Meet Anderson M | Music Producer & DJ

We had the good fortune of connecting with Anderson M and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Andy, what makes you happy? Why?
Spending time with my family and friends enriches my life tremendously. I have elderly parents who raised me with nothing but love and I’m eternally grateful to still be able to spend quality time with them. The older I get, the more I see my friends lose loved ones and it just makes me happy to be able to visit them whenever possible. Speaking of friends, they’re also a big part of my happiness. I subscribe to the idea of quality over quantity. I don’t need a lot of friends to be happy, just a small amount. You have to keep your inner circle tight. It’s kind of ironic for me to say this because in this music industry you meet a lot of people but at the end of the day, you can really just call some of them friends or even family. Also, setting goals and accomplishing them makes me happy. I’ve come to painfully realize that you can’t accomplish every goal at once but as long as you’re working towards something and make some type of progress each day, that’s enough to keep you on the right track.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’m a Music Producer and DJ who focuses on electronic music, primarily house. I don’t think you can accurately explain what sets you apart from others without listening to feedback from people who follow your career first. Personally, I’m inspired by artists who establish a unique producing style and signature sound. I try to absorb as many documentaries, interviews and tutorials as possible from artists I look up to. I think what sets me apart from others is my constant desire to create my own techniques and sounds. I feel like if you want to grow as an artist and stand out, you need to experiment deeply with everything and not be afraid to take creative risks.

I’m proud whenever I finish tracks because it’s always an emotional journey as cliché as that sounds. There’s plenty of ups and downs with the process so it’s always a great feeling to complete something. I’m also proud whenever I manage to get these tracks signed to record labels.

I get really excited when I play shows and meet new people! It’s an incredible feeling to share music with a dance floor that vibes with you. As of lately, I’ve been fortunate enough to be able to travel for shows and that hits on a whole new level of excitement which fuels my inspiration!

I’m still far from where I want to be in my music career but I’m grateful for where I’m currently at nonetheless. Getting to this point has NOT been easy. I’ve been at it for over a decade. It’s cost me money, time, health and even heartache along the way. There’s a reason why established artists mention sacrifice as a huge factor to their success. Being a solo, independent artist, you’re solely responsible for your progress and trajectory. You don’t have other band members, agents or managers to blame, only yourself. With all of that being said, I believe it’s helped me grow and mature much faster than if I wasn’t pursuing anything this challenging.

I’ve come to learn that patience and balance are key to sustainability in all aspects of life. Anything is possible if you’re willing to work very hard and make some sacrifices along the way. Also, embracing change and discomfort will help you grow tremendously and that’s extremely valuable.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
First of all, I would take them to eat and drink at this Cuban cuisine spot called Habana. There’s two in this area which are both exquisite. Their food is delicious and their cocktails are crafted so well! If my best friend was single, I’d take them to the Country Club in Costa Mesa. The overall aesthetic is pleasing and the clientele is very attractive for the most part. The remainder of the week, I would show them around the rest of Costa Mesa, Irvine Spectrum and Laguna Beach areas. Laguna is my favorite because the people are always so friendly and I rarely encounter any weird vibes there. There’s a lot of really cool and unique rooftop bars there which are my preferred type of lounge spots. Laguna’s Top of the World is also a great place to hike and if they’re in the mood for coastal relaxation, 1000 Steps Beach is the place to go. It’s less known to tourists, more private and easier to get to.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
The primary shoutout goes to my parents. Like I mentioned previously, they raised me with nothing but love and that’s something that’s nurtured me throughout my entire life. I wouldn’t be anywhere without them. My next shoutout goes to the rest of my family in general. I was raised by a single mother the first five years of my life before she met my step father and without the help of my aunts, uncles, cousins, etc., I have no idea how I would’ve turned out. You hear these horror stories of children growing up in broken households and it’s just something that I acknowledge internally as much as I can. My last shoutout goes to my best friends who have supported my music endeavors from the beginning. There’s not really a roadmap to success but having a strong support system definitely helps and I’m grateful that I have mine.

Website: https://linktr.ee/andersonmmusic

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andersonmmusic/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/andersonmmusic

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/andersonmmusic

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYz6NDd-UHKT70onmutbsAw

Other: https://soundcloud.com/andersonmmusic

Image Credits
Albert Halim (Toviah Portaits), Tony Comfort, Roger Leonard, Christian Villareal (Villarealism)