interview: anna lunoe

How many people can say that in 2010 they traveled the world, met Salt N Pepa, became Ministry of Sounds’ first female mixer, attended an exclusive Steve Aoki party or were featured in Vogue Magazine?

Not many I bet.

Well, Anna Lunoe achieved all of these impressive feats last year, thanks to her flourishing career as a world class DJ and producer.

Born and bred in Sydney, the model turned professional DJ found that her true calling lay behind the decks in 2006 whilst living in New York and immersing herself in the effervescent club scene. She then returned to home soil to launch a career, which has seen her embark on worldwide sold-out tours, remix music for high end fashion and entertainment events and release her own Ministry compilation.

Anna’s talents don’t end there though. When she’s not touring the world and igniting dance floors with the likes of Daft Punk or Armand Van Helden, she’s hosting her own underground dance radio show on FBi 94.5 or channeling energy into the graphic based fashion label Das Monk.

I caught up with Anna Lunoe ahead of her debut Big Day Out appearance to get an insight into her musical tastes, upcoming tours and the perks of being an international disc jockey.

What have you learnt from touring with giants in the DJ scene such as Armand Van Helden, Mark Ronson and Daft Punk?

It’s so inspiring and interesting to hear what these people are playing, witnessing their DJ techniques from close up and watching how they handle the pressure of what is expected of them in front of such large audiences. It’s really humbling to have the opportunity to see such famous DJs at the top of their game.

Are there any particular acts you’d love to share the stage with?

Prince!

Do you prefer DJing at live concerts, fashion shows, nightclubs, festivals or notorious celebrity parties?

It really just depends on the crowd; the places you play at are only as good as the crowds that you have. Sometimes you can play really small, unknown gigs that turn out to be fantastic because the vibe is there and the crowd is great. For instance I’ve played on stages in front of 10,000 people where the crowd haven’t even noticed I was there. But then I’ve had really amazing gigs in tiny venues with every person in the club going absolutely bananas. The energy only exists if the audience helps you create it, and in turn you feed off that energy.

Apart from dance music, what other genres and artists do you enjoy listening to on the side?

I have a really broad taste; I wouldn’t say I only listen to dance music by any stretch. Before I was a DJ I was obsessed with bands and I spent years going to see live gigs. I love all kinds of guitar music, I still keep a close eye on indie, pop and hip hop music and I really love a whole lot of new artists that are making beautiful ambience-based stuff like The Avalanches.

When and how did this passion for music come to fruition? Do you come from a musical family?

Yes, I do come from a pretty musical family. My dad was a bass player for many years, one of my brothers plays guitar whilst the other plays drums and my sister plays bass. I also play bass as well as piano and the violin. Growing up my household was always loud as it was full of kids and music. My love for music started from a very young age because my main way of communicating and connecting with my much older siblings, who were always buying and listening to the latest records, was by familiarizing myself with all these songs so I could keep up with the “cool kids”. I thought if I knew all the words to every song that they would like me. From an early age I started creating mix tapes for pen pals, recording songs from the Top 40 on the radio, writing all the lyrics into a diary, hiring DVD’s about Motown and 70s rock from the library and flicking through the bargain bin at the local music store. This was the basis of my music knowledge and I think it’s really important to have a strong understanding of both music of the past and the latest on the Top 40 charts.

What were some of your career highlights of 2010?

Being invited on the Parklife Festival tour was certainly a big milestone for me because as a local DJ without a lot of production release, that opportunity is really difficult to get. Also, through Ministry Of Sound I played some really amazing shows in places I’d never been to like the mining towns in Western Australia – Karratha and Port Hedland. It was a pleasure to play to these kids who just went insane as they don’t get many artists touring regularly through their towns that are quite far to travel to. Touring with Salt N Pepa for Good Vibrations Festival was also really fun! As a kid I was obsessed with them – in fact they were one of the first concerts I went to when I was 9 years old – and to get the opportunity 20 years later to watch them from on the actual stage was a really nice circle finishing.

You’ve been invited on the Big Day Out tour this year, will it be your first appearance at this festival?

Yes, that’s the one major festival that I’ve never been invited to do so I’m super excited for it. As always it’s a great line up and it’s Australia’s oldest touring festival, a benchmark for all other festivals. I never in my wildest dreams thought that one day I’d be a part of it.

Where else will 2011 see you touring?

I’m going to Japan for the MTV Japan Jam in February for two weeks with Art Vs Science and some other people. In March I’m off to America and Canada for just a bit over a month and then I have no idea what’s going to happen after that!

How would you compare Australia’s DJ and dance music scene to the likes of the UK and America?

Believe it or not I feel as though Australia’s dance music scene is bigger than in America but we simply cannot compete with the UK. The dance music there is just incredibly rich and diverse and in London you can find places playing every dance subgenre from garage to disco to rave to dub-step, whereas in Sydney all the dance clubs tend to play the same thing all the time. I love dub-step, garage and two step but I very rarely get the opportunity to play that stuff here. Dance and rave music is just so intrinsically linked with the UK culture.

What advice would you give to someone aspiring for a DJ career?

I would say expect to work really hard, don’t just think you can get away with playing what everyone else does and strive to be inspiring. I listen to 500 songs a week and it’s hard work. To be able to turn DJing into a career you need to make a name for yourself and put a sound out there that people find different and interesting. You should really get to know your music and follow your heart; if you get attached to a certain genre then go with it because even though it might not be what people want to hear right now, many will admire you for creating a niche to work with.

What can you tell us that we don’t already know about you?

Did you know that I was a competitive horse rider for 5 years? Or that I used to be a springboard diver until last year when I hit my head on a board and was left with a massive scar on my chin? Bet you wished you didn’t ask that question now. Ha! I’m an opportunist and I’ve done lots of things in my life and will continue to try new things all the time.

Catch Anna Lunoe burning up dance floors across Australia this summer at the following shows:

23rd Jan     BIG DAY OUT Gold Coast, QLD
26th Jan     BIG DAY OUT Sydney, NSW
27h Jan      BIG DAY OUT Sydney, NSW
30th Jan     BIG DAY OUT Melbourne, VIC
4th Feb       BIG DAY OUT Adelaide, SA
6th Feb       BIG DAY OUT Perth, WA
12th Feb     Good Vibrations Festival, Sydney NSW
16th Feb     Secret Good Vibes Side Show, Sydney, NSW

Check out Anna Lunoe’s MySpace page here!