We e-mailed Mint Club resident, Strobewax Records creator, Mosaic-released producer and one of Leeds’ finest exports Annie Errez before her set at Butter Side Up alongside Daniel Bell, reflecting on her time as a DJ and music lover in our city.
How long have you been in Leeds? What was your introduction to life here?
I’ve lived in Leeds for about 15 years or so now, it’s gone so quickly! I moved here to go to university and quickly became immersed in all the nightlife as most students are I guess. Mint Club was the first club I went to here, I remember it really clearly but the rest is all a bit of a blur!
You and your selections form a key aspect of the city’s musical landscape. To you, what is the defining characteristic of club culture in Leeds?
That’s quite a big compliment! However there are so many clubs, parties, labels, djs and live acts that have contributed to the musical history and scene that we have here today, way too many to mention them all, but as well as all the main club nights and venues now such as Mint, Basics, Wire, Canal Mills and the Warehouse you have smaller parties and collectives doing one-off parties which is great. I went to a party called Love Muscle a few weeks back at a co-op type venue which was brilliant. Totally different to the big parties but great in it’s own way. So I think that’s what I’m getting at, we have a lot of variety here despite the city being so small. Same goes for the labels that have grown out of Leeds, Bassic records and SCSI-AV were both really prolific in their own way and kind of put things on the map up here at the time. So getting back to the question, I’d say the defining characteristics are variety coupled with a big DIY ethos. Oh and it’s a lot of fun!
Your success as a producer is marked by your releases on Steve O’Sullivan’s Mosaic label, in my opinion one of the finest house labels in operation over the past 20 years or so. How did you come to appear on the label?
Mosaic is definitely my favourite label, I love pretty much everything on it so I’d followed it for a while, maybe not right from the start but quite early on and I’m still adding to my collection of Mosaic back catalogues now – there have been so many good ones! I was in touch with Steve anyway and had sent him a copy of one of my Strobewax release which he gave me some really nice feedback and advice about and it went from there. I’m so happy to contribute to such a quality label that I’ve got a mountain of respect for. That’s also what makes Mosaic great, the fact that the split series has opened things up to new producers as well.
How does your approach to producing differ to that of selection? How has your experience as a DJ altered your productions? Do you envisage where and when your tracks might be played in a club setting?
I’d say that what I make and play can be totally different but having more experience as a dj has definitely helped me to put tunes together in terms of being aware of how it might work in a club situation. But having said that when I make music I just do it and see what happens and I just mess about. I’ll always have some sort of inspiration or starting point and I just like to try and interpret that myself and see what comes out. I don’t really pay much attention to how things maybe should be done and just do it by feeling really, I think that’s more out of laziness than trying to be flippant though! Also I don’t release a lot at all and I don’t feel a pressure to so maybe that affects my approach too.
You’ve got your own show on KMAH Radio now. How have you found doing it? Will we be hearing more obscure, unlikely areas of your record collection, or will it be more of a live DJ mix format?
Yeah it’s ace, it’s cool being able to go to a studio and do it there and then, we’re really lucky to have something like that here. I’ve only managed to do it once though in the last couple of months but I’ll be sorting my shit out and doing it more regularly in future and hoping to get some guests to come and do it too, as well as some mixes from people a bit further afield than Leeds that can’t make it to the studio. I like the fact that it’s live and you just see what happens though, it’s a bit more exciting and you don’t really know how or what you’re going to play. KMAH is also another example of how we have this nice DIY thing happening here, there are loads of quality, varied shows.
You were very deservingly listed in 2014 as one of Fact’s ‘underrated DJs’. Would you agree, though, that a DJ’s role involves deflecting ratings or fame, opting to just be an accessory to the club situation? Is recognition something you are conscious of? To me, it’s one of the reasons that clubs appeal to me over live gigs – there isn’t the same sense of artist-worship. (I realise that this is quite a strange question to ask when conducting an interview.)
Thank you, I was really surprised when that came out, it’s again a huge compliment and it’s so nice to be recognised by fact mag so I was really pleased about it. But I do agree with you in some respects that there can sometimes be too much emphasis on polls and ratings etc, but I guess it just depends how much attention you pay to things like that? Some people really like it, some hate it and some don’t care. I think as a dj you are there to play tunes, so as long as that’s decent and you’re having a good time doing it then that’s what really matters. But again, it totally depends what you want out of it.
Tell us about any of your previous run ins with Wire club or Butter Side Up.
I used to be a resident at a monthly party at wire years ago called Van der Graf. it was brilliant, it was a mid-week arty student night but it was hilarious, everyone used to get dressed up in mad outfits and the music was pretty eclectic, but the atmosphere was wicked and everyone was really up for it. Lots of good/blurry memories from those days too. More recently I went down to butter side up to see Evan Baggs, Ciaran Hansen, Mike Stockell and TMS which was a great party, nice people, quality tunes and I was pretty drunk so yes I really enjoyed it! I’m really looking forward to playing though as the BSU guys have been doing it for a while now and have always brought really good lineups plus I’m really excited about seeing Daniel Bell!
Are you looking forward to summer?
Yes who isn’t! Seriously though I really hope we get a good one this year, no more jet stream please. Even if we don’t I’m especially looking forward to the Mint Warehouse terrace parties, Cocoon in the Park, Mint festival and modular open air in Liverpool, it’s nice to do a bit of outdoor raving and get some fresh air ;-)
Oliver Walkden