In Fokus: Anna Lanau
photo by Subrogado styled by Marian Brea
Active listening in a community is what creates culture. Listening births new ideas, innovation, and improves tired tropes - tropes that no longer serve how we digest, listen, and consume art. The ongoing result is a physical, mental, and spiritual movement - “dance in your own way” as they say.
Lanav (Anna Lanau) is leaps and bounds ahead as a DJ when it comes to this philosophy. We met Anna in NYC a few months ago and the conversation struck an uncanny, familiar chord. A chord that unfortunately, many preach but rarely practice: Community. Community in action, community in providing skills, and community in highlighting others. Another common theme: big venues only highlighting big names while the efforts and talents of those who cannot achieve visibility are swept under the rug. We both found it strange that nightlife is considered a “party only” commodity when in fact, it takes hours and herculean efforts to achieve.
But instead of focusing on problems, both Lanau (and Fokus) want to pivot towards solutions. As Co-Founder of the Barcelona-based Abundance is You collective, they have forged a path in unearthing undiscovered electronic music talents in their own community as well as (hopefully) very soon in the states.
Lanav plays Sonar this June, a move that is well-deserved and admirable. A move that we at Fokus noticed was not achieved through a popularity contest, but through active listening, active community building, and love for experimentation.
Anna hits Brooklyn for their first stateside set with Fokus July 6.
Where in the world is Anna - and where are you going in the future? :
I am currently located in my home in Barcelona, but mentally, my thoughts are scattered across various places in my mind. I am attempting to subjectively evaluate what decisions I wish to make in the future and then translate them into practical steps, all while considering how society behaves and moves in different directions.
However, my ultimate objective is to steer towards a society that is both communicative and community-driven. I believe that by cultivating a supportive and peaceful learning environment, individuals can gain the energy and impetus necessary to achieve their goals. Additionally, I view music, sound, and art as potent tools for transmitting and exchanging ideas and experiences.
Is there a specific narrative or mood that you're trying to communicate while you're DJing? :
I love sets that take me on a sensory journey of introspection, where the music isn't flat and instead incorporates progressive changes. Unexpected shifts that makes you dance with closed eyes or in sync with a friend add to the experience. Though it can be tiring, you feel fulfilled by the end of the day knowing you can let out all that’s accumulated in your head during the week, leaving you with a clearer mind for the next one.
What’s your favorite thing about the Abundance is You collective? How did you Get involved with them?:
That everything we do revolves around the premise of shared knowledge and creating a healthy, community that grows together. Globalization is essential for that objective, but we must not forget what we have right next to us. Sometimes, with so much information surrounding us, we forget about our own communities. But what is next to us is no less important than what is happening in other parts of the world.
Abundance was launched publicly in December 2019. It was founded by S2k2ky (aka Shelly), Aqueleque (aka Uknowncultures), and myself. It came from the need to have a community, to share creative processes with other people and see that it doesn't have to be an individualistic and closed sector and instead, a shared experience through community.
Why did you decide to become a DJ - not when - WHY?:
At the beginning, I did it for myself. And little by little, I realized that it had become a way of channeling everything that happened to me during the week - kind of like going to the psychologist. Over the years I’ve realized that when I haven't played for myself then I was not allowing myself to fully express - DJing is a necessary outlet for my mind.
photo by Aurora Diaz y Diaz
Tell us about the concepts behind your tracks/music projects or something that’s inspiring you to work on your own music frequencies.
Sound consciousness and active listening.
Many times, I think we’re not aware of how much sound surrounds us everyday and how that effects us. I am interested in creating sound pieces that work on the movement of sound, frequencies, and dynamics, forcing the listener to be consciously connected. To have an auditory journey that, at first, may not be conscious, but over time, the listener realizes there’s a story behind it, even if its abstract. You can relate it to sounds from your life. When listening becomes something conscious, we can generate many different responses, from realizing that a sound makes us dizzy or hearing a sound that gives us pleasure to having a feeling like nostalgia. You really don’t understand where it comes from but it always has the power to relax or accelerate our heart rate.
Is there a particular place or maybe an emotional state that you want to take people to?
Depending on the project. When I create sound pieces, everything starts from an emotional journey that aims to leave you floating, related to what was explained in the previous question. It should be noted that sound is a very subjective thing (at least for me) what is calming for me may be overwhelming for others.
With DJ sets under the aka of lanav, it starts from the same point and aims for the same thing, but in a more energetic and perhaps aggressive way. By using sharper or more experimental sounds that transform into rhythms, what you create is an anchor of active listening if you allow it as a spectator, as it does not go unnoticed, and often, as it is accompanied and created by rhythms, it catches you and makes you move, dance in your own way.
Describe a moment / club night / party / that made you want to become a DJ/Producer or devote yourself to music.
When I was 16 years old, I went to a very small concert here in Barcelona organized by El Sindicato de Altavoces, which is part of Phonos. It was a seated concert, with 16 speakers surrounding you and others throwing sound at you from the ceiling. There, I traveled introspectively and loved seeing that something like this was possible, and that music and sound could be a part of me in a very different way. Therefore, I wanted to share it as well.
Favorite DJ and/or producers capturing your heart RIGHT NOW?
Compilation Lilywhite by Hyperlink (it’s like a trip).
Favorite DJ and/or producers capturing your heart RIGHT NOW?:
As a DJ, ASSYOUTI is a great journey if you enjoy high BPM music. Another well-known artist is DJrum, who I admire for their mixing skills.
As for current producers, ABADIR, IKU, and UPSAMMY are worth checking out. And if you're looking for an immersive audio-visual experience, RYOICHI KUROKAWA is a must-see.
What is the genre/scene/city/artist that you feel is underrated and needs more hype/awareness?
I would not say underrated, but not as well-known as they should be, yes. Jokkoo Collective. A very important force currently in Barcelona. And viewed from a more international perspective, I am drawn to the scene in Cairo, in Argentina and in Mexico.
What’s special about Barcelona you think the world should know about?:
Currently, the electronic music scene is very powerful and people are eager to create and share. There are many new spaces, alternative to the big clubs, that aim to make electronic music listened to and respected in a beautiful and elegant way. Electronic music is often confused with something that is mostly for partying if it is played in a club, but besides having a good night, people must be more aware that it is also a cultural movement, and therefore behind it there’s not only a person exposed in front of people but also hours of work and intentions that go far beyond the world of nightlife.
We both met in New York City a couple months ago - specifically Brooklyn. How important is it for you to engage in community building between both cities - particularly NYC that’s the gateway to Latin America ? And is community building something important to you as a DJ?
Yes, it is. Nowadays, I would say it is my main goal. I believe that there are very similar situations worldwide when we talk about electronic music and how it relates to each city and its clubs. The system, from my point of view, currently does not help. The effort and talent in each local scene are not valued as they should be, and most of the time (at least in Barcelona or even Spain), a big name from abroad is valued much more than a local artist.
When we met, we talked about the difficulties we had in both cities, and as I already thought, the situation was not so different. A few months ago, I also talked about this with Ka-raba, a member of the Okra collective (Switzerland), and with other people spread around the planet (Bolivia, Uruguay, France, Portugal), and we all came to the conclusion that something similar was happening everywhere. Obviously, in each country with its peculiarities, we all felt alone or isolated. I think that creating a connection between Barcelona and NYC would be very powerful. Here and in NYC the talent is not difficult to find. Being able to share knowledge, coming from two distant places, can help us all grow. We just need to connect it so that new collaborations and interesting sounds can emerge.
Labels that are a go-to must-have in your DJ arsenal?:
SVBKVLT or NAAFI
If you had any superpowers it would be:
Stopping time.
Your fullest expression of love is:
A onomatopoeia that expresses my emotions without having to say them, and that someone understands a simple gesture like giving three taps on the cheek with the index finger.
What is the best piece of advice you could give to a DJ / Producer just starting out?
Trust your intuition and don't let others convince you that there is only one right way to do things, but don't forget to listen to different perspectives. As a creative, it's important to actively listen and stay calm. Consider all options and make decisions that will bring you peace and happiness, while also keeping in mind that we are a community and not just individuals.
