Neiroll: It Has to Belong to the Story

Words by Hakan · Best DJ Spotlight

There is something special about returning to a conversation with an artist you have worked with before. You have a little shared history, but you also get to discover who they have become.

That is what bringing Neiroll back into Best DJ means to me.

When I asked Andy what had changed since we first worked together, his answer brought us straight to the heart of his music.

“A lot has changed, but I think the main thing that stayed with me is the search for atmosphere.”

That stayed with me. After years behind the decks, I understand how much lives inside that word. Atmosphere is the feeling that holds a room together. The anticipation before a change. The space you leave for people to find their own connection with the music.

You can have a collection of excellent tracks and still have something missing between them. Building a journey asks something more of you.

It has to belong to the story

Andy describes that change in his own thinking clearly. Earlier, he thought more about individual tracks and genres. Now, his attention is on the whole journey: tension, space, contrast, where the energy comes from and where it goes.

Then he said something I would happily put on the wall of any DJ booth:

“I don’t feel the need to use something just because it’s a good track. It has to belong to the story.”

For me, that is the strongest line in this conversation.

It takes confidence to leave a good track out. To hear something you love and recognise that it belongs somewhere else. That kind of selectiveness says a lot about an artist’s relationship with their work. Every choice starts to carry a purpose.

A place to begin

For anyone meeting Neiroll for the first time, Andy’s own recommendation is Hypnotic Annihilation XI. He describes it as a reflection of where the project stands today: dark, hypnotic and progressive, with movement and contrast. The build is gradual, and the peak arrives late.

I like that he chose a mix that asks for patience. His explanation gives the listener an invitation: allow the story time to unfold.

The search continues

What I appreciate about Andy’s answers is how thoughtfully he talks about his choices. There is a clear sense of someone becoming more comfortable with their own direction, while still searching.

That search matters. Experience gives us tools, but curiosity gives us a reason to keep using them.

Having worked with Andy before, I am pleased to give Neiroll space here again. This conversation has given me a fresh understanding of what he is building and what he wants the listener to experience.

Give his chosen mixes some time. Put the headphones on, settle into the journey, and see where it takes you.

Welcome back to Best DJ, Andy.

Hakan
Best DJ — Music for everyone.