The first time I heard ANI. was several years ago in Masters club Zagreb where she regularly organised events with her Deep’n’Delicious collective with Bronski & Herya. As she perfectly described, her sound is edgy and provocative, but also floaty and sensual in her unique and always cheerful vibe.
We had a chat with her before her next appearance on Sonus festival on August 18 about her DJ path, local scene and music influences.
When did you start DJing, what was your motivation, and where did it all start?
Music has always been part of my life, through the years it simply evolved with me starting to actively be part of the music scene and play music. As a child, I was influenced by classical music education in music school and piano lessons. Over the years my interest in electronic music grew and when I met my life partner (aka Bronski), also a DJ, he influenced me the most in wanting to learn to DJ. It was pure luck to have the perfect environment to learn everything from scratch, when hearing him play it completely involved me… This was my motivation in a way, the love for this special feeling that electronic music makes you feel, to be able to speak this universal language and give a contribution of my own. I started DJing at home a lot back then, at afterparties and small gatherings, and my first gig was in 2019.
You are a member of the Deep’n’Delicious collective and with your performances in Zagreb and Rijeka you have become a symbol of minimal, deep tech, deep house and micro house – how did your story start, when can we expect the next gigs?
I’m 1/3 of the D’n’D music collective, with my colleagues Bronski and Herya. We’ve been active on the Croatian music scene for 10 years now. The concept was originally started by the boys but I soon became a part of it, first in organizing events, then also as a DJ. This year is our 10th anniversary and for this occasion, we will be organizing a summer closing party on Cesara Beach on the 31 of August with Liquid Earth, an amazing artist and producer, as our main guest.
Along with numerous colleagues, you represent the Rijeka (Kvarner) scene, and with your work on UFO beats, you set up a vinyl publishing house that has a great influence in the region. What is the Kvarner scene like, and what do you want to promote with your releases?
I am part of the UFO Beats larger community, not part of the management. Bronski my life partner is one of the ideators next to two of his colleagues. It s a great honour to have this kind of platform at our disposal. To say that Croatia and especially Kvarner has a YT channel and platform of reference in the minimal/micro sound with more than 84k followers is a big deal for our electronic music community.
What musical style do you prefer and do you adapt to trends on the scene?
My music style evolved through the years, I prefer old-school music and minimal sound, but I like to mash up different styles from dubby techno to electro breaks…It all depends on location, situation and of course, the crowd. It’s all about choosing the right track at the right moment. I wouldn’t say that I follow the trends, even if we in D’n’D started playing a bit harder sound the last few years. The trends, in a way, just put you in some kind of direction – it’s what the people want to hear, but you still remain your own, maybe just adapting a little bit.
If you could have a drink with any DJ / producer, who would it be and why?
Hahaha, this is a difficult one. Over the years I had the privilege to meet and hang out with lots of amazing artists and music genius. Riccardo Villalobos, Sonja Moonear or Margaret Dygas left a great impact on me so I would definitely have a coffee with them anytime. 😁
This is your fourth (pls correct me if I’m wrong :D) performance on Sonus. How was it in previous years and what do you expect from this year’s edition?
This is my third performance for Sonus Festival, and for me, it’s a great honour to be a part of this amazing experience. It’s hard to put the words the kind of vibe that one gets when playing, it’s the biggest festival in Croatia. Everything is set up well and every single detail is taken care of. I see it as a privilege that I’m more than grateful for. I enjoyed every edition, and this year I expect nothing less when opening the festival on the first day in Papaya Club.
What would you recommend to young DJs and producers who are just starting to break through on the scene?
My advice to young DJs and producers is to first thing first be authentic, be themselves and try to translate that into the music they play or produce. I would definitely advise them to educate themselves, not just in the fields of music they play, but music all around as you never know what could influence you in some way. Generation Z needs to be educated about electronic music and show how deep it is compared to the popular genres that currently dominate the scene. They should learn and dig as much as possible. Last but not least I think that every good DJ is firstly a ‘raver’ deep in – so go to parties, dance and feel the environment in order to have a wider picture of what this community is all about. Electronic music is not just beats but a way of living, younger generations need to create their own identity and actively be a part of this community.
