellow Twisted Nerve folksters Alfie and veteran manc. singer/songwriter, girlfriend Jane Weaver. The album encompasses a wide variety of influences such as surf-rock, electronica, hip-hop, french-pop, cinematic themes and post-rock; and provides a further insight into exactly what Votel and Twisted Nerve aim to achieve as a creative platform for modern music.

With his track record of pushing tired and traditional themes in exciting new ways you better keep an eye out for it.