DJ Annakiss Interview October 2008

Hi Anna, we’ve heard a lot about you and it’s a pleasure to have you playing for us at Summits 3rd birthday. We’d like to ask you a few questions to let the Masses @ Summit know what you’re all about…

1. How long have you been playing house and electro for and what made you get into the scene?

When I first started DJing in 1994 I played House, Hardcore and Jungle. I then went on a long and winding musical journey where I went full circle, back to specialising solely in House & Electro in 2004. So, it’s hard to say when I got into the scene, but I know what it was… music that made me as passionate and excited as I was when I first started raving, and playing for crazy clubbers who are hungry for good music they haven’t heard before!

2. Anyone that’s seen your profile can see you’ve played in many different places globally but where was your first set abroad and how did it go?

Well I worked my first season in Ayia Napa in 2001 so a whole season of sets and residencies followed in various clubs & bars, but my first official overseas booking was Xmas 2001 when I was flown to Germany to play at Club Soho in Mannheim. I smashed it then saw my birthday in at midnight getting extremely drunk on Jaegermeister!

3. As an International DJ what is your favourite playing out experience?

Hmmm… there’s far too many to choose just one! And each one has been so different. I am very lucky to have seen a lot of countries and played in some amazing clubs – some that are truly stunning or that are on the beach where you can watch the sun coming up over the sea… My favourite country to play was Pakistan, as they were so welcoming and totally surprised me with the music they liked – they were more underground than some of my London gigs! I played for 5 hours and only stopped because I needed the loo.

4. And what is your favourite club to play in?

I think Ministry of sound (London) because the equipment and system is always good, and although playing worldwide is great, there is no place like home, I feel comfortable playing to a London crowd, because that is what I know best.

5. Is there anywhere you haven’t played yet that you would like to play?

HELL YEH!! Where to start… Australia, Russia, Canada, New York… and we’d be here all day if I started listing all the clubs in the UK and Europe that I have my sights on!

6. Do you have that special venue that you call home?

I guess it is Zanzibar in Uxbridge where we hold our own promotion ‘Lemonade’ twice a month. It’s where I first started playing out in 1999 every Friday, so it’s nice to be back there bringing the old vibes back into that place.

7. A lot of people know you from playing on the radio here and abroad, where did your journey into radio start?

You know, it was always a childhood dream of mine, to be a radio DJ.. even before I knew much about music! I started out by doing a few shows on Life FM when it was a pirate back in 1999, then I moved to West London’s Freeze where I was a regular fixture on Saturday nights until about 2005. I did Passion for a while, but I found it hard committing the time each week. I now do a weekly show which gets aired on 4 stations – FM stations in Cyprus and Portugal; and 2 internet stations – www.ctduo.net (Rhythm Digital) and the mighty www.di.fm’s Electro channel. I get around 1000 listeners each week on that one, it amazes me how far my show reaches!

8. It looks like you have a pretty hectic schedule, when you’re not DJing and producing what do like to get up to?

LOL I’ve just realised that it is pretty much my life – there’s always something to do related to DJing and producing! I work a few days a week running a web shop with a friend selling new-agey stuff (www.hoa.org.uk), and if I ever got spare time I’d be using my skills as an NLP / Hypnotherapy Practitioner. Right now, music comes first though… and to be honest, I don’t imagine it ever being any different!

9. Have you got any up and coming tunes we should look out for?

I’ve just finished a techy/deep electro track with my friend Lucarelli called Dreams which features 6yr old Tia on vocals. We’re in the midst of getting that signed so it should be out to buy in all good download stores in a few months. There will also be some monstrous electro and meaningful tech coming soon…

10. What’s your favourite shape?

Circle – because it’s a never ending cycle, like life and the seasons… I have a tattoo of the sun on my arm which symbolises the same thing.

11. Take That or East 17?

Neither! I never ever got into boy bands, I was always too underground for that! If my life depended on it, it would be East 17 because they did have a little bit of credibility I suppose.

12. Who is your favourite DJ?

Now that is a really tough one… I haven’t been really blown away by anyone’s technique since I saw Eric Morillo a few years ago. What makes me go see a DJ perform now is if they are a producer I like, as there’s the prospect of hearing unreleased tunes of theirs. So in that case; Micky Slim, Bart B More, Deadmau5, Justin Martin and loads more!

13. Some say Carl Cox is the Baby Jesus of techno… Do you agree?

Hahaha lol sorry mental picture of Carl Cox in a nativity scene… um.. I guess so… I love the fact that Techno is now a mahoosive genre with many sub genres. I guess if it has to be down to someone it would be Carl!

14. Any embarrassing moment’s whist DJing?

I know there has been, but right now I can’t remember! Haha that’ll be my mind blocking them out no doubt… The only one that springs to mind was when I played in Bahrain the DJ before me stopped the track and took his CD out, leaving silence. I’d only just walked in so I totally wasn’t ready to play, but the crowd were going mental chanting my name. He had to carry on, then when it was time for me to start I was mixing into his last track and he did it again!!! So to cover the boring beat intro of my first track I grabbed the mic and said a few choice words… I like to think that it was more embarrassing for him than me though.

15. And finally what can we expect to see from you at Summits birthday?

Well, firstly that depends on the crowd, because I always work them – if they’ll let me then I’ll let the beast within out! (LOL) And that means bouncin hyper filthy dirty fidgety electro with a few well known anthems in between… oh and me jumping around like a mad bird behind the decks… See you all there!!xx

For more info on Anna's upcoming gigs, radio shows, and to get a listen to some of her stuff, logo on at www.djannakiss.com

Thank you!! Looking forward to seeing you soon

You can also come and party with Anna, and about 30 other DJ's when she takes to the decks to co-headline the Summit Dirty room at Summit III: Clash of the Titans. Summit Dirty will host in the super sexy surroundings of babalou Nightclub.