DJ, producer, radio broadcaster, label owner, mentor and mother, Anja Schneider continues to create, reinvent, and reinvigorate.
After co-founding, and running Mobilee Records for just over a decade, a new chapter began for the German native when she moved on from Mobilee to start a new label by the name of Sous Music.
Her skills as a talent scout are highly regarded, and in her time at Mobilee she played a pivotal role in nurturing a roster of artists that included Pan-Pot, Sebo K, Rodriguez Jr., and Kevin Over. She is also one of Germany’s most popular radio personalities, and during the years 2000 to 2017, she hosted the weekly show ‘Dance Under The Blue Moon’, Berlin’s longest-running underground dance music radio show on Fritz FM. Since then, she has moved on to one of Berlin’s largest broadcasters, Eins FM, to host a new show every Friday night called the ‘Club Room’.
Anja Schneider is up there as one of the scene’s most decorated artists, and ahead of her first Australian tour in a decade, this Balance Selections mix proves why she is so highly revered…
Balance Selections Q+A
Name: Anja Schneider
Location: Berlin, Germany
Alias/Producer name: Anja Schneider
Labels affiliated with: Sous Music
My last 3 releases:
Anja Schneider – Give It All To Me
Anja Schneider – Closer
Anja Schneider – Run This City
What music did you listen too as a child?
When I was a child, music was essential for me. Particularly listening to the radio. I was so obsessed that I would spend hours recording music I liked with an old tape recorder. Looking back, this is obviously where my desire to be a radio presenter started. My parents had a small collection of records at home, and I grew up with Jimi Hendrix, and The Beatles. As I built my own taste later on I became very into The Cure and Depeche Mode and I bought almost every viny. Funny story, the hi-fi music system that was in my home as a child was made by a brand also with the name Schneider, so I guess my fate was made already at this time.
When was the first time that you realized that you liked electronic music?
The second record I ever bought was ‘Computerwelt’ by Kraftwerk. This without a doubt changed my life. I became completely fascinated. My favourite track from the album was “Computer Liebe”. I must have listened to it a million times.
When was the first time you saw a DJ in a club?
After my experience with Kraftwerk, The Cure and Depeche Mode, I visited a little club in Cologne, called “RAVE CLUB” which was in the basement of the ‘BHAGVAN DISCO’ which was very popular in the city during the late 80s. I was definitely not allowed to be in there but always had older friends who took me with them. It was here where I heard Hans Nieswandt – famous Cologne artist and founder of Whirlpool Production and he blew me away. I’d never seen or heard someone spinning records together seamlessly. Building a special atmosphere only with music and by the way Hans played and mixed tracks together. It was a life changing moment.
Which producers/artists/acts inspire you?
During the time I was growing up in Cologne I had already fallen in love with electronic music and so I found Berlin very exciting. I would save all my money to allow me to visit Berlin as much as possible, especially Tresor Club. These regular pilgrimages to Tresor became life changing as not long after I relocated permanently to Berlin to be a part of the growing Techno scene. Thanks to Tresor and their intensive friendship with Detroit, I fell in love with all the Detroit sounds and this has never left me and is still the biggest admiration of my life. The music released by Underground Resistance opens up a new dimension for me and never disappoints me. Model 500 was for me the greatest. This sound is somehow burned inside me. My love for melody comes from my deepest love for Detroit sound.
What was the last album that you downloaded/bought?
I just discovered FKA Twigs and I am loving it everything about them right now.
What is your current production and DJ set up like?
I share a studio with my partner and we have a lot of classic analog gear such as KORG TRIDENT, PROPHET VS, CHROMA POLARIS, ROLAND TR909, TR707 TR606, SH101, MKS-7, MICROWAVE 1, OBERHEIM MATRIX1000; VIRUS B. It is very difficult to describe which I like the most as this always depends on the mood and vibe. The good thing is I never get bored. For DJing I have been using USB now for a while and I am really comfortable with it all and how I can work with all the features of the mixer and CD player.
What releases do you have on the horizon?
I just finished a remix for a singer song writer called Sophie Hunger. I also did a track for the upcoming SISYPHOS Compilation (my favourite Berlin underground club), which will be released in October, and I’m currently working on a new EP for my label, which I used in the mix for you guys too, which is a collaboration with Billy Turner – one of my favourite new artists.
Where can we hear you perform?
I make a weekly radio show called CLUB ROOM which you can find on Mixcloud every Thursday. I’m travelling through the summer, and will be in Australia, Asia, the US and Europe in the next few months, but the best way to look for shows, is via my socials which are updated regularly! As for my hometown Berlin, you can find me mostly at Watergate
Tell us more about the podcast you made for Balance?
I made the mix in the classic way using my DJ set up in the studio. I felt like I approached the mix with a very open mind, wanting things to flow naturally from my feelings and emotions. I’m more interested in hearing what you, and your listeners think of the mix TBH!
My Recommendations
The top track in my DJ wallet currently is:
STAUB004
If I could recommend only one of my tracks for you to listen to it would be:
Anja Schneider & Sebo K – Rancho Relaxo
If I could recommend only one track for you to listen to it would be:
Aphex Twin – Window Licker
My favourite Balance compilation is:
James Zabiela
The last movie I watched that I really liked:
25 KM (A German independent arthouse movie). But yes, if we are talking about mainstream movies, I loved Bohemian Rhapsody too.
If I could choose anyone to compile a Balance comp it would be:
Lena Willikens
Tracklisting:
1. PTU – Doc 22
2. Hugo Massien – Twist & Turn
3. Brame & Hamo – Dial Up
4. Tom Trago – Saudade
5. Unknown Artist – STAUB 004 (B1)
6. Tesox – So What You Want Me To Do
7. Big Joe Hix – Flash Future
8. Anja Schneider – Burn Out
9. Anja Schneider – Monday HeaT
10. Brame & Hamo – Pressure
11. Di Martinelli – Tides (SCB Mix)
12. Anja Schneider – Give It All To You
13. Charles Webster – Sad Piano (Justin Martin Remix)
