"Nutch Nutch Nutch ... Wakie Wakie Wakie" ... The triggers are given by a valued HIVE user requesting music. Apparently, she is getting bored by the music I shared before. I also was given a hint on what type of music.
The call for music? Perfect! I'll wake up for that and find something new and hopefully cool. The music hint? Similar genre, but quite far off from the suggested. I do hope it is something to her - and your - liking regardless 😉
Since I wanted to go with something new for me as well, it was time to launch my SoundCloud. But only after I roamed the Internet in search of unexplored artist names. To get to those, I started out by reading interviews with a bunch of them. Must admit, after the whole summer not in music discovery mode, this was a pleasant time spent giving me some extra energy I had been looking for.
The Artist: Anetha
After some trial listening, I fell for Anetha. A French lady started to make waves in the industry just a few years ago. To be exact, she was picked up back in 2018 with her Boiler Room set, recorded in some underground skate venue in my city of living. But that wasn't the trigger for me. The trigger was much more due to her attitude and spirit. "Fuck the system. When the industry can't give me what I want, I go my own way." {excuse my language 😉}
Of course, she is still part of the industry but took what she could take into her own hands. After playing all over the world for more than a year, constantly in and out of airports, planes and whatnot, she felt it was taking the pleasure out of the whole thing. She didn't like her booking agency. Constantly hunting for maximum money. Sending her from one side of the world to the other and back again. No rest. No chill. Push, Push Push. She wanted to quit playing but then decided to just quit the agency and start her own.
Now she travels as much as possible by train - as she tells the interviewer (source) - since this is a much more chill style of travelling. She tries to play at multiple locations in the same geo area in order to reduce the costs of travel which can be split between the different promoters. All under own control of her own booking agency. Whenever a promoter says: "Not allowed to play somewhere else in the same weekend", or she is not allowed to play the weeks before and after the gig, or sometimes even for the whole season, she says: "Good luck to you; I won't play for you and your audience then". Interestingly, she wants to stay in a hotel within walking distance from the playground. No need for cars and drivers and all sorts of luxury treatment. Something quite rare in the music industry, this humble approach.
WOW 😱 What a refreshing attitude! Not simply going for the money and fame. LOVE IT! 🥰
Stone Techno Festival
About time to dig into her music. One of her most recent shared recordings is the one of Stone Techno Festival held this summer in Essen, Germany. I had this festival bookmarked in my Facebook app. Passed by in springtime as far as I can remember and thought: "Such nice location, and interesting lineup". And then I totally forgot about it. A super industrial place. An old coal mine or something. Essen is in this area where lots and lots of coal was mined in the last centuries. And I mean, a LOT! As a child when sailing along with my parents on their cargo ship, I've been in this area frequently. No festivals back then, but hard-working peeps. Not that dancing to fast-paced music isn't hard work 😆
Anyway. I didn't make it to the festival. Perhaps next year? Or not. Let's see. Not planning too much, since planning is so overrated 😉
Stone Festival Recording
Within a minute, Anetha sets the mood for the next two hours. Raw techno with pounding beats. Racing speed with over 150 BPM (beats-per-minute) is something that is quite normal these days. Kinda gives the feeling of the late 90s, early 2000 when 140 BPM was the defacto standard. The set never gets boring. Beat patterns change constantly. Plenty of so-called artists fall into the trap of not changing beats. So boring! Never stick to the same beat, is the rule in my book. On the break front, Anetha is doing pretty ok. Though they aren't rare, they are usually short in time. Overall she manages to keep the set dynamic, mixing in some dreamy and some more vocal episodes. Normally I am not so much into vocals, but somehow I don't mind in this set. She adds here and there trance-like sounds that could've been left when you ask me, though it adds to giving the set a dynamic feel. Some records I don't like at all though. Mostly those with a trance sound or these hardstyle and hardcore sounds. Quite difficult to explain the sounds exactly, but just wanted to give you the info that some parts of the set I find a bit annoying. Perhaps you do as well? Perhaps because of the same sounds? Will you tell us in the comment section below? Check for instance minutes 24-26; Not my cup of tea. Progressing to the end of the set, I have to say: A tat too many vocals she used. I know, I told you before I kinda of liked it in this setting, but I have to admit, I was not entirely truthful before. All in all, I like this set, though the style of techno isn't entirely my thing.
Swept me of my Feet
After finishing listening (and watching) the Stone recording, I can inform you that she managed to sweep me off my feet. She totally charmed me! Smileys all over while playing. Having mucho fun. Love the fact she dresses in old-school techno outfits. No breast punching out. No ass uncovered. No sexy poses. All sorts of tricks that are used by plenty of female artists these days. Her baggy shirt screams: "You wanna see sexy stuff? Here is something for you but I hide my own curves." The sexy underwear print on her t-shirt I mean. She convincingly sells her music with her track selection, the ordering, the mixing. Really, no need for Anetha to use any of her female features. The nails: "Noooooooo! Get rid of them! Please?" 🙏
OwwwwKay am biased regarding the Stone recording! Maybe I don't like it more than just being ok. Perhaps a bit more than that, but certainly not on par with my top favourite artists ... But But But, for sure some good parts in her set. For sure! Also some bad parts, undoubtedly.
Boiler Room recording
What made the world wake up to her? Remember I mentioned she was picked up internationally back in 2018, through her Boiler Room performance? About time to listen to that one. A short one. Just over 45 minutes. Slower, much slower pace! 135 BPM only. Could be faster after hearing the Stone Festival recording 🙃
But this style! And these records! WOW. I like!
Tiny Endnote
Now I know for sure: I want to meet her! She managed to charm me more than squared.
an Encore
Dasha Rush... Same festival... The Music: PFFF! Happy Edje; No doubt!
Not a new discovery though. Check this post by my alter ego qsounds. A post of 6 years ago 😉
Mysterious Nutcher
You tell me: Anything to your liking? When no, I shall continue my search. When yes, am pleased and like to know what works for you. Thinking of it, regardless I shall continue my search for more new music. Was great fun doing so 😉