Q&A: Anna

Techno isn’t just for boys anymore. It’s for girls like Anna, who could have very well have ended up a Brazilian model with her looks, but she instead ended up a techno DJ. And there was never anything else she wanted to be, as she spent much of her youth in a nightclub and had her aha moment when she was just 14 after seeing DJ Marky play. But that doesn’t mean that she has anything to prove, or perhaps she’s already done that because in 2014 she came in 59th in the top techno artists list on Beatport and 12th on Traxsource, and her music has been getting the nod from DJs like Carl Cox, Richie Hawtin and John Digweed. Green Velvet has even remixed her.

Brazil, however, isn’t the best place for a techno DJ but Anna tours the world on the regular and spent a few years living in Europe, which she will be once again be residing this year. Her musical home is a bit more comfortable, with her latest EP out on Kraftek and more releases behind her on Twin Turbo and Tronic. And with that, 2015 is shaping up to be a shining year for the rising Brazilian star and she plans to take on Asia at some point, so she has prepared for us an exclusive mix and accompanying interview.

How does a female become interested in techno in Brazil? Is there much of a techno scene there at all?

My history in electronic music begun in my early teenage years as my father was the owner of one of the biggest nightclubs in the state of Sao Paulo in Brazil, and I was always trying to get involved in his business asking loads of questions about this that and the other.

He had to travel about 3 hours to the Sao Paulo capital to buy records for his club and I always went along with him, learning how to research and developing my own taste in electronic music from the very beginning, which led me straight to techno music, the style that stuck with me until this day.

There is a little bit of a scene but it is not big at all. The music in Brazil is constantly changing and it follows the trends. Today what is going on is commercial deep house and tomorrow we never know what is going to happen. When a particular track is in fashion, all the DJs play it because the crowd wants to hear it, which unfortunately means there isn’t much of a musical culture.

What drew you to techno amid a culture that enjoys commercial dance music and how much effort did it take to become familiar with it without being directly immersed in the scene?

My first contact with electronic music was through drum and bass actually, and that was watching DJ Marky play at my father’s club when I was 14. I used to listen to it all day, and when I finally decided to become a DJ I used to mix and listen to everything. It was not easy to have access to vinyl because where I lived there were no records shops so I had to travel three hours to buy vinyl and listen to new stuff, but it was like that, listening to everything and researching on my own that I fell in love with techno and decided that this was the style I wanted to pursue. When I was about 16, I started to travel to DJ in Sao Paulo when the techno scene was stronger. A lot of clubs and parties used to play techno, but unfortunately it’s not like that anymore.

What’s the one unsuspecting thing about Brazil’s underground music scene that most people wouldn’t know about?

The underground scene is very disorganized and there are very few parties in relation to the size of the country. Most venues that support underground also do commercial parties except for a very few selective ones.

You made a move to Europe from Brazil. How did this influence you as a musician and did you have any trouble fitting back into the music scene in Brazil when you returned?

In Europe the underground music scene is very strong and very different from Brazil. Being in Europe allowed me to make contact with artists and music that I couldn’t reach before and yes, of course, I was influenced by all of this so when I got back to Brazil where the style then was electro house, I had some problems trying to fit back in. But I didn’t change my style and I stuck with techno. Most of my influences come from Europe and that is why I’m moving back.

You started DJing when you were 14. What were you playing then? Do you think you had good taste in music from the beginning or did it evolve?

I used to play techno and tech house but I didn’t know much in the beginning. I remember looking at vinyl only to discover the artists and the labels. I researched a lot by listening to a lot of different music and gradually I started becoming more selective and therefore defining my style.

You’ve listed Green Velvet as one of your idols and then he remixed one of your songs. That’s huge. What about him inspires you and what did you learn from a more personal experience with him?

His versatility in the studio. I’m a fan of Green Velvet and Cajmere. He is such a nice character and an amazing DJ. I love everything about Green Velvet!

I learned that life is unpredictable – years ago I used to buy all the vinyl that Green Velvet put out and I could never imagine that I would eventually meet him and even more that he would one day remix one of my tracks! So moral of the story is…be true to yourself and to others, as you never know what is around the corner.

What has been the biggest obstacle in your career thus far?

The fact that I’m shy. I really REALLY shy! Sometimes this gets in the way of my career as there is a lot of networking in this industry and it does need me to go out there and make the networking effort. But I’m trying my best to get better at this!

As a female DJ, do you think you’ve been given more breaks or that you’ve had to work harder to be taken seriously?

I think a little of both but I have always been more focused on my music than on my image. I want people to leave the club thinking that I’m a great DJ who definitely knows what she’s doing and who’s got content. That’s why I work so hard researching music, perfecting my technique and making music. I think if you do all of these things and you are good at it too then I don’t see a problem on improving your image and taking advantage of your beauty. It’s only bad to base your whole career on that and have nothing to show when you perform live in front of your audience.

Criticism runs strong in this industry, especially for females. Have you experienced this and what’s your advice on dealing with it?

There was a time that I got really upset with criticism, when the labels didn’t want to sign my tracks or promoters didn’t want to book me, but in all these years I learned to take criticism and keep my head up, and not be upset because it is part of our job. But there is a little bit of prejudice against female DJs, you have to prove yourself more, especially if you are pretty and feminine. Once my friend Christian Smith posted a picture of mine on his Facebook page saying that he was proud of me doing so well and a guy commented on it saying ‘who produces her’, as if a woman was not able to do something herself. And Christian answered, ‘she produces herself actually.’

What is the best compliment you have ever received?

A guy told me that my music makes things easier for him and makes his days happier.

If you weren’t a DJ, what would you want to be?

I really don’t know. I’ve been a DJ since I was 14 years old. Sometimes I stop to think what I would be and I can never come up with something.

You were DJing for many years before you got into producing but suddenly it’s your productions that are awarding you with nods from DJs that you once idolized. Did the processes of making music come as organically as DJing did for you?

Yes, as soon as I started DJing I became curious about production but I only officially released my first track in 2008, six years after I started DJing. I researched a lot, read a lot and took some classes but most of the things I know today I learned with my fiancée – he is an amazing sound engineer.

Do you think DJing today is a package deal with producing or can you get by doing just one role?

I think if you are just a DJ trying to make it in the scene and you don’t have a good network it is almost impossible because there are so many DJs nowadays. In order for you to be relevant, you need to have the entire package.

These days, with the help of the Internet, the easiest and most efficient way to make people aware of you is by promoting your own productions with the help of social media. I only started touring the world after having released on labels that have a strong reputation worldwide.

The music industry is hectic. How do you deal with the lifestyle of being up late and the pressures of traveling?

I exercise a lot and I’ve also made a conscious effort to eat healthy. It makes such a difference as it helps me arrive in the cities that I’m going to play in good shape. I live in Brazil and I have to travel almost every week to countries in South America and Europe, it is really exhausting and sometimes I have no time to sleep. I also meditate twice a day and it’s like a miracle, it gives me extra energy.

What’s a day in the life of Anna like?

When I am not touring, I wake up early to walk my dog, have breakfast and go to the gym, check my emails, talk with my manager and after that I go to my piano classes. After lunch I research some new music and new equipment for the studio, and when I feel like I go to the studio to make music. At night I watch my soap opera (Brazilian ones are the best,) watch a movie if there is not a DJ in town that I would like to see and then I go to sleep.

Asia is one of the last places that you haven’t toured yet. What are your ideas and perceptions of the region? What would you like to see and do here and do you have any dream places to play?

There are so many places I would love to visit in Asia! I would love to go to Thailand and spend an entire week on those paradise beaches just looking at the scenery. I would also love to visit Japan and eat a lot of Japanese food, as it’s my favorite cuisine! My dream is to play at Womb in Tokyo.