Ander Race: "The EP format gave me the space to tell a more complete story"

Ander Carrera, known as Ander Race, is a DJ, producer and sound engineer from the Basque Country, now based in Barcelona. His sound sits between groove and storytelling, shaping forward-thinking club music built for the dancefloor with lasting emotional depth.

He has released music on labels such as Anathema, Ritmo Futuro and W Berlin, alongside Spanish imprints like Anims, Manitox and RAFT. As a DJ, he is a regular presence in Barcelona, playing venues including Pacha Barcelona and Sala Macarena, as well as projects like Superfekta. Internationally, he has performed in cities such as London, Paris, Mexico City and in destinations like Tulum.

His productions have received support from artists including Nandu, Trikk and Argia, and alongside his artistic work he also serves as A&R and Events Manager at Ritmo Futuro, contributing to both release curation and event programming.

After contributing to "Diptyque I", what made this the right moment to return to W with your first full EP "Give Me What Was Mine"?

Pietro Cassella, ICONYC & W Director, reached out asking for music, and I sent it over straight away. That kind of direct invitation from a brand  you genuinely respect feels like a signal you don’t overthink. The timing also felt right on a personal level. After "Diptyque I", I had a clearer sense of what I wanted to say as a solo artist, and the EP format gave me the space to tell a more complete story.

The title track, "Give Me What Was Mine", combines strong dancefloor energy with psychedelic, acidic, and melodic elements. How did you find the balance between power, tension, and emotion during the production process?

The track tells its own story if you know how to read it. It opens hard, very energetic, built for the dancefloor. But as it moves forward, it shifts into something more nostalgic while still feeling uplifting. For me, the key was always managing the timings. The emotional part follows the rhythmic one. I didn’t want to force anything, I just wanted it to feel like a natural journey from tension to release, a common pattern in my productions.

Diana’s vocal performance plays a central role in "Give Me What Was Mine". How did the collaboration come about, and how did her voice shape the direction of the track?

I knew Diana before the track existed. I was just waiting for the right moment, the right track, the right feeling to send her. As soon as I did, she felt it immediately, and the rest came on its own.

"Lovin’ U" reveals a warmer, brighter, and almost sun-drenched side of your sound. What images, memories, or emotions were you hoping to evoke with this track?

After the intensity of the title track I wanted something that felt a bit more free, more groovy, a bit sexier. Something to breathe with. It also matched the timing of the release really well because it has this summer energy to it, the kind of track that works late at night but could just as easily hit during the day.

How do your Basque roots and the cultural environment you grew up in continue to influence your artistic identity and the music you make today?

I'm genuinely proud of where I come from. The Basque Country has a really strong cultural identity, and I think that filters into everything I do even when it's not immediately obvious. What excites me right now is that incredible music is coming out of that world across completely different genres, artists like Bengo or Süne, who aren't making club music necessarily but who carry this emotional depth and attention to detail that I find deeply inspiring. That influences how I think about production and what a track should actually feel like.

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