Interview: Anja Schneider (Mobilee Recs.)

ANJA SCHNEIDER / Mobilee records

"Anja Schneider is the Mobilee Records founder, broadcaster, internationally renowned DJ and producer once labeled a "perpetual motion machine", and one of the hardest working individuals in the business. From her beginnings in radio to the ‘Hi Five’ anniversary year of Mobilee, her ascension through the ranks has been fuelled by her strong work ethic, sharp tastemaker instinct, charming personality and innate musicality.

As a label head Anja Schneider has focused not only on discovering fresh talent, but also on cultivating and developing the Mobilee roster, pushing artists to challenge themselves and developing their careers as DJs and musicians. Under her guidance, Mobilee and its sister label Leena Music have grown into one of Berlin’s most-watched staples, with a close-knit collection of producers and musicians that carve out a distinct sound in a city teeming with electronic music.

With ears honed through years of experience, Anja Schneider’s achievements as a producer, DJ and label head are far from peaking. Her development as a one-of-a-kind artist and businesswoman is just the start of what we can expect from her evolution, as she builds Mobilee into the defining platform that stands in testament to the vision, passion, and love of music that drives her extended Mobilee team in all that they do, and all that will come."

Nov. 25, 2009 - www.mobilee-records.de/artists/anja-schneider

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Interview: (by Omar Diouf for dukeofswabia.com)


(Omar D.) So we know here at dukeofswabia.com that you love Montreal. Why is that? And how many times have you been here already?
(Anja S.) Montreal is an amazing city one of my favorite ! People and atmosphere is very inspiring. I ve benn there already 3 times and I m not getting tired to visit again.

We have interviewed Marcin Czubala earlier in 2011; he is really unbelievable. Any new babies on Mobilee for the beginning of 2012?
Yes we have Rio Schneider, 5 months old and my baby.

Could you tell us a bit more about the process of choosing new artists and signing them to the label? Do you get a lot of music sent to you?

Yes I got a lot of music and nowadays it's getting much more difficult to get new people that fit to us.
The music has to be very individual. Everything is possible and has to have an own character.
I don't want to have any copy of someone on Mobilee.

NYE 2K12 @ SAT

NOUVEL AN @ SAT from Society for Arts and Technology on Vimeo.

SLOW HANDS (Wolf & Lamb) @ Grenier de L'auberge Saint-Gabriel ! Dec. 23rd

(interview by: Omar Diouf, for Duke of Swabia.com) 


Hello Ryan , so first of all, let me tell you we are really excited to have you in Montreal !

Is it your first time coming here? How do you feel about our city?


It is my first time! which is absolutely mental, as i grew up in Vermont, only a five or so hours away! I just never really had the opportunity for some reason, but i am very excited. I have played for the same promoter (Ahmed) in Tunisia, and it was maybe the best party i have ever played my life! so my expectations are high ;) (Not to mention that i have heard you harbor some of the most beautiful women in the world! :)


I (Omar) really enjoyed your EP with Benoit & Sergio - Covers, can u tell us more about it ? And how the collaboration went down?

Haha, it was actually a birthday present i did for Gadi (w+l) a few years ago when we first met. It was a song that he loved and was playing a lot at the time, so i thought it appropriate to cover for him to play if he needed. He was so appreciative that it took him nearly two years to find a song he thought would fit, and, obviously, Benoit & Sergio provided the perfect (amazing) cover to go with it!


I was lucky to live in NYC when the Wolf & Lamb phenomenon started around 2008. How do you feel about what the label achieved in the past few years?

Wow, they have achieved an amazing amount! I mean, they hold a roster/found of some of the most successful talent of present. I just feel so fortunate to call all of those guys friends and family, and look back on all of our achievements and work towards them with an amazing amount of pride.


Can you tell us a bit more about your background? When did u start producing, why ?

I grew up in Vermont, moved to Philadelphia to attend school for classical and jazz guitar and composition. Left after a year, moved to NYC, shortly followed by Tom Croose (the other eventual half of Worst Friends), and just made music together, and solo until i met Gadi and Zev from W+L. The rest speaks for itself i think.

I began making music because it felt natural, it's really all i know how to do (aside from bartending). I am just happy people have taken a bit of notice and allow me to do this for a living now.

Which upcoming artists should we pay attention to for the upcoming year in your humble opinion? :)

Ooof! Hmmm. . . . Tom Croose, Pional, Mano Le Tough, No Regular Play, Perseus, Eddie Mars, Goldroom, Cosmic Kids, Beg To Differ, Soho 808, Alexander Holland, Pink Stallone, Turbotito, Cosmonauts . . . to name a few (and some of these boys are already quite well established)


Last but not least, anything new coming up for Slow Hands?

Lots of forthcoming remixes, originals, Worst Friends and Male Madame work . . . . time off maybe ? ;)



Thank you so much ! SEE YOU ON THE DANCEFLOOR :)



You guys know what to do :)

RSVP HERE ======> https://www.facebook.com/events/128274850619191/?ref=ts

Maya Jane Coles - Focus Now EP

There are very few artists who have made as much impact in such a short space of time as Maya Jane Coles.  At only 23 years old she has burst not only onto the House Music scene but also into dubstep with her Nocturnal Sunshine project and live electronics with She is Danger.

"Maya has sat at the top of both the Beatport and RA charts with her previous releases on Real Tone, Hypercolour and Mobilee as well as a run of remixes for Crosstown Rebels, Defected and Leftroom.  So it was a massive pleasure that Maya chose 2020Vision for her next full single release.  When we discussed the project with her we agreed it was vital to put together a single that truly reflected her diverse tastes and skills" - 2020Vision

The title track Focus Now (see clip below) is a unique work that will be hard to even categorise. Reminiscent of early Mathew Johnson records, Focus Now features delicate synth sequences weaving in and out of intricate rhythms. It sounds amazing on big systems, like at Fabric, where it was road tested by Ralph Lawson at the recent 2020Vision party.  It is one to drop at the right time to make a real change in mood and set direction.

Finger Lickin' Gold

Oh this is a MUST-attend, a do-NOT-miss, a be-there-EARLY! It is also an early candidate for Booking of the Year for this year's Duke Awards, going down at perhaps the Venue of the Year: Le Belmont.


Elephant & Castle and Black Tiger Sex Machine present :

TREASURE FINGERS [Fool’s Gold, Defected]

Throw a predrink on your terrace, wear those Ray Bans past sundown and come celebrate the start of the summer season. Because in this city, we don’t wait for snow to melt to take our shirts off and enjoy a cold one among friends. And with no exams in sight, your only worry is to decide who’s got the first round.
...
On April 29th, because we know you’re going big, we’re stepping up. After a successful rehearsal at Ultra Music Festival in Miami, Treasure Fingers will team up with hometown heroes Black Tiger Sex Machine, Seb Diamond and Flash Decks to boombox your face.


Skirts & Rollerblades
Ray Bans & Cherry Cokes
Monaco Disco Swag & Poolside Love Affair

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BUY TICKETS HERE: http://www.wantickets.com/Events/ShowEvent.aspx?eventId=88415

IN STORES:
Off The Hook (1021 Ste-Catherine W)
Moog Audio (3828 St-Laurent)
Alibi Boutique (506 Rachel E.)

OR CALL:
Guillaume Drouin Garneau (514-249-6459)
Phil Vézina (514-568-9936)
Amine Ouadahi (514-712-7763)

PRESALE $15
DOOR $20

BOTNEK - Plonk EP

BOTNEK. Remember the name. Montreal-based house music duo will be releasing their debut Plonk EP on Swedish imprint Discobelle Records on May 9th, 2011. This production team- already behind an illustrious track record of remix work- has been building a strong buzz in the past year around their name and unique blend of house, afrobeat, and tropical rhythms.

I remember meeting one half of Botnek, Gordon, for the first time at Vinyl Lounge a while back. At the time, the name Botnek rang a bell because of a Felix Cartal remix I had heard (they won a remix competition for Dim Mak Records, for Felix Cartal‘s single "Skeleton"). The super friendly newcomer to Montreal handed me a demo CD, which I listened to the following day. It blew me away and was on repeat the whole week.

Now they're tearing up local parties, turning heads and causing hangovers, armed with killer tracks and charming personalities. They're a step ahead of the competition with their fun, unique sound and quality productions. BBC Radio 1 DJs including Kissy Sell Out, Jaymo, and Andy George are praising the merits of Botnek's production on their program "In New DJs We Trust" and spreading their club-friendly gems from Canada to the international airwaves. Among other early supporters of Botnek, the likes of Sidney Samson, Malente, Hostage, BeatauCue, Supabeatz, and Foamo have been blessing dancefloors worldwide with Botnek's signature sound.

Now ready to deliver a full EP of original production, the duo have chosen Discobelle Records- sibling of the highly-regarded electronic music site Discobelle.net- as a home for their debut Plonk. This 5-track EP includes four original compositions and an afrobeat-inspired remix of the title track "Plonk." Tracklist below.