Driven by mesmerizing downtempo (Massive Attack,Morcheeba) notes and keys, collaboration Anaté (singer Anate and producer Delman) adopt these elements in their emotive pop songs. Usually providing intense & atmospheric pop soundscapes, Anaté opted for a jovial approach with their latest single ‘Rio’. Looking for a silver lining amidst these trying times, ‘Rio’ celebrates the life we still have and the life around us.
We spoke with none other than – Anaté below.
Please describe your sound for us.
Our music can mainly be described as downtempo; however, diverse influences make it hard for us to stick to a single genre. Our sound is a mix of acoustic and electronic elements. Many songs have a flavour coming from rock/indie bands from the 90s, on which synths and samples are layered, giving a bit more of a modern twist.
How did it all start for you?
Andrea and I met quite randomly through a common friend and we realized from the start that we hit it off artistically. Andrea was looking for a singer/songwriter for his downtempo project, having a very specific voice in mind. I happened to be exactly that voice that he was looking for, which was clearly an advantage. On top of that, when we started working on a song together and saw how easily the ideas were flowing from one to the other (not to mention that all of this was happening remotely), starting to build together the Anaté project was a no brainer. :).
Which three artists would you say made you want to create your own music?
Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Massive Attack.
What is your go-to gear/equipment when creating?
Ana: My piano for writing music and usually my phone for writing lyrics when inspiration randomly hits :D.
Andrea: Creative tools mostly used are analog delays. We have a bunch of old guitar pedals that get used for all sorts of things…except guitars.
What are some of your key influences in your music? Whether it be the sound created by others, imagery, films or any kind of art form.
Musical influences for our songs include Massive Attack, Sade, Morcheeba, Dido… Duality is also a very present influence in our music. I would name theatre as an influence as well. Our songs, each carrying a strong message, would best be allowed to shine during a stage performance that would include a very theatrical approach if that makes sense. Like visually telling the story of each song.
What is one sub-genre you think doesn’t get the attention it deserves?
Difficult to say – what would “enough attention” mean? To expose the genre to a wider public? I think that each genre usually benefits from just the right public – people who listen to it because they enjoy it. When a particular genre starts getting more widespread attention, what happens is that it becomes easier to “digest” for the general public, thus less authentic when thinking of its origins.
What I personally enjoy doing when discovering genres is actually listening to music that is very specific to different countries/cultures (I was listening to Peruvian music the other days). It’s like travelling, but musically. You can learn a lot about people when listening to their traditional music, listening to the lyrics… It’s an open door to their way of living and I love that, I find it enriching.
Any new or upcoming artists on your radar?
I recently discovered Desta French and I fell in love with her sound and vibe, would love to hear more of her work.
What single night out has been the most memorable for you? As a performer? As an attendee?
In all honesty, this is a difficult question to answer, at least for me. I am the type of person who gets very excited about every experience. So all memories I have are just as unique and as valuable, thus making it hard to select the most “memorable” one.
What can we expect from you in the near future? Any upcoming projects in the pipeline that you would like to tell us about?
We are planning to release some more singles until summer when the whole debut album Confessions will be out. Some more video material will also be ready soon, including a live session with the band in the studio, during which we will be performing four of our songs and a new cover.
Famous last words?
Never take yourself / life too seriously :).
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