Hailing from one of the most famous cities in the UK, a place that is steeped in musical history, Liverpudlian trance artist AMOS & RIOT NIGHT aka David McClelland is one of the trance scenes rising talents.
In his adolescence, hearing trance for the first time on euro dance TV channels, he discovered the iconic sounds of Paul van Dyk, Armin van Buuren, Ferry Corsten and Above & Beyond. In his teens, as a young drummer in a metal band David discovered a great love for rhythm, add to that the melodic sounds of trance and it wasn't long until he was hooked on a genre and scene that would go on to shape his late teens, 20's and beyond.
After the digital era took full hold in the late 2000's, a new trance sound with an exciting wave of artists to go with it caught David's attention and led him even further down the trance path. Artists such as Sean Tyas, John O'Callaghan, Aly & Fila, John Askew, Activa, Daniel Kandi to name a few. His keen interest in this new sound soon became a creative urge, a want to learn production, it was time to dive in and make his take on this magical but even more driving modern trance sound.
As with many digital producers, DJing came later and the AMOS & RIOT NIGHT project was born in 2013 as the budding producer teamed up with Paul Holden (AMOS) who was David's (RIOT NIGHT) original studio collaborator and DJ partner. After a great 6 years as a duo, it was 2019 when he decided to go solo. David kept the A&RN name as it was already picking up pace in the trance scene with releases on labels such as Silent Shore, Defcon, Critical State and Extrema.
The AMOS & RIOT NIGHT sound can be described as a super fresh, uplifting, emotional and very much melody driven style, with loads of uptempo energy. A production focused sound, which is how David first met trance master Sean Tyas who has become a mentor in his production career, from feedbacking demos and championing A&RN tracks from early on, to releasing his tracks on his massive Regenerate label. Other labels David has unlocked since going solo are the impressive AVA White, Always Alive, Monster Tunes, GO Music, Deep In Thought by VII, Vandit, Subculture and the giant FSOE main label
The proud achievements are coming in thick and fast for AMOS & RIOT NIGHT. From hearing his music being played at massive events such as Dreamstate, Luminosity, The Gallery @ Ministry of Sound and Gatecrasher, to the scouse spinner featuring on popular compilations by VII, FSOE 650, 10 Years of AVA and a collaboration feature with Manuel Le Saux for his album. Becoming a regular on Sean Tyas’ Regenerate label is also up there with his proudest moments.
DJ wise A&RN has picked up some great gigs so far with many more to come in 2021 and beyond. Playing to his home city crowd at Back To The Anthems, Gatecrasher @ Garlands and WeAreYou with names such as Judge Jules, Jan Johnston, Signum, Lost Witness, Sneijder, Shugz, David Rust, Liam Wilson. Already having made debuts in London @ Trance Sanctuary with Sean Tyas and Sam Jones, Ibiza @ Connected boat party with Andy Moor and even further afield his LA debut @ Intricacy.
Having already hit the top 10 on Beatport trance three times and with a string of new singles, collaborations, plus a debut artist album in early planning, AMOS & RIOT NIGHT has become a much-loved name around the scene with a rapidly growing artist profile, helping him climb through the ranks of global trance music.
Amos & Riot Night aka David McClelland has just released along with Adrian Boland their incredible uplifter So Far Out of Reach on Future Sound of Egypt headed by the majestic Aly & Fila. His collaborator is an upcoming Irish trance DJ & producer Adrian Boland signed to Always Alive, Extrema Global Music, D.Max Recordings and many more.
So Far Out of Reach is out for the global trance family to explore now and for that reason we asked David aka Amos & Riot Night to reply in the following interview and now you can read his very nice and insightful answers.
1-Dimitris: 2023 just started but it will be cool to let us know how was 2022 for your career. Let us know about achievements or goals achieved that you are proud of.
Amos & Riot Night: 2022 was a great year for me! Some really strong releases, which did really well. Gig wise. even better! I finally made my debut in Argentina. The absolute MECCA of it all. By far one of the most passionate and educated crowds I've had the privilege of performing to! Really hope to come back there very soon.
Also made my return to Cuckoo in Nottingham and Trance Sanctuary in London. 2 of the very best brands our country has to offer. Most of all, me & my good friend Luke finally got our own brand off to a brilliant start in Liverpool. Things are going quite well on that front, so watch this space!
2-Dimitris: Do you have already some concrete plans for 2023 and if you are allowed to announce them to our readers please tell us what you are preparing for us in the coming months regarding releases and performances in gigs/festivals.
Amos & Riot Night: As I'm responding, my new release has just dropped today on FSOE with Adrian Boland. Swiftly following this up with my long overdue debut on the iconic Vandit - new solo record. Few other bits coming up as well including another remix for FSOE later this summer and I'll be returning to Regenerate (finally!) after nearly 2 years.
3-Dimitris: It would be fantastic to talk about So Far Out of Reach track on FSOE. Please tell us how this track came about and what was the idea behind it.
Amos & Riot Night: Me & Adrian have been good friends for a good few years. I'd picked up on some of his earlier releases when he'd started producing about 5 years ago. We'd then met at Luminosity in 2019 and we've continued to send each other bits that we've worked on. We'd always talked about working on something together at some point; it was just a matter of when we actually got together.
As it happens, we're both massive Liverpool fans, so in May last year, he came over to Liverpool for the Champions League final. It just made sense for us to start work on something while he was over. There's certain sounds that we're both huge fans of that we both just decided to really put together. Most certainly a blend of both our own individual sounds and it just worked. Got a bit messy that weekend, but certainly one of the more memorable ones! Hell, we finally got our victory parade after 2 years. It was time to finally celebrate our 2 domestic wins and us claiming the title 2 years back - I mean Klopp said to prepare for a party. Party we did!
Believe it or not, the title of the track was essentially to be dictated by the result of the game (less said about that). I won't say what the other title in mind was (for fear of it coming back to haunt us). Maybe if he comes over to Anfield for another game and we win, then that can be the decider. We've had a crappy season mind. I'll say no more
4-Dimitris: How long it took you to produce it and can u describe the production process in simple steps?
Amos & Riot Night: Took us 3 sessions while he was over in Liverpool to finish it. Then we got together on Zoom a few times after that over the summer. I would say overall, no more than 2/3weeks in total by the time we'd both looked at it.
We started piecing together the drums & bass for it. We even designed a few patches ourselves specifically for this track, which just worked a treat. By the time we got to the main break and we started to work the main musical ideas, the moment I started playing that piano, everything else just followed up really nicely! Nothing felt forced at all.
5-Dimitris: Did you had any particular difficulties accomplishing that particular track or any specific production challenges.
Amos & Riot Night: Nah not really. Was pretty straight forward. We both use pretty much the same gear (software, etc.). Maybe the computers were the only thing holding us back, but we persevered.
6- Dimitris: Which music composition software or hardware you prefer and why? What is your opinion of the latest movement to produce music with more analogue equipment and with less or without any digital software?
Amos & Riot Night: Mainly it's been Ableton. Just like the faster workflow to it and been using it as my primary now for the last 4 years or so. I do still come back to Cubase or Logic from time to time. Just depends on who I work with. Alas, I have no hardware (yet), but who knows, I may start building that up. We shall see
Amos & Riot Night: There was a few vocal samples in there that we'd used actually once we'd decided on the name. These samples were from a free pack that was already available, so it was just a case of picking the right phrases to use and repitch them where needed so that they were in the right key.
8-Dimitris: If you really like to produce vocal tracks which vocalist/singer or lyricist on electronic dance music you aspire to work with?
Amos & Riot Night: I'm pleased to say that I've already worked with some of the best in the business already - you know who you are! I am working on some really exciting vocal projects as we speak! Really looking forward to eventually finishing these up and showing them to you all.
There's still some who I'd really like to work with, but it's really case of finding that spark creatively, working with someone who I can genuinely bounce off creatively and then seeing what magic happens.
If I HAD to name a few I'd really like to work with: Audrey Gallagher, Christina Novelli, Sarah Howells, Ana Criado, Gid Sedgwick, Jessica Lawrence, Tara Louise. Who knows! Let's just see what magic happens in the studio over the next little while and we go from there :-)
I will say this. No point forcing ideas out for the sake of doing so and the results end up shit. Just going with the flow.
9-Dimitris: In which label your latest release will be? Tell us your opinion about that particular label and your connection with them.
Amos & Riot Night: My next original, Always There, is due to drop later this month on Vandit. I mean, what more can I say! Iconic. Also, massive love to Paul van Dyk for his continuous support on my music over the years!
10-Dimitris: Are you planning to complete an album or mix compilation soon? if yes please give us all the details about regarding tracks and how will look and sound like?
Amos & Riot Night: Argh I've been toying with the idea of an album for a good while. Really something I should start thinking about again soon
11-Dimitris:How much time do you spend promoting yourself in your social media and you see this as essential tool for self promotion and getting bookings too? Which social media is the one that seems to work better for you?
Amos & Riot Night: Instagram has mainly been my goto over the past while. Seems to get a fair bit of traction on there!
12-Dimitris: Do you have your own radio show/podcast/twitch stream or Vlog(video blog)? If yes please give us a comment about it and how long it take you to prepare for it and if you are always excited to produce it?
Amos & Riot Night: I normally record my own monthly mix covering the last month's Trance releases that I've really enjoyed. Takes a while going thru my promos and Beatport to really scour for the goods mind, but I always seem to unearth some top quality tunes!
13-Dimitris: From the gigs/festival performances confirmed so far for 2023 in which ones are you most excited to perform and why?
Amos & Riot Night: I got 2 gigs coming up! I'm really happy to be coming back to Have Faith In Trance later this April. Massive lineup where I'll be joining Richard Durand, Ciaran McAuley, Scott Envy, Faith Mark & Marvii.
Big one still to come in September where it's back to the island again! Always a pleasure to come back to Ibiza but really excited to be making my debut for the iconic Shine brand. I'll be playing B2B with my good mate Matt Noland, who I worked with previously on 'Lomond'! Now this one is a biggie where we'll be joining Paul van Dyk, Bryan Kearney & John 00 Fleming. Cannot WAIT!
14-Dimitris: Please share your most funny and most serious incident that happen to you during your DJ performance?
Amos & Riot Night: Oh god, it's happened a few times where my USBs have completely corrupted and the music cuts out. That sinking feeling. Horrible! I've thankfully got shut of those and got better ones now!
15-Dimitris: Are you enjoying to visit music conferences and do you have any plans to attend any of them in 2023:
Amos & Riot Night: Let's see what comes up in the UK first!
16-Dimitris: Do you have an agent that organize your performances and gigs or are you taking care of them? If you do have one agency please tell us what is so special and you work with them.
Amos & Riot Night: I've been working closely with Damian Birman down in Argentina over the past 2 years.
17-Dimitris: Many DJs who are producers too they offer online masterclasses or teach to music production courses. If you are offering any of these services please tell us about it.
Amos & Riot Night: Yes I actually have recently started offering 1-2-1 tuition since the start of the year. Please reach out to me via any of my channels for further details :-)
18-Dimitris: Is there a club classic that you would like to remix or rework in 2023? Do you attempt often to do your own bootlegs of classics?
Amos & Riot Night: Too many bootlegs/reworks out there right now all of the same shite. Gets boring after a while, unless it's something that I really wanted to do. Even then, I'd look for ones that are very much under the radar, that when unearthed, listeners just wouldn't expect to hear it
19-Dimitris: Finally tell us if you are able to make a leaving out of your music business (DJ/producer/label owner/teaching or mastering tracks) and if not what other jobs are you doing in order to make a decent leaving?
Amos & Riot Night: Nowhere near the stage where I'm making a living from music yet. I still have a day job for now.
Dimitris: Your message & wishes for Flux Bpm Online readers.
Amos & Riot Night: Thanks again to everyone for following me and my music over the past few years! We continue!
Download/Stream So Far Out of Reach https://fsoe.streamlink.to/sofaroutofreach
Thanks to the always warm hearted and truly positive David for his precious time devoted to answer to this great interview.
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