This incredible year for the techno queen continues with so much ‘Momentum’
Interview by Dan Prince
Our Brazilian queen of techno! Welcome back to DMCWORLD!! Where in the world are you today?
Thanks for having me again! I am in Barcelona at home.
What was the first piece of music you heard this morning after crawling out of bed?
It was a track I have finished yesterday, called “Redemption”. Every time I finish a track, the first thing I do on the next day is go running, listen to it and see if I still like it.
Cool. Well massive news for you right now with the release of your new EP ‘Momentum’ swinging our way on the mighty Yoshitoshi Recordings, please talk us through the sound and production of this ace two tracker…
The whole ideia of “Momentum” came to me while messing around with Wavestation from Korg, and suddenly I came across this amazing sound, which is the pad from the main breakdown. So I’ve built a deeper drum programing around it and added that “strange” stab that was done on Reaktor, and finally the idea to have that kind of siren came up to make it all more uplifting. “Dis n Dat” didn’t come from any specific sound like Momentum did, it was more of a natural process of building around a beat and bassline, using the sort of synth sounds that people have come to expect from me, and then crafting the breakdown that would suit the whole fat bass and heavy drum programming concept.
People are already saying that “Momentum” is going to be one of the big tracks for January’s BPM Festival, one of the finest events on the dance music calendar. For those who haven’t been to BPM before, why is this festival so important and so damned good?
BPM is one of the “Places To Be”. It has become a must like Sonar, ADE and WMC…all the industry are there and it’s a more relaxed atmosphere over a few days, plus it’s on a beach in Mexico! I don’t think it can get any better then that.
What are the 5 big tunes in your box this weekend…
Wehbba – View Of Delft [Systematic Recordings]
It is a very special track, one of the best I’ve heard in years, everytime I play it is such a special moment, it will be out in November.
Aprohead – Grown Man Cry (Carl Craig Remix)
I love the intro, the bass sound, the groove, I love everything about this track, it is amazing, Carl Craig is a genius.
ANNA – Where Are You Now [terminal M]
Sorry to put my own track on it, but this one has been a big one for me! It has been played by the likes of Richie, Solomun and Hot Since 82 to name but a few. It always works in my sets and it is one of the biggest tracks of my career to date.
DJ Dozia – Pop Culture (Kink Remix) [Ovum Recordings]
I love how organic sound Kink’s productions, I like the way he worked the vocal on this one and also the dirty drums.
Christian Smith – Day One [Tronic]
What I love the most about this one is the arpeggio, it makes you fly.
You posted a photo on Facebook this week of one of the coolest places in Europe…Montserrat!! It is so close to Barcelona and Ibiza, but nobody knows it’s there. And what a cable car ride huh?
Yes! I had an amazing day there, wonderful place and very spiritual…I meditated on the mountains and did some hiking, everyone that has a chance should visit Montsrrat, I will come back next month because I could not see everything in one day.
ADE must seem like a distant memory now, in our eyes it was the best one yet. What were some of your highlights – the tunes, the clubs, the party animals…
Yes, for me it was the most productive one, I had a lot of projects like DJ MAG broadcasting w/ Dave Clarke, Alan Fitzpatrick, Gregor Tresher, I did the Dance Department meeting – the biggest radio in Holland…and the parties were great at Click at Westerunie and Tronic at Q-Factory. I also attended the Drumcode party at Gasholder which was incredible and the Systematic party was great too. I didn’t party much this year but I met a lot of friends from all over the world and this is what I love most about ADE. EVERYBODY attends and you meet friends from India, Dubai, Canada, USA, Brazil…
Thoughts on the Top100 DJs poll…every producer gets slated, every credible underground DJ professes to not giving a shit…what is your take on this annual back slapping competition?
I didn’t check the DJ Mag list, I never do. I really don’t care about that sort of thing, I believe it’s mostly about promotion and the commercial aspects of music which is not part of my world and I don’t think these lists represent much of what really goes on in the scene as a whole.
How was Ibiza for you this summer? It was the hottest, wettest, most musically diverse, busiest…
Amaaaaaaazing!!! I was lucky enough to play at the last season of Carl Cox’s party at Space and it was a dream come true. I also attended ENTER where Wehbba was playing which was also an incredible party. I have no complaints about Ibiza this year, I was not there a lot but the days I went were great.
What was your summer anthem?
Wehbba – View Of Delft [Systematic Recordings]
Your favourite festival of 2015?
Awakenings
Not many people know this, but ANNA is really good at…
Volleyball
It is well documented that you basically grew up in your father’s DJ booth and that most of your family somehow are involved in the dance music scene – gotta ask, do they love your music?!?!
They do!!! My mother does not understand the music too much but she always goes to my gigs when she can and she shares EVERYTHING I post on facebook hahaha! My father loves it and my brother and cousins buy all my EPs, I get so much love from them!
And finally, what is coming out next from you studio wise?
I have an EP coming out on Tronic in November, I’ve remixed Macromism for Octopus and Eric Sneo for Transmit, they will be released in December. I will remix the classic Psycho X-Girlfriend from Eddie Amador for Yoshitoshi – I am excited about this one as I have had the vinyl since I was a little girl and it was a big one for me.
{http://soundcloud.com/yoshitoshi/sets/anna-momentum}
