SONOS CLUB : ANNA
Anna is a London-based multi-genre DJ and journalist. She loves a huge range of music, so it feels most natural for her to move between genres ranging from afrobeats, reggaeton, rnb, and dancehall, to amapiano, uk funky, baile funk, jersey club, and jungle.
INTERVIEW
What are some early memories of music from your upbringing that shaped your taste today?
ANNA: I don’t feel like my parents have hugely influenced my taste in music per se, as we listen to very different genres – but the way they love music has definitely shaped me. My parents are obsessed with live music – they’ve been to an unquantifiable amount of concerts at this point. Watching music be such a non-negotiable part of their life has meant it’s always been the same for me, too.
They also listen to a huge range of genres – from 80s post punk, to soul and funk, to pop and indie. I’m sure that has influenced me to be interested in so many different sounds, as I’m a true multi-genre girlie!
How do you integrate your heritage or identity into your DJ sets or productions?
ANNA: I play music from heritages that are not mine – so I always want to give love to the cultures that have produced so much of the music that I love, including Caribbean, Nigerian, Ghanaian, South African, Brazilian, African American, and beyond.
At an identity level, I’ve always been really curious and I love finding new sounds – so that comes through in the way that I bounce around from genre to genre. Also, my friends, who I consider part of my identity, have influenced my musical journey and how I put together sets.
Are there any specific artists or genres from your background that have been particularly influential to your craft?
ANNA: The music that really inspired me to start DJing was bass-heavy Afro-inspired music and UK funky coming from artists and DJs like Mina & Bryte, Gafacci, Hagan, and Busy Twist in around 2019-2020. I was really drawn to the fusion of UK bass and sounds from the African diaspora. At the time, I was at uni in a really small town, and I just wasn’t hearing music like that in the clubs - so I started playing it myself! I also was really inspired by DJs like Jyoty and Jordss, who I found really refreshing as they have so much freedom in their sets and play genres from R&B all the way up to jungle.
When you’re crafting a DJ set, do you have a particular story or vibe you aim to convey? How do you build it?
ANNA: When crafting my DJ sets, my main goal is literally just to create an atmosphere where people can move, vibe, and sing along. Across all the genres I play - whether it's afrobeats, jungle, or anything else - the common thread is groove, movement, and rhythm.
I also love playing with edits and blending genres, taking familiar tracks and presenting them in fresh, unexpected ways. I love when DJs introduce me to new sounds, teach me something new, or surprise me with a unique edit of a track I already know.
What’s your process for discovering and selecting new music? Any go-to sources or methods?
ANNA: I’m a real SoundCloud scourer - it’s such a treasure trove of fun edits and remixes. I also love exploring Bandcamp, it’s an amazing platform not only for finding great music, but also for directly supporting the DJs and producers.
Also - going out! Although I love to listen to mixes on SoundCloud and YouTube as they’re great ways to discover music, nothing compares to going out and listening to DJs at an event. It also helps me improve my own skills and understand how to set the right vibe.
Can you talk about a track or mix you’ve created that holds a special meaning to you? What’s the story behind it?
ANNA: I love every mix that I do! They’re all born out of a love for what I’m listening to at that time.
How important is representation and visibility for you in the electronic music scene?
ANNA: Representation is so important in the electronic music scene – it’s so white-washed and sometimes people don’t know the roots of what they’re playing or listening to. That’s why it’s so important to me to always champion artists, DJs and producers at the grassroots level.
I think it’s really important for DJs, especially ones like me who play music from other cultures, to learn the history of the genres that they play and always be a student in that regard. Genres usually map immigration and the fusion of cultures, so it’s really interesting and vital history.
Have there been moments where you’ve felt your identity helped you stand out or connect with your audience in unexpected ways?
ANNA: I’m always nervous to play an eclectic range of music in a set. I know some crowds might find it jarring if I jump between genres or bring in more electronic music. But that’s also where my strength lies - my favourite sets are the ones where I get to explore a wider range of sounds, and when people come up to the decks to say it felt refreshing or different. That reminds me why I do it!
What are some emerging trends in electronic or experimental music that excite you right now?
ANNA: I’ve loved seeing genres merge and interact in unexpected ways. I’ve recently found some edits and mash-ups that have fused bollywood and amapiano, or afrobeats and jungle. That’s so lit!
How do you envision your music evolving in the next few years? Are there new sounds or ideas you want to explore?
ANNA: I really want to continue deepening my knowledge of music, both past and present. I’m very interested in the history of music - I think knowing how genres are formed makes me a better DJ, so I want to continue learning. I’d also love to DJ in front of more open-minded crowds and revisit my love for the underground sounds that got me into DJing.
If you could curate a dream lineup for an event, which artists would you include and why?
ANNA: If I could curate a dream lineup for an event, I'd definitely include my fellow Musenverse collective members, SNDYVIBES and Esthahh, as well as some of my other friends in the DJ community including my good friend Shinzee. Community means everything to me, and their energy and support make this a no-brainer. Other DJs who have profoundly inspired my journey and who would be on my dream line up are the Soulection collective, who were a major reason I started DJing, Jordss, with her unique sound and creative edits, Sango, one of my favourite producers and DJs, and of course, the Godfather of future beats, Kaytranada, whose influence has shaped so much of what I doWhat a hard question! I’d need a mix of live artists and DJs, and a huge range of genres: going from R&B and soul, to afrobeats and amapiano, and finishing with harder sounds like jungle. I’d love to have some of my favourite artists at the moment, like Doechii, Sasha Keable, Qendresa, Wizkid, Amaarae, Bad Bunny, Leon Thomas, and so many more.
DJ-wise, I’d need to have Jordss and Glade Marie, whose sets are so eclectic and full of groove and energy. I’d love to have afrobeats and amapiano DJs like AB Dollars and Vigro Deep, and go all the way up to heavier electronic sounds with jungle heavy-weights like DJ Storm. I’m missing so many people off, but just know the line-up would be stacked!.
How do you stay motivated and keep your creativity flowing, especially during challenging times?
ANNA: For me, the whole reason I DJ is because of my deep love for music. If I ever feel bored or stuck with DJing, I step away from the decks and my ‘DJ brain’ and just return to the music: I go back to the old stuff I love, or explore new sounds. Music inspires me, and the DJing flows from there.
What’s one message you hope people take away when they listen to your sets or mixes?
ANNA: Have fun!!! Move your body. Escape your problems for a bit. That’s what music is there for. I’m just a vessel for the vibes.
SONOS CLUB is an initiative from Sounds of Craft Records, designed to highlight the eclectic electronic music scene through the perspectives of the BIPOC diaspora and marginalized communities, while being open to all.
