Hailing from Athens & based out of Stockholm, Anto has been producing music since the late 90's & in 2007, he won Pete Tong's prestigious Bedroom Bedlam competition - with his track 'Wonderful Strings'.

In 2009, one of his subsequent remixes reached #1 on Hypem & since then, Anto has been releasing on his own label imprint Anto Recordings - receiving support from the likes of David Guetta, Paul Van Dyk, Swanky Tunes, Yves Deruyter, Shiba San, Utah Saints, Tocadisco, Robbie Rivera, Mason, Crystal Method & many more.

Antonator talks to 6AM about his music journey from Athens to Stockholm, highlighting the shift to digital, winning Pete Tong’s competition, staying true to his sound, and advising upcoming producers to focus on what they enjoy while continuously improving his craft.

 

Hi Antonator! Thanks for talking to 6AM how are you?

Hello, 6AM! Thanks for having me. I’m doing well. Autumn is settling in here in Sweden, which means more studio time as the days get darker and colder.

 

Your journey in music spans from Athens to Stockholm and has been going strong since the late 90s—what has been the most surprising change in the electronic music scene from when you started to now?

The biggest change has been the shift to digital. Back then, everything wasn’t as digital as it is now. Producing in a home studio wasn’t as common, and most new music was discovered through TV and radio. If you wanted to make it big, you probably needed a major record deal. Today, everything is online, and there’s an ocean of music and artists, both known and unknown.

 

Winning Pete Tong’s Bedroom Bedlam competition with “Wonderful Strings” must have been a massive milestone. How did that victory shape the direction of your career, and what doors did it open for you?

At the time, I was only producing music for fun and not taking it too seriously. But winning that competition made me start believing in myself for real. I gained a lot of attention from both DJs and labels. A couple of years later, I launched my own label, Anto Recordings.

You’ve received support from heavyweights like David Guetta and Paul Van Dyk, which is no small feat! How do you stay true to your sound while still creating tracks that resonate with such diverse legends in the industry?

It’s always nice to get attention from big DJs, but I try to stay focused on doing my own thing without worrying too much about who will support it. I know I can’t please everyone, so I focus on being true to myself and producing what feels right for me.

 

With “Swarm” set to release on Anto Recordings, what can listeners expect from this track? Does it represent a new direction for your label or a continuation of the sonic journey you’ve been crafting?

Listeners can expect a lot of energy and nostalgia. I always aim to create modern music with a sense of déjà vu from the past. This is where I feel most comfortable while producing, and it’s what the Antonator project is all about.

 

From remixing tracks that hit #1 on Hypem to launching your own label, you’ve built a multifaceted career. What advice would you give to up-and-coming producers looking to carve out their own path in the industry?

My advice would be to focus on doing what you truly enjoy and not trying too hard to sound like everyone else. It’s great to be inspired, but copying the biggest artists doesn’t guarantee their success will rub off on you. So, don’t get too caught up in tutorials on how to sound like a specific artist or in marketing strategies. Just keep making music, and it will get better over time. There are no shortcuts to hard work.

 

Thanks so much for talking with us. Is there anything else you’d like to share before we sign off?

Thanks for having me! Don’t forget to give ‘Swarm’ a listen—it’s out now. And stay tuned because there’s lots more music coming soon.

 

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