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ANNA INTERVIEW + GUEST MIX
Recently we spoke to Brazil’s ANNA, an artist tearing up the underground scene at the moment with both her productions and sets. ANNA has kicked off this year in some fashion with all three of her releases featuring in the top ten of Beatport’s Techno chart, which included an original on Diynamic’s most popular series, Four to the Floor – all this popularity but it comes as no surprise with her sound ticking all the right boxes. Over the past two years the Brazilian has broken out onto the international circuit with a flurry of releases on some highly respected labels and ANNA has consistently delivered with a driving energy and a menacing deepness. Strap yourself in, lock into the guest mix and enjoy the read getting to know more about Brazil's leading Techno artist...
When it comes to talking about your first experience of dance music you’ve previously talked about the impact being in your fathers club from a young age had but what was the pinnacle moment that made you decide ‘this is the industry I want to be in?’
I don’t remember having an exact moment, the more I was getting into dance music, discovering new sounds, new artists, the more I wanted to be in it and work with this, I started practicing a lot, buying vinyl’s, then I discovered music production, I became very immersed into this music, all I wanted to do was be a DJ and producer. When I made 18 I remember my mother having a go at me to find another job, but I told her this was the career I wanted to pursue, she finally understood it, and everything worked out in the end.
Was there a pinpoint moment for you when you knew Techno/Tech-House was the strain of electronic music that you were going to start producing?
When I started playing dance music I was still discovering underground music, my dad had a club but he didn't know much about underground music either, so I discovered everything by myself, I used to buy all styles of records, drum’n’bass, trance, house, progressive. Around 2003 I remember deciding that my main thing was gonna be techno/tech house, I was really into Carl Craig, Dave Angel, Carl Cox, Laurent Garnier, Derrick May, Derrick Carter, it was was the style that pleased me the most at the time and it still is.
Recently you’ve said that 2015 was the best year for you as producer and DJ having had releases on sort after labels like Turbo & Circus and touring all around the world including for Carl Cox at Space in Ibiza. How do previous years compare to last years significant year? Have there been any hurdles to overcome?
I’ve been a DJ for 16 years already, and I can say that the last 2 years were the “good years” so yes of course I had a lot of hurdles, lot of frustration, difficulties when there were times I had no gigs, no money, a lot of frustrating times when I couldn’t get my music signed to good labels, but when you really love what you do it is easier to deal with these hurdles and keep going. When a label didn't wanna sign my music I went to the studio to make better sounds, when I had no gigs I thought what I could do to be a better artist, I never thought about giving up, now I see it was worth it.
ANNA playing for Carl Cox at Space in Ibiza
Last year you also moved to Barcelona – were there musical reasons behind the move or purely for lifestyle?
I was traveling to Europe a lot on tour, I was also getting a lot of requests which I had to decline because I was all the way in Brazil therefore when the time was right I decided to move to Europe and I chose Barcelona because I love the city so much. The first time I visited I fell in love and told myself I was gonna live here one day.
This year has kicked off in some style for you with your releases of 2016 so far (1/04), an original on Diynamic and a remix for Suara holding the #2 and #3 spot in the Beatport Techno chart – a remarkable achievement! I understand you have releases coming out this year on Terminal M, Exploited, and Knee Deep In Sound to name a few – how have those releases come about on those labels?
I had a track with Terminal M last year, and it was a huge success. It was played by Richie Hawtin, Solomun, Jamie Jones, Hot Since 82 to name a few, also it reached top#2 on Beatport Techno charts so we decide I was gonna do a whole EP this year to do a follow up. Exploited and Knee Deep In Sound invited me to do a remix for Joyce Muniz and Wehbba, they are artists that I love so I took the offer gladly.
You’ve mentioned before that you hooked up with Diynamic because you sent tracks to label boss Solomun - is this something you still find valuable in order to be noticed by new labels or have you got to a stage where you let your sound travel and be discovered independently?
I always send my demos to the labels I want to sign to. There are so many amazing artists, know and unknown that if I wait for the labels to come to me I feel I could miss out on some good opportunities.
Richie Hawtin is a known admirer of yours; many people put him down as an inspiration in the music industry today. Who has inspired you within your own career when you were starting out and over the years to this day?
When I was really starting to get into all of this at the age of 15, DJ Marky was my main influence; he is the best DJ I know, I was so hypnotized by him playing and with the atmosphere he created in the room, that I decided I wanted to do the same. Then I discovered Laurent Garnier, Carl Craig, Derrick May, Juan Atkins, Kevin Saunderson, Richie Hawtin, Carl Cox, Dave Clarke to name a few, they are my main influences, they shaped my sound and the way I DJ.
When it comes to making music what is your creative process? Do you have a clear head before you start or do you have in mind what kind of record you want to make?
It depends, sometimes I go to the studio with the whole idea in my mind, sometimes I am out of ideas, so I go to the studio and start playing with the gears and then a bass, or a hook comes up and the music blooms. When I am stuck, I give it a break and go to hear some old mixes from the artists I love like Laurent Garnier, it helps me to bright the idea! I am also buying a lot of hardwares and it is helping me a lot to unfold the creative process.
Talking about your studio set up what piece of kit couldn’t you go without?
I love and use everything that I have right in my studio right now, nothing stays behind, Virus TI, Super Jupiter, Sub 37, Tetra, Analog Rhythm, TR-8, Microbrute, Volca Bass, Beatstep Pro.
What software do you use?
Ableton for creation. Logic for post production.
If you were to host a stage at a House & Techno festival and you could have any five artists play on your stage with you who would they be?
Carl Craig
Laurent Garnier
Ben Klock
Carl Cox
Motor City Drum Ensemble
If you could pick one standout moment for you as a DJ and as a producer so far what would they be?
As a DJ it was playing at Space Ibiza for Carl Cox and as a producer was having John Digweed invite me to his radio show because he loved the remix I did for Gorgon City, I am a really big fan of Digweed and seen him talking about my music on his show was unreal.
Can you name an artist that is currently featuring regularly in your sets?
WEHBBA