Former A&H man returns with PLAYdifferently project

DJ and electronic musician Richie Hawtin, has teamed up with former Allen and Heath product developer Andy Rigby-Jones in a new firm called PLAYdifferently.

After 25 years at Allen & Heath’s Xone DJ division, Andy Rigby-Jones left the company in 2014 and partnered with Richie Hawtin. The firm has now partnered with the Audiotonix group, which is an international distributor and owner of brands including Allen & Heath and DigiCo.

Over the past two years, the pair have been developing and testing their first prototype of an instrument which now is nearing completion.

Rigby-Jones explained: “The last two years have been a whirlwind of activity working with Richie on this exciting new project, but we both realised that to get our creation out to a wider audience we should partner with a major manufacturer, and who better than my old employer Allen & Heath.  A&H are now part of the Audiotonix group and as such provide unrivalled manufacturing, marketing and technical expertise in the UK.”

“Our aim is to create instruments which DJs and electronic musicians can play,” added Richie Hawtin, “magnifying the creative impulse that drives our most inspired performances. This company is not about one performance style – or my style – this is for all artists who strive to unlock and expand their own innate talent.”

Glenn Rogers MD of Allen & Heath commented: “Richie and Andy have both played key roles in making Xone the successful DJ brand it is today, so we’re excited to join forces with them again on this different direction of play.”