Anna StrakerA bit of joy in
this world
of brutes
home
Anna Straker is a producer, vocalist, and songwriter based in London, UK. An exciting mix of electropop and trip hop, her music mixes retro synths with contemporary production.
Following acclaimed performances at Reading & Leeds, and Glastonbury Festivals, we caught up with Anna to learn more about her inspiration, and how she integrates the Arturia DrumBrute into her productions.
My earliest memory of music was playing my grandad's out of tune piano when I was 6 or 7. I begged my parents to buy me one, and completed all my classical grades as fast as I could. I dreamt of being a classical pianist. Then I discovered Alicia Keys, and decided that I wanted to sing too.
Becoming bored of writing solely on the piano, Straker began experimenting with recording and production. Aside from being able to create whole songs, this also opened up new composition and songwriting possibilities.
I've always been such a nerd, in everything I do. I'm a perfectionist. But I really started loving techy stuff when I got Pro Tools and started hanging out in the studio with other producers. I was obviously drawn to synthesizers because of my first love, the piano. It was incredible discovering instruments with millions of sounds on them instead of just one!
Using the DrumBrute has allowed me to create beats in a totally new way.
Straker now integrates Arturia’s debut analog drum machine into her music, both as a creative backbone to her songwriting and as a go-to rhythm instrument in her productions.
The part that is most fun is doing all the tweaks on the fly, like the step repeat and filters. It makes it so easy to build a sick beat quickly so it turns songwriting into a livelier process.
DrumBrute’s multiple outputs also make it hugely versatile, with creative musicians like Straker shaping and stylizing the sound of each drum to compliment any track or project.
I wouldn't normally begin writing a song with a beat until I got the DrumBrute. Those two insane kicks alone can conjure up such a great rhythm.
I really value having the freedom to do anything I want when I'm making music. The whole world of sounds is at my fingertips, literally! That's why my songs touch on so many genres. My last release “Ignite Me” has elements of trip hop, R&B, 90s electronic music and pop.
In our interview, Anna couldn’t help paying tribute to another massive source of inspiration for her: London.
I love London because you can be whoever you want to be and no one cares. It's so electric. It inspires me to try new things, even in my music. I meet many different people of different backgrounds and so I'm exposed to a huge mix of music. Like the other day I went out with a DJ who only played vinyls he found in Morocco, so educational.
Anna will be releasing an EP in 2018, featuring solo tracks and exciting collaborations. To keep up to date, and for more news, you can follow Anna on Facebook and Instagram
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