Andrés - Biography
DJ Dez aka Andres is a Detroit, Michigan house producer and hip hop DJ known for his work with house producer Moodymann and as the DJ for hip hop group, Slum Village. Andres is also founder of his own imprint, La Vida Records.
Andres' father, Humberto "Nengue" Hernandez, was a musician on Detroit’s jazz scene who sang and played percussion with the likes of Mongo Santamaria, Santana and Cachao Lopez. Andres was directly influenced by the Motor City's deep musical history. He received his first drum set at age three and began studying percussion.
Andres and his family relocated to Los Angeles from Detroit early in his childhood. He began working on his skills as a DJ, playing underage parties throughout Los Angeles in his early teens. By the time his family returned to Detroit, Andres was a bonafide disk jockey with party rocking skills. In 1992, while hanging out at former Parliament/Funkadelic member Joseph “Amp” Fiddler’s house, Andres was introduced to James Yancey, known to hip hop loyals around the world as J Dilla aka Jay Dee. The two became fast friends, bonding over records and sharing music tips. Soon after, J Dilla recruited Andres to be the DJ for his hip hop group, Slum Village. He credits J Dilla with teaching him how to listen for sonic nuggets and how to dig for drum sounds.
Upon moving back to Detroit, Andres found himself working as a clerk at Buy-Rite Records, side by side with co-worker Kenny Dixon Jr. aka Moodymann. This led to the release of several 12 inches produced by Andres for the house label, KDJ, and solidyfied a productive relationship with Moodymann's Mahogani Music label. Through his output with Mahogani, which included three highly acclaimed full-lengths, Andres became recognized as one the most versatile producers on the Detroit dance music circuit.
In 2012 Andres launched his own imprint, La Vida, with the 12 inch single,“New for U." The label is rooted in the vein of Detroit's house music and is slated to release more 12 inches soon.
