Portland house head SittinOnTurtles is a bit of a slept-on gem in terms of PNW producers. Over the last several years, Andy has been quietly self-releasing incredibly clean grooves - the kind perfect for a sunny day when the breeze is in your hair.
Amore Estivo is no exception - with an infectious Balearic Disco beat, and warm classic chords, Andy’s track has been on heavy rotation this summer since he shared it with us. Peace Portal is pleased to share this first listen of Amore Estivo ahead of the official drop on August 22nd (pre-order here), accompanied below by a brief interview with Andy:
Can you share a bit about your production process on this track? What came to you first?
It’s always the melody and chords that come to me first. When I thought of this track, I was (and still very much am) in an Italo House / Disco phase. I was listening to one of my current favorite compilations by Don Carlos on vinyl “Echoes of Italy: Early 90’s House Vibes”. On it are some of the most inspirational songs that really move how I decided to create this track.
I will always pull out my midi keyboard and go right into my Korg MK2 VST and start playing with sounds until something hits. Just want that fun reverby sound you’d hear somewhere tropical. The organ at the end of the song is also my favorite part, adding such a classic touch to the house sound every time.
Do you have a favorite tool in your production kit right now?
Currently it's my midi, the Arturia KeyLab MK3. Recently with life being life, I sold some of my synth collection that I wish to have kept, but in the meantime got some VSTs to mimic the sounds until I’m ready to upgrade my studio again.
The midi is just so versatile, being able to be a drum pad as well it helps with the organic sounding drum hits that I love to go for with the drums. It makes it feel more original.
What draws you to house music in particular?
It’s a feeling I can’t explain. Love? Nostalgia? Just the constant looping and ever evolving sounds that you can hear from any house track, it pulls me in. Most of my work is always based on love. The togetherness that house brings to people. To communities. Bringing a group of anyone together to enjoy the sound and pass time together is really what makes me the happiest about it, the raw emotion it can carry through a person who just loves to experience the sound is just beautiful.
Not only that, but the way I can portray my emotion and feelings through it , it has to be one of the most useful tools to make me the human I am. I really enjoy being able to express myself creatively with the people around me.
What’s another track you would mix with this one?
Easy, it is of course a song off of that compilation vinyl I mentioned before, too many good ones to not want to try and mix with the song.
The banger I would mix with this song is: Music Sensations - Original Mix by Golem
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