Part 1
Name: Anna Trimi aka ANNĒ
Occupation: DJ, producer
Nationality: Greek
Recent Release: ANNĒ shares a split EP with Sera J, Symbiosis, out via Mutual Rytm.
Recommendations: I would recommend two pieces of art I really like.
First one is one book that is called White: Insights into Japanese Design Philosophy of Kenya Hara. It is not a book about colors. It is rather Kenya Haras' attempt to explore the essence of "White", which he sees as being closely related to the origin of Japanese aesthetics symbolizing simplicity and subtlety. The central concepts discussed by Kenya Hara in this publication are emptiness and the absolute void. He also sees his work as a designer as a form of communication. Good communication has the distinction of being able to listen to each other, rather than to press ones opinion onto the opponent.
The second one is NONOTAK studio. NONOTAK is a creative duo founded by former visual artist Noemi Schipfer and former architect-musician Takami Nakamoto that was conceived in late 2011. NONOTAK work with light & sound installations and performance pieces to create ethereal, immersive and dreamlike environments which are built to envelope, challenge and stagger the viewer capitalising on Nakamoto’s approach to space, light & sound and Schipfer’s experience with kinetic visual and geometric drawings.
This results in a duo which creates pieces that put together light, sound and space in order to provide audience a unique visual and sensitive experience.
CHECK THEM HERE.
If you enjoyed this Anna Trimi / ANNĒ interview and would like to stay up to date with her music and current live dates, visit her on Instagram, Facebook, and Soundcloud.
Do you think that some of your earliest musical experiences planted a seed for your interest in DJing?
Since I was a child I always felt drawn to the rhythm. I was also dancing back from school! I remember myself wearing my headphones and listening to music all the time! Music was following me almost everywhere. Somehow I knew that I would follow this path. I was telling to my friends that one of dreams is to be a big dj … and we were laughing, you know ...
Also my family is a huge fan of music! In our house, music had a significant role everyday! So, in one or another way I think the seed was planted since I was born!
I have always loved club music, but I was not initially a dancer very much. What was this like for you? How does being – or not being – a passionate dancer influence the way you deejay?
I am always dancing while playing! It's important to feel the rhythm and of course it's a way to communicate your passion! I also love to join the crowd and dance while listening to other sets!
It's a unique situation when you are part of the dance floor! It's a conversation with your inner self.
For your own DJing, what were some of the most important things you learned from teachers/tutorials, other DJs, or personal experience?
I have learned to deejay by myself! Except from 3 or 4 lessons I had in the very beginning with a friend of mine, everything else is self education! Of course several people played a pivotal role in shaping my musical journey especially in my city and a lot of people helped me as well to make a bigger step in the scene.
Talking about production though, I would say that my teacher was my partner Sera J and a lot of tutorials for Ableton and all the hardware I have! I dont't have any musical backround and I have never been to music school for anything!
But the most important thing that I have learned so far is to have patience! Everything comes in its own time and way!
I have also collaborated with a lot of people, especially in my first steps - not always good collaborations - who made me realize that in this scene you need to be strong! There will be a lot of people that will try to drag you down. To try to seperate you from your partners, to bully you, to lie to you. It's important to be yourself and to be aware of your goals and dreams! I have learned to speak only with my work! This was the most important advice I got.
So basically yes ... a lot of people played a significant role in my mental stength which is also a very important aspect in this scene! And honestly I am not mad at them! I am grateful! Because all these situations make you stronger!
How do you approach digging, what are you looking for, and what were some of the best finds of the past few weeks for you?
I am very difficult when it comes to this. Definitely there is a lot of good music out there but nowadays, with so much music being released every day, it's really hard to pick the perfect releases. I am receiving hundreds of promos on a daily basis and honestly it's really hard for me to find something that trully catches my attention according to my terms. I don't know what is happening but I am always listening to the same stabs, the same drum loops, the same harmonics, even the same vocal samples. Why should I download all this same music?
I am catching myself a lot of times playing the same tracks in my sets because I can't easily find new music that works really well on the dancefloor and is different from what I usually play. I am also buying a lot of music because I believe that support is the most important thing. But sometimes I am thinking why should I buy this release, because I have another one exactly the same?!
I am looking for tracks with attitude! With good sound design! I am looking for special tracks with a unique character. Moreover, I am looking for dynamic ones with good mixing, catchy elements and strong basslines!
Some of the latest releases of the last months that caught my attention are:
1. Nechto 022 from Splinter (UA) & Louwave
2. Phara - The wall - Fuse.
3. IT059 - Memories by Fireground - ILAN TAPES
4. Federation of Rytm III - Mutual Rytm
5. Vault Records 01 - Stef Mendesidis - Crocodile's Grin
Of course there are more and of course there are artists and labels that I constantly buy and download from and whose music I play.
How do you experience "groove"and rhythm? What is the relationship between harmony, rhythm and melody?
Music can be said to be built on the interplay of melody, harmony and rhythm. Melody is what results from playing notes of different pitches - sometimes pitches can be repeated, too - one after the other in an 'organised' way. Melodies are very distinguishable and are often singable. However, just the succession of pitches doesn't make a melody. Each note played has a duration.
The way we arrange sounds in time is the rhythm. Rhythm is how you inhabit the pulse.
Usually, melodies are not just played alone by a solo instrument or a group of instruments playing the same thing. Very frequently there are 'lead' instruments which play melodies (such as the voice, wind instruments, etc.) and, at the same time, others that accompany them doing something else. This relationship between different notes played at the same time is what we call harmony.
But not all rhythms are going to groove!
You can certainly have melody without harmony. Any unaccompanied vocalist is providing just that. You can sort of have harmony without melody, or you can at least think of it in those terms. Strumming random chords on a guitar creates a harmony. While it’s technically made up of pitches, there is some semblance of melody to it, it’s not a deliberate attempt to make a melody.
What makes a good song? That’s subjective. For me when music stands pleasant in my ears, with all the above that I mentioned, I could say that this is the moment I am experiencing the perfect groove and rhythm.
How would you describe the experience of DJing, physically and mentally? Do you listen – and deejay - with your eyes open or closed?
It depends! I love to see people dancing and the way they are connecting with my music. But sometimes when I really love specific tracks I am always closing my eyes! Its the better way to feel the music and to fully immerse myself into it.
DJing is a multisensory experience. For me it is happines! It's not a job! It is a moment that both my brain and my body are fully synchronized to a magical ritual!
