Exclusive interview: New Dance Music Friday with Nico de Andrea

We proudly present the New Dance Music Friday feature, your weekly update on all newly released dance tracks, brought together on one amazing playlist. Featured this week (among many others): Nico de Andrea! He's releasing his new single 'The Shape' today, and talks about the creation of it in this exclusive interview.

Hey, you just released your new single 'The Shape'. How did you create this?
"'The Shape' is actually a rework of one of my all time favorite song from Sting named 'The Shape of my Heart', a track that is also the song of an iconic french movie 'LEON' with Jean Reno and Nathalie Portman directed by Luc Besson.

The lyrics are really powerful, the guitar is really emotional so the main idea was to rediscover the song for a new generation and to mix it with electronic music. In the meantime I had to be really careful about keeping the beauty of the original song.

I used some live afro percussion, atmospheric vocals, strings and pianos to be as much organic as possible in the selection of the instruments. I didn't use too much effects, snares or buildups, I really wanted the people to focus on the song and the lyrics, more than on a classic club vision."

What does this record say about your musical evolution as an artist?
"It's definitely a pop track, which is something brand new for me. To be really honest I didn't expect this version to be officially released. It was only something I made for my pleasure, listening to it at home or eventually closing my DJ set with.

I had a lot of good reactions when I played it to my friends, and got to a point that I started to think about an alias and start a side project with deeper and emotional music. But I have to say that the market has changed in a way that you don't necessarily have to play the music you produce in clubs. DJ Snake for example is making super girly pop tracks with Justin Bieber and he still plays super aggressive trap music on stage. I want to experience more and more different genres of music without any limits of arrangements and BPMs. I will come with some new music shortly from disco to pop, from afro to techno."

The track is featured on Spinnin’s New Dance Music Friday playlist on Spotify, Apple Music and Deezer. How important is streaming to you?
"People have changed their way of consuming music. DJs used to be super focused on their results on the DJ platforms, now they reach for plays on Spotify. It's clear that you have to adapt the format of music to something more 'listenable' than 'playable'.

What's important for me in making music is the amazing possibility to share your passion with the biggest amount of people around the world. Streaming was a big chance for electronic music to enter every house. In my opinion, I'm way more excited to know that people from every generation are listening to my songs in their kitchen or in their cars better than played in clubs. It's a new approach and it changed everything."

Which recently released dance tracks should definitely be added to New Dance Music Friday?

1/ Calvin Harris, Dua Lipa - 'One Kiss'

2/ Armand Van Helden - 'I Need a Painkiller' (MK Remix)

3/ Clean Bandit, Julia Michaels - 'Miss You' (Kryder Remix)

4) ZHU - 'My Life'

5) Michael Calfan - 'On You'

6) Duke Dumont - 'Inhale'

7) Boston Bun - 'Missing You'

8) CID - 'Bad For Me'

9) Jack Wins feat Caitlyn Scarlett - 'Freewheelin' (Nico de Andrea Remix)

10) Vladimir Cauchemar - 'Aulos'

11) Ferreck Dawn, Robosonic - 'In Arms'

12) Marshmellow, Anne Marie - 'Friends' (Borgeous Remix)

13) Creange - 'Day By Day'

14) Years & Years - 'Sanctify' (Michael Calfan Remix)

15) Arlissa and Jonas Blue - 'Hearts Ain't Gonna Lie' (Eden Prince Remix)

[Please note this playlist will change a week after this post]

Listen to New Dance Music Friday on Apple Music and Deezer