In this episode of Beyond the Decks, Robert catches up with Andre Delgado, better known as Homemade Weapons—a pioneering figure in the 170 drum and bass scene.
In conversation, Homemade Weapons discusses his evolution from DJing to music production, how he balances complexity with minimalism to create space in his sound. Robert and Andre also touch on the deeper challenges of navigating today’s music industry— artistic authenticity: struggling between staying true to your sound and engaging with commercial pressures.
Andre reflects on his creative process, the appeal of pushing musical boundaries, and his plans for the future including the exciting launch of his new label "Homemade Weapons" in 2025. With plenty of wisdom for aspiring DJs and producers, this episode offers an insider’s view into how one of drum and bass’s most innovative artists continues to evolve.
Transcript:
https://learningtodj.com/btd006-hw-transcript
EPISODE LINKS
Homemade Weapons' Instagram: https://instagram.com/homemadeweapons
Homemade Weapons' Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1UW5eP8ZIX1HKGGi5jXSB6?si=cKewTcJOTVGAN4wSObRffA
Homemade Weapons' Bandcamp: https://homemadeweapons.bandcamp.com/
Homemade Weapons' Resident Advisor: https://ra.co/dj/homemadeweapons
Armory Recordings (Red Army): https://armoryrecordings.bandcamp.com/
UNDER THE RADAR, ON REPEAT & GUILTY PLEASURE
- Under the Radar - Soulfood (1991) [Cookin' Records]
- On Repeat - Citrus - Citrus EP
- GUILTY PLEASURE - Memory Tapes - Wait In The Dark (Jensen Sportag Remix)
PODCAST INFO:
Beyond the Decks is your guide to mastering the art and business of the DJ, electronic and dance music industry.
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OUTLINE
Introduction to Andre Delgado (00:00:00)
Early Musical Influences (00:01:50)
First Experiences with Music (00:02:23)
Transition to DJing (00:04:57)
From DJing to Production (00:09:08)
Creating Space in Music (00:13:57)
Attraction to Extreme Music (00:20:23)
Homemade Weapons Label Plans (00:25:02)
The Impact of Social Media on Art (00:27:04)
The Evolution of DJing (00:30:49)
Advice for Emerging Artists (01:05:02)
Episode SummaryEarly Musical InfluencesMusical Family Background
Andre’s youth was filled with the variety of music from his father, a guitar and percussion player, and his stepfather, a saxophonist. This probably helped him to develop a great appreciation for rhythm and music from when he was young.
Introduction to Breakbeats
A Baltimore relocation when he was ten years exposed Andre to breakbeats through the Baltimore club scene. This would reintroduce much difference in the way he understands rhythm and tempo. He recalls how hearing breakbeats laid over tracks from R&B opened his eyes to new musical possibilities.
Immersion into Industrial Music
As a teenager, in the 90s, Andre received an industrial music infection by raiding underground parties where DJs mixed industrial dance music with early techno. Already, this was an age of first awakenings. Hardcore and jungle’s frantic breakbeats erupted with his emotion for extreme sounds.
Transition to DJing and ProductionDJing: How It All Began
Andre’s foray into DJing came around 1995 when he started mixing records with a friend’s turntables. It wasn’t long before he realized that DJing would free him from the complicated organization of finding and coordinating a band to express his musical ideas. The freedom furthered his drive to mix and transitioned him toward music production.
Early Approaches to Production
Early attempts at production in 1998 were humble affairs, with friends getting together and bringing along whatever piece of equipment they had. The quality of their first tracks might have been rough, but they were hooked. Indeed, Andre’s very first alias was a rather telling “Dell Phonic,” named after his early influences.
The Interrelation of DJ’ing and ProductionComplementary Disciplines
Andre says that both DJing and production are vital to his artistry, but they exist for different reasons. DJing will give him the opportunity to perform some really unique experience by way of long blends and live mixing, whereas his production would then be more about creating individual tracks. He said the two go hand in hand, and usually, sometimes his production can be inspired from what he does as a DJ.
Creating Space in Music
The other vital ingredient which characterizes Andre’s production signature is the conscious use of space. He likes to think about it much like the creation of suspense in a film, where there might be no sound or very little action in order to make the event more emotional. He always tends to make busy arrangements, adding layer after layer of different perceptive elements, and then he peels them back just to retain the impactful sounds. This adds a lot of space and creates a better listen for the audience.
Andre also talks about frequency balance in his tracks. Often, he exports his work to test how it interacts with other music, making sure it occupies the right sonic space in a set by a DJ. That little bit of detail goes to show just how dedicated he is in making music that appeals to the dancers and listeners alike.
Exploration Beyond Formulaic MusicAvant-Garde Projects
Although Andre is fully aware of the formulaic aspect in dance music, experimentation also plays an important part in his approach: he says he has worked on more avant-garde projects—including one recently using vintage synthesizers—which would enable him to create music that wouldn’t necessarily fit into any mold or structure. It’s a creative release which balances those more formulaic productions.
The Allure of Extreme Music
It has been throughout this conversation that Andre declared his love for extreme music, be it heavy metal, post-rock, or just some experimental sounds. He values in each of these musical genres the way boundaries are being pushed and how great an impact raw or gentle musical pieces can have on emotional expression. He referred to bands like Deftones, stating that even with dramatic evolution, the core still holds within.
Music Commercial AspectsBalancing Artistic Integrity and Commercial Viability
By the end of the episode, Robert and Andre talk about music on a commercial level. Andre starts to reflect on running labels, referring to his old imprint called Weaponry and the work he did with other artists. He can fully appreciate the tightrope that artists often have to balance between making music that is true to an artistic vision and commercial viability.
Recommendations for Rising ArtistsUnderstanding Motivations and Intentions
Andre could share some words of wisdom to the emerging artists and DJs: know thyself, thy motivation, and thy intentions. Keep true to thine ideal, he says, and be very careful about trusting people around you because business might be oppressing at times.
Protection of the Artistic Work
He also underlines the protection against copyright and trademark, so that the work remains in control of the artist.
Homemade Weapons Selections
In the latter half, he plays three tracks that evoke emotions: a lesser-known compilation from the “Soul Food” series, an EP self-titled by the California band Citrus, and one guilty pleasure remix by “Wait in the Dark” by Memory Tapes. These typify the eclecticism in his taste and appreciation for established and nascent talent. Conclusion In this “Be on the Decks” podcast episode, Andre Delgado gives one an immersed view into the ride of this artist through the interplay of DJing and production, the importance of authenticity, and the pressures exerted by today’s music landscape on the artists. The easygoing conversation will make both the experience of the professional and young musician find something helpful to take away from. Whether you’re a budding DJ, an aspiring music producer, or simply a fan of electronic music, this show is full of actionable advice and insight to inspire and inform your musical journey.
