In just a few years, Endor has risen through the ranks of the scene to become a champion of the underground and one of the most exciting electronic artists out there. Best known for his all-conquering ‘Pump It Up’ – arguably the biggest house record of 2019 and currently sitting at over 75 million streams worldwide – Endor has also released on labels ranging from This Ain’t Bristol and Simma Black to Warner Music and Island Records, making an incredible impact on the scene in a short space of time.
2020 sees Endor building on the success of what was a whirlwind 12 months. If you’re yet to become acquainted with this talented artist, now’s the time to start. Check out the conversation we had with him about his most recent plans at this particular moment in history.
Electronic Groove: Hey, Endor, hope you are well and safe! Where are you right now and where have you spent the quarantine days?
Endor: I’m at home in a little town just outside of Brighton, United Kingdom.
EG: What kind of activities have you been doing during this period?
Endor: A lot of music-making. Yesterday I broke out the dusty Technics 1210s from the loft and I’m re-learning how to mix on vinyl. Also been sawing up bits of wood to make a camera rig for Livestream. Those are coming soon!
EG: Your track ‘Pump It Up’ reached the top of the worldwide charts with over 50 million streams and counting, did you expect this kind of response?
Endor: I wasn’t expecting it at all! It was completely out of the blue. Even now I have to pinch myself ever so often when I think about everything that’s happened over the last 12 months.
EG: What was the inspiration to produce this track?
Endor: I was looking for something to play in sets that would really stir up a dancefloor. Something that could be my secret weapon. I guess it’s still my weapon but it ain’t so secret anymore.
“Make as many tunes as possible. The minute you finish one track, get on to the next. You’ll learn much more than
if you obsess over one track”
EG: Defected Records recently released two new remixes, Low Steppa and Jax, what are your thoughts about the new versions?
Endor: I love them! Two producers that I respect massively, both have done a great job. Low Steppa was always an inspiration to me when I came into the scene. I remember we played together in Belgium at the start of my career. I was in awe of how fast that guy can put away Gin & Tonics. Nowadays we’ve been on the road together so much that we’re pals, so the fact that he’s remixed the tune is very fitting.
As for Jax, he’s a banger machine! We got chatting when he was working on the remix and he sent me an early version. It was perfect as it was, but we joked about how it would be cool to replace the entire vocal with a gospel choir. Unfortunately, he was set to fly off on holiday the next day, so it wasn’t possible. I thought nothing of it, until release day when I heard his finished remix and he’d somehow managed to do the completely new re-sing with a choir! So yeah, props to both those guys.
EG: Your musical streak continues having released a remix for Mabel’s ‘Boyfriend’ track. How this idea came to reality?
Endor: I was approached by the label to remix the Mabel record and I was glad to do so. I really respect her grind. She’s super talented and authentic. I fully believe she’s got what it takes to be a jewel in UK popstar history one day.
EG: Any other planned release coming soon?
Endor: A fair few official remixes. I’ve just finished one for R Plus, a band consisting of Faithless and Dido. I’m really excited for that to drop because I’ve gone in a new, more minimal, grooves-based direction. It was a very fulfilling thing to do as an artist. I liked the tune so much, I remixed it twice! Both versions of that are dropping.
In terms of original material. I’m just wrapping up the first batch of new stuff. It’s coming very soon. But I want it to be as good as it possibly can be.
EG: What would be your advice for young producer who are looking to develop a career in the music industry?
Endor: Make as many tunes as possible. The minute you finish one track, get on to the next. You’ll learn much more than if you obsess over one track – you’ll only get slowed down doing that. With every new track you make, you’ll learn a tonne of stuff.
It’s the opposite of the old adage “Quality of Quantity”. Quantity is king. Start em, finish em, bash em on Soundcloud and get onto the next. Trust me, that’s the key when you’re beginning.
Somewhere along the process, you’ll realize that something you’re working on is a bit more special than the rest… you’ll know when that is. THEN you can take a bit more time over it.
“When this is all over we must proceed with wisdom, and a new sense of purpose and vigor”
EG: Moving back into the uncertainty of the current situation with COVID-19, the music industry could face some tough times, more specifically clubs and events. Do you foresee a new direction of the business side of it?
Endor: I believe things will return to how they’ve always been and the Coronavirus thing will seem like a bad dream. As a society, we must learn from this, but as a music industry, I think the status-quo will return to its original trajectory.
As individuals, I feel we have the most to learn from all of this. We’ve been forced to be present and to look inwards at ourselves, and to evaluate what really matters. When this is all over we must proceed with wisdom and a new sense of purpose and vigor.
EG: How would you define your sound?
Endor: Transitioning to its next evolution.
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