Frankey & Sandrino

The German duo have been making music together for over a decade, running the Sum Over Histories imprint and releasing on revered labels such as Innervisions, Mule Musiq, Kompakt, and Diynamic. Now arriving on Radio Slave’s Rekids for the first time, the pair deliver two stunning productions that showcase their ability to craft emotive and punchy dancefloor tracks.

Frankey’s expansive musical approach has been an organic, lifelong tale. After studying music at university, he emerged a versatile multi-instrumentalist, as comfortable playing with the unpredictable forms of improvised jazz as he was playing in Top 40 chart bands. Sitting behind the piano in smoke-filled bars, hundreds of nights over, Frankey sowed the seeds of absolute creativity – a hazy kaleidoscope of musical ideas taking shape that would form the foundation of his compositions, arrangements and productions in the studio, free from preconceived templates or copy/paste ideas.

Sandrino’s story offers a stark yet romantic contrast. Romanian-born and with a love of Italian culture (he speaks the language fluently and met his Tuscanese wife in a London club), Sandrino’s broad European heritage inspired his passion for uncovering musical narratives, dissecting old record collections for the traditional sounds of his home country whilst indulging in the early days of Europe’s house, techno and trance scenes. He honed his skills in a West German club that had its sonic roots in the hard, industrial backdrop of the region. Despite this, Sandrino’s ability to navigate the crowd’s heavier leanings with a melodic flair and softer sound allowed him to embark on endless journeys, opening, closing, and stretching out his instincts to ten hours or more.

That trust paid off quickly. Fusing their discerning tastes with an experimental approach early on, Frankey & Sandrino spent several years in the studio, teasing out tracks on dancefloors before a series of releases on Drumpoet Community and Innervisions, the label of Dixon and Âme. In 2015 the label released ‘Acamar’, marking a milestone in their career. Instantly capturing the attention of DJs and clubbers around the globe, the brooding yet mellifluous dancefloor track has become something of a modern classic, helping define a period that saw Innervisions success rise to dizzying heights, and encouraged Frankey & Sandrino to remain fully committed to their artistic vision.