Andy Hughes is a man on a mission, he quickly became known as a consistent DJ who would throw down a thumping and varied set, suited to the moment, and to the crowd’s every need. Andy’s signature sets of Progressive House filled with energetic and funky twists have garnered devotees across America and beyond. From both US coasts to the UK and Ibiza, where he has received accolades from the press, promoters and punters alike. Andy’s launching pad was treating the neighborhood kids to the latest in pop music both at home and at school before he was 10 years old; he bought his first record when he was 4 years old! A musical background coupled with his eagerness to spread the musical word and Andy was DJing at age thirteen. 

As a member of the prestigious Balance Record Pool, Andy has managed to draw devoted followers from day one. Andy has been a resident DJ at some of Florida’s premier (and infamous) night clubs. Playing to packed houses all over the state at The Club At Firestone, Marz, The Edge, Simon’s in Gainesville just to name a few. At the same time he started conquering the US, becoming a regular in cities like Atlanta, Los Angeles, Washington DC, Charlotte, Portland, Seattle, Philadelphia, Ottawa, Toronto, New York, Indianapolis and more.

The ascension to making his own music was made and in ‘95 Andy wrote and produced his first track "Yummy" alongside friends Chris Marchese and Chris Hand. In Jan ‘96 the track was picked up by Knight Life Records and then licensed on to Big Time International (Belgium) and re-released with new mixes on Skyway UK where it topped the UK charts. Then a producers dream came true for Andy - it was bootlegged. Yeah! Since then, Andy has moved on to own his own recording studio and record label, taken the old adage "if you want it done right, do it yourself" to heart by starting up his own label, MAFDDAP (Mothers Against Fat Drunk DJs and Producers). Shooting for the stars since it’s inception in 1997, MAFDDAP has received compliment after compliment from record buyers, other DJs and press. In these few years, Andy has managed to pump out over 20 tracks, most all have been licensed to other labels and artists for remixes and mix compilations.

Andy signed mix CD deals with Neurodisc Records out of Fort Lauderdale. Andy’s first CD with Neurodisc “Andy Hughes – Progressive Elements Vol. 1” is the first Neurodisc CD to be distributed through the Capitol Records distribution network throughout the US. Also, Andy’s 2003 track “Gotham City” was featured on MTV’s Real World (Chicago series, episode XI). MTV has since then picked up 13 more of his tracks for the show. More recently, Andy has teamed up with adult film star Victoria Andrews to produce music for her website as well her single “I Want You” which she independently released. Other ventures Andy has finished recently are the release of his latest original track “Thirty Thirty” with remixes. Additionally, Andy Hughes has been Collaborating with Los Angeles DJ Thee-O, as well as Orlando DJ Martin Boss. In 2008, Jeff Belfi “Digital Damage (Andy Hughes and Jaren Skinner rework) was released and distributed through Beatport. In late 2009 Andy remixed the Rokysopp "Trick Trick" remix with co-producer Billy Z. In the future, look forward to more tracks from Andy and some with long time studio partner John Sexton!! Looking at Andy Hughes’s past one can only see the reflection of what is to come.

Electronic music aficionado since 1991.   
DJ Since 94. 
Producer since  2001. 
Record Label Owner (Stellar Records), early 00’s.  
Collector of classic 90’s DJ Sets.  
Current purveyor of modern progressive breaks and deep house via Black Coffee dj mix series. 

Had the privilege of “being there” in halcyon days of the early US rave scene at ground zero - Orlando, FL.  Our  (at the time) small, Disney focused town become the launch pad for the American Rave scene via the amazing DJs and promoters that were ahead of their time led by Kimball Collins at Aahz  playing  upfront dance music (simply called house back then) that was generally only found across the Atlantic. Kimball and other local DJs mixed music expertly in our burgeoning underground clubs here to the late hours of the morning often bleeding into the next day igniting a decade long explosion of club music throughout the city.  If you were there, you know.   Aahz spawned a host of iconic clubs including Firestone (now Vanguard), The Edge, the Abyss, Barberella, Marz and on and on.  Huge one off raves like Trance Atlantic and Zen fast followed  setting the stage for todays EDC, bringing more global talent to our dancing city, laying down musical history that everyone that lived it will certainly “Rave” about for the rest of their lives. 

Being a part of that scene led me, like many others, to pursue my own path in creating electronic music.  A passion for DJing led to endless Orlando house parties in early 90s, before joining the Stellar Brand/team in DC providing a residency at Tracks nightclub and  opening up gigs at clubs throughout the DC, Northern Virginia and Maryland before returning to Orlando in 2004.  

Still listening, buying, spinning, sharing the music that moves me. It has been and always will be all about the music. 

I continue to post recent sets here on soundclould and I often steam live over at Mixcloud.com 


For contact please email djgradee@gmail.com

ƈǟʟʟɨռɢ ɨռ ȶɦɛ ǟռƈɨɛռȶ ʄʊȶʊʀɛ 𓂀

'Parallax' w/ Dirtwire out now on Ancient Future Collective 🌀

The Armory, the latest podcast from San Francisco's DJ Zach Moore (aka W.Haze), is now available on SoundCloud, Apple Podcasts, Mixcloud and Google Play.  

For more information visit www.armorypodcast.com. 

Original artwork by http://jempanufnik.com

Heath Ward is following