ANNA
Her music and personal journey are intertwined, with connectivity and spirituality as guiding forces.
Photographer Dean Belcher
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I wanted to include not only the wide range of styles that I produce and play but also music that isn’t usually part of my sets
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Our inaugural featured artist is ANNA, renowned for her musical prowess and exceptional command of the decks in the dance industry. This year, her musical endeavors have harmonized with her personal journey, guided by profound elements of connectivity and spirituality. Notably, she was entrusted with curating the esteemed Global Underground compilation, GU46: Lisbon by ANNA, attesting to the far-reaching influence of her music. Electronic Groove had the privilege of engaging with this admired Brazilian DJ and producer, delving into the inspiration behind her work and the inner transformation it signifies.
Hi ANNA! We’re thrilled to have this opportunity to delve into your musical journey, especially as it kicks off the first edition of Electronic Groove cover stories. How have you been lately?
Thank you so much for the opportunity and the space. I’ve been doing well, navigating through a very chaotic yet magical moment in my life.
The past couple of years have been a whirlwind for you, filled with intense production, exciting collaborations, and a journey of self-discovery. What can you tell us about this great path?
Indeed! Until 2020, I had been intensely focused on my career, maintaining the same style and mode of expression since I started. Even though 2017 brought significant emotional, spiritual, and mental shifts, I wasn’t fully expressing those changes in my
Interview by: Rocío Flores
music. It wasn’t until the world stopped in the pandemic that I also paused in automatic. The break allowed me to integrate everything I had experienced and let it be expressed through my music. Many blessings came from this, including a new project exploring my ambient music side, numerous beautiful collaborations, and a more profound sense of fulfilment and authenticity in how I share myself with the world.
Global Underground has been one of the labels that marked the path of many artists in the dance scene. Could you share with us which one of these series captivated you? Why did you choose Lisbon and not Brazil?
I’ve been aware of the GU compilations since the start of my career. They’ve always felt like a significant milestone for any DJ; a part of the culture you know is essential and exciting. It’s an honor to be part of this series now!
From the ones I’ve heard, Sasha’s compilation is my favorite. He really knows how to create an incredible journey with his mixes. Initially, I considered Brazil, but other DJs had already used the cities we discussed. Lisbon became the obvious choice, and it’s one of the reasons I decided to embark on this project. Even though I had many projects lined up, I fell utterly in love with Lisbon when I moved here two years ago. The city’s energy and its people! It is almost mystical charm captivated me. This compilation feels like a tribute to this fantastic place.
The music selection of both promos was outstanding. It took a lot of work for us to pick a favorite. All this blend of genres, sounds, and artists—wow, impressive! So, tell us the criteria you had in mind for the whole curatorship.
I wanted to include not only the wide range of styles that I produce and play but also music that isn’t usually part of my sets but that I listen to a lot in my daily life, and that has the power to make me feel good and raise my frequency. It ended up being a diverse mix, but everything made perfect sense in the end. There wasn’t a strict rule, really. For CD1, the idea was to showcase my ambient side and be more experimental with selecting a perfect soundtrack for a nice walk in Lisbon, for example. For CD2, I wanted to include some of my tracks and selections from my DJ sets to highlight the styles I’m known for, particularly my club and peak-time sounds.
Together, both CDs give a full spectrum, from stillness to chaos. I chose some of my own tracks, including works from artists I love who provided exclusive tracks, and added some magical tracks that I listen to non-stop—some classics, some brand new. It took me some time to select them all, but I’m happy because I feel they faithfully represent my current state of being but also show my entire trajectory as an artist, reflecting all the evolution I’ve experienced over the years.
In CD2, we are treated to three of your releases: ‘Kalimba Dreams’, the mesmerizing remix of ‘Hymn’ for Len Faki, and ‘Ignite’ in collaboration with Rebūke. All of these are a testament to your versatility, each offering a unique style and sound management. But let’s start with ‘Kalimba Dreams’. Could you tell us the story behind this beautiful composition?
For my single on GU, I wanted to create something slightly different that truly captures how I feel living in Lisbon. I aimed for a track that wasn’t necessarily a peak-time club track. I had this Kalimba line in mind and started
Photographer Dean Belcher
from there. I love that instrument and have wanted to create a song with it for a long time. The kalimba perfectly represents Lisbon’s vibe; it’s fresh, lovely, groovy, charming, and has a wonderful energy. ‘Kalimba Dreams’ reflects the city’s spirit and my experience living here.
On the other hand, ‘Ignite’ and ‘Hymn’ are powerful and full of energy, ready to detonate the dance floor. How was your experience working with these two techno titans? How did you maintain your unique sound in the remix for Len without diluting the original vibe?
Yes, both ‘Ignite’ and ‘Hymn’ were created with a very different intention from ‘Kalimba Dreams.’ For ‘Ignite,’ we aimed to produce a track to play in the middle of our sets, something energetic but still with beautiful emotional vibes. It was definitely made for the dance floor and our DJ sets. Working on the remix for Len Faki was particularly special. Len has been one of my favorite techno DJs for a long time. I have so many pieces of vinyl from ‘Figure’ from the early days of my career. Receiving the invitation to remix him was a
pleasant surprise. When approaching the remix, I always aim to retain the original’s vibe, but sometimes there are better choices. In this case, I wanted to keep those beautiful arpeggios the same. Instead, I added my signature sound beats and processed the original stems differently, keeping the essence intact. It was about enhancing the track without losing what made it unique in the first place.
If we were on a tour of Lisbon with you, which places would you take us?
I would take you to Parque Monsanto for a dose of nature. Then we could head to Rua Augusta to enjoy some delicious bolinho de bacalhau. A walk along the Tejo River is a must!! For lunch, I’d recommend Prado Mercearia, I always go there, it is my top 3 to have amazing local food! We’d also visit Miradouro de Santa Luzia to enjoy the breathtaking city views. But for me, it’s all about the energy this city has. Lisbon has an incredible vibe that makes me feel wonderfully at home.
“ ” My advice is to always do what you truly LOVE. Passion is the key to enduring and thriving in the long run
It’s been a year since you released ‘Intentions’, an album that shows another beautiful side of you. Please dive into the inspiration, themes, and instruments you used to give life to this masterpiece. What intentions did you want to manifest through the songs of the album?
‘Intentions’ was an expression of a state of consciousness I tapped into after 2017. It wanted to be expressed so strongly that everything happened very quickly once I started. Initially, I was experimenting with this music as a tool for my own journey—in my moments of meditation, contemplation, and
walks in nature. These sounds helped me return to those expanded states. But as synchronicities happened and the stars aligned, the opportunity to share this with the world presented itself. With the help of many beautiful collaborators and my team, we released ‘Intentions’ on Universal Music, which turned into a lovely project.
Each sound on the album encodes a specific intention: Pause, Allowing, Connection, Remembrance, Letting Go, Surrender, Gratitude. My overall intention was to create a space that supports people in accessing their inner world, where all the healing, power, and love lie. Music is a powerful tool to help you with all that, and I wanted to use it to help others in their own journeys.
In ‘Intentions,’ we found the contribution of Laraaji, one of the masters in the ambient world. How did this encounter happen? Also, ‘Receiving’ had a piano version created by John Hopkins. What were some of your experiences with these talented producers in terms of music learning?
Having Laraaji and Jon Hopkins collaborate with me on my first ambient album was magical. I could hardly believe it was happening. This experience reinforced my belief in following your heart’s desire. The collaboration with Laraaji came about through an insight from my manager, Ben Turner, who contacted him, sent the first drafts of my album, and invited him to collaborate. Even though the album wasn’t ready, Laraaji loved the drafts and wanted to create a track together. That’s how ‘Receiving’ was born—it was so seamless, with everything aligning perfectly. Jon Hopkins actually remixed my collaboration track with Laraaji. I have worked with Jon three times already, starting with my remix of his track “Singularity,” which was a turning point in my career. Collaborating with Jon is always a blessing; he is one of my biggest influences. His music is constantly on my mind when creating in the studio.
Collaborating with geniuses like these helps me expand my knowledge and how I make music. It enriches my work so much. Each collaboration I do brings new insights and skills that I carry with me into all my future projects. I love collaborating with artists—it’s an incredible way to grow and evolve creatively.
Which track of ‘Intentions’ was most fulfilling to create?
In this album, all the tracks hold equal significance because each is a tool that holds space in the journey to wholeness. Some tracks might feel more pleasant than others, but when we see the full picture of our journey, we understand that we learn and grow from all life experiences. So, each track represents different emotional states and parts of the journey, making it difficult to choose just one as the most fulfilling to create.
Another topic we would love to highlight is the wonderful number of collaborations and remixes you have recently done—from John Hopkins and Max Cooper to Orbital, Rob Grant, Lana del Rey, and Depeche Mode! Which collaboration left the biggest mark on you? What connected you to these top artists? How does their unique style align with yours?
Sometimes, I still can’t believe how all of this happened. When I’m remixing or collaborating with such artists, I always take a moment to reflect and think, “How did I get here?” Each collaboration has been significant in different ways, and it’s hard to pick just one that stands out the most. But to answer the question, I’ll mention the recent remix I did for Depeche Mode’s new album. This project was particularly special because Depeche Mode is my mother’s favorite band. Seeing her reaction, knowing that her daughter is now collaborating with the band she loved so much when she used to go out, was incredibly emotional for both of us. My mother is a big part of my history, and this moment felt like a touching culmination of our journey together, especially considering everything we’ve been through.
What connects me to these artists is the music itself. Over the past few years, I have received many remix requests not only from the electronic world but also from famous rock bands and other genres. I’ve had a long career, continually developing, evolving, and expanding my sound, so this progression feels natural. Sometimes, the style of the original track doesn’t necessarily align with mine, but if the music touches my heart, I accept the remix or collaboration. I find ways to work the sounds into my style. Before accepting any project, I would like to bring that music into my world. This approach has allowed me to maintain my unique sound while embracing diverse collaborations.
What would you say to young ANNA, knowing you have achieved so much through the years? What has encouraged you to continue and never give up?
I would say to little Ana, “Thank you so much for being so amazing and courageous and never doubting that you could live your dreams. I don’t know where so much resilience and confidence came from at such a young age, but here we are. Thank you, Anna!” What has encouraged me is the love I have for what I do. I never pursued this for any reason other than love. For many years, most of my career actually, I played for little money at small parties, but I was having the time of my life. So, my advice is to always do what you truly LOVE. Passion is the key to enduring and thriving in the long run.
“ ” I fell utterly in love with Lisbon when I moved here two years ago. This compilation feels like a tribute to this fantastic place
Lastly, what are your dreams and aspirations for future projects and career moving forward?
I’ve been enjoying spending a lot of time in the studio lately because my music is changing significantly, and it’s always exciting to see the final results of my creative process. I never know what is going to happen, really. More than ever, I strongly desire to open my platform that merges music with sound healing, meditation, and the expansion of consciousness. However, I don’t plan too rigidly. I have these visions, but I let life lead and go with the flow. Most of the time, something even better than I envisioned ends up happening. I’ve learned to be flexible with plans and expectations, embracing whatever opportunities come my way.
Photographer Dean Belcher
