Interview with Above & Beyond as they embark on their Group Therapy World Tour

Above & Beyond need no introduction. Recently voted the top UK act in the 2010 DJ Mag Top100 Poll, the trio have been responsible for some of the biggest Trance and Progressive anthems of the last 10 years including chart toppers 'On a Good Day' and 'Air for Life' to name but a few.

With an almost un-rivalled touring schedule, the continued succcess of the UK's no 1 Trance label Anjunabeats and the ever popular 'Trance Around The World' radio show hitting 30 million listeners every week, Above & Beyond are considered one of the definitive acts in today’s world electronic dance music scene.

This month sees the kings of trance embark on their hugely anticipated 'Group Therapy' World Tour, kicking things off with a massive arena event hosted by Digital Society at O2 Academy Leeds in April.

For this, the first arena date of the tour, the UK trio will be pulling out all the stops with an exclusive and extended three hour set, accompanied by all the spectacular production that Digital Society are known for.

Digital Society caught up with the guys for a quick chat before their massive Leeds date this Friday.

Hello Above & Beyond! You have just returned from the US. How was Miami this year?
Miami was fabulous for us, thanks, we moved to a bigger venue and sold it out, so that's always a good thing!

2010 was a magnificent year for you guys on the whole. What were the best bits?
It’s hard to pick highlights from such an amazing year, but our nine hour marathon TATW 350 broadcast from the LA Palladium was particularly memorable for so many reasons. We were completely exhausted and hoarse by the end of it but the high was incredible - we were the number one trending topic on Twitter for a while and that's pretty special.

2011 is shaping up much the same way judging by the diary and the release of Group Therapy. What have been highlights so far and have any gigs/events in particular really stood out?
The amazing reaction to 'Sun and Moon' has been really gratifying. It’s a song we wrote a good few years ago and it has special significance for us, so it being the first Above & Beyond track to get on the Radio 1 playlist was very special. Of course we're all really looking forward to the album coming out - we've been working hard on it for the last three years and can't wait to start playing the tracks out live.

Group Therapy is the title for the new album. How did this name come about?
The title came about quite flippantly at the start - we're a group and making music is therapeutic - but the more we thought about it the more interesting the name became. It seems to describe perfectly what the Above & Beyond experience is to our fans as well, we're always getting stories about how they use our songs in their own lives and the A&B gig experience is completely therapeutic for everyone in the venue, us included!

And you have just released 'Sun and Moon' which is now available for download and is the first Single Group Therapy. What was your inspiration for the track?
It’s a song about how even so-called "failed" relationships should be treasured and valued. No matter how long or how short they are, relationships with people you love enrich and nourish you and shape your future.

Can you give us an insight into some of the tracks on the album? The next single, collaborations, vocalists etc?
There are fifteen tracks on the album, a mix of songs and some instrumentals, much like Tri-State. We've decided to stick to two of the vocalists from Tri-State; Zoe Johnston and Richard Bedford. Richard's our singing Avatar - complete with a big blue voice! For the most part he realises songs we write ourselves and has been such a gracious and beautiful addition to the group in this way from 'Alone Tonight' onwards, giving us a voice for those songs we write from a man's perspective. He also helps us lyrically quite a bit when those crucial lines have been evading us - he's totally on our wavelength. Richard sings 'Sun and Moon' and the next single, 'Thing Called Love'. Zoe sings songs we write together, about her life experiences or ours, and like Richard has the most incredible, emotional voice. She gives us that female perspective but quite honestly that grossly undersells her - she's such a unique soul in so many ways.

Where is the Group Therapy World Tour heading this summer? Any festivals of note?
We're doing Group Therapy stages at a number of Summer festivals; Dance Valley, Tomorrowland, Global Gathering, SW4 and more - some of which haven't been announced yet so keep your eyes peeled! We're doing a lot of dates in the USA in the spring and summer and then we'll be all over Europe later in the summer.

You have recently announced your 2011 summer residency at Cream Ibiza. Tell us more.
We're doing six dates this year; six exclusive dates including a Group Therapy album launch party on August 18. The dates are Thursday 30th June, Thursday 14th July, Thursday 11th August, Thursday 18th August, Thursday 1st September.

The next few questions are from the Digital Society Fanpage - direct from the dancefloor so to speak.

Where is your favourite venue in the world and why?
Alsina in Buenos Aires - our Argentinean fans are quite possibly the most dedicated, enthusiastic and beautiful that we play to anywhere in the world and this is their church.
 

How do the three of you write your music; on the road, together in the studio, or do you work on tracks individually?
We tend to write music in the studio, together or individually. Usually the music comes first and that will inspire a song melody or lyric. Once the song is written we tend to throw the music away and start again until we're happy. We haven't had much success writing on the road, apart from gaining experiences that might inspire songs!

Your record label Anjunabeats has recently reached a milestone of Ten Years in business. Any forthcoming releases that you’re particularly excited about?
Ten years, 200 releases and over 100 on Anjunadeep as well. We've got a fabulous roster of artists now, Super8 & Tab, Arty, Nitrous Oxide, Solarity, Matt Zo, Andrew Bayer, Boom Jinx and many more, and they are always surprising us with their wonderful music. Andrew Bayer has his debut album coming out and that is quite extraordinary - his recent Distractions EP was a marker for his new direction and topped the iTunes chart, so we're really excited about the album. Oh, and Anjunabeats Volume 9 will be out this Autumn!

Which DJ/Producers are you guys backing for 2011 and why?
I think Arty will continue to shine in 2011, Mat Zo is on fire, Andrew Bayer has an incredible album almost ready to go, Super8 & Tab will be following up their amazing album with some new stuff very soon. From a different world entirely I think Joris Voorn is a very special DJ/producer and I can't wait to see him again somewhere soon - he gave me my best night out in 2010!

And finally, what can the crowd expect from your set on April 15th at O2 Academy Leeds? Any messages for your Northern fan-base?
Our usual blend of groovy, uplifting music, lots of dancing, quite a bit of singing and some tracks from Group Therapy taking their first steps in public. Our message to Northern fans (who are all southerners to Paavo!) is simply this - can't wait to see you again!

Thanks again guys, see you in Leeds the 15th of April!

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