Ānemi, is a new downtempo, electro-dream pop band, consisting of three young creative musicians. Based in Athens, they are characterized by their versatility between genres, transcending musical boundaries with their unique sound. The three main members are Amaria (Voice / Music), Chop Juggler (Production) and JLogo (Guitar). What makes them stand out is the flow of their songs that brings out a dreamy vibe and as their name implies, they are always experimenting with new ideas and sounds.
They were introduced during last summer with their debut single, “Near”, and the sequel came with the excellent cover of the song “Piece Of Your Heart” released earlier this year by Meduza and Goodboys, which was a huge hit, as well as “Monkeys in a Cage” which became their first official music video!
As we already know, Ānemi are ready to release their first EP later this year, presenting one-by-one its songs to the public. The EP will be titled “SWIM” and is set to be released during the summer of 2020!
But who are the Ānemi? How were they formed and what messages do they want to share with the people through their songs? What do they think should change in today’s music industry and what can we expect from them in the near future?
Read their whole interview to SounDarts.gr below!
Ānemi welcome to SounDarts.gr! How would you introduce your band to the public? How did you meet and how was your band created?
Lefteris / Chop Juggler: Yannis and me are friends from high school, we’ve always been writing music. During last summer we were looking for female vocals and for her bad luck we found Amaria (laughs) through social media.
What does the name ‘Ānemi’ mean to you and how did you choose it for your band?
Amaria: We wanted our name to be symbolic, to reflect our music and at the same time to be something Greek that everyone could read. The wind (anemos) can be gentle and bring sounds and senses with it and after a while it can lift you up and seduce you.
You were introduced to the public through the song “Near” which was followed by your cover on Meduza’s hit “Piece Of Your Heart”! Why did you choose to cover this song? Will there be more Ānemi-covers in the future?
Amaria: “Piece of Your Heart” is a very danceable piece that leaves room for playing with melodies and styles. It was a great way to introduce ourselves as a band with a track that people already knew, and to translate it into our own “language”. We’re a band that writes a lot of music in general … we wouldn’t like to be labeled as a cover band. It would be interesting if our next cover came from a completely different kind of music.
Which artists would you include among your greatest influences?
Lefteris: Flume, Kaytranada, J Dilla, ODESZA, Nick Murphy, Jamie xx, Flying Lotus, Bonobo, Boards of Canada, Lapalux
Amaria: My vocal influences are Amy Winehouse, Florence Welch, BANKS, Sia, Lara Fabian, Etta James, Ella Fitzgerald, generally Paolo Nutini, Mogwai, The Kooks, Arctic Monkeys, London Grammar, Bruno Mars, The XX, Alt-J, Adele , Alicia Keys, Charlotte Cardin, Jorja Smith, NAO, King Princess, Jordan Rakei, Lewis Capaldi… various!
John / Jlogo: John Mayer, BB King, Tom Misch, Tash Sultana, Gary B.B. Coleman, Eric Clapton, Pink Floyd, The XX, Glass Animals
“Monkeys in a Cage” is your first official music video! Would you like to tell us a little bit about this experience and about the song?
The basic idea of ”Monkeys in cage” is that all of humanity is in an uninterrupted carousel where you have to perform the same routine until you are no longer able to continue. Even when someone is interrupted by the endless cycle of his stupefaction, he is doomed to forget it. Even if he understands it, he really wants to get away with it, or enjoys his “favorable” state of having no choice … so of no responsibility and free will. When the cycle that limits our whole lives -our movements, our thinking, the way we exist- disappears, do we make our own way or do we pretend we never left?
Along with the release of this song, you announced the forthcoming release of “SWIM” which will be your first complete recording. What can we expect from this release?
Amaria: SWIM is written as a story. Through this work we express our concerns from individual to society… and for that reason we have chosen to release the pieces one by one. Because each one has a different meaning. Like “Near” is about mental health and the problems we face with ourselves that we ignore and “Monkeys in a Cage” is about routine, so does everything else.
How easy is it for a new musician / band to make a living in Greece today?
Lefteris: If you don’t follow the Greek trends, I would say almost impossible, so it is good to have an alternative job while you make music at the same time.
Giannis: For the most people it is the so-called “impossible dream” (laughs) because we have a relatively small discography and it is easier for them to choose some particular genres that are in fashion. However, I believe that when you create the music that expresses you and comes from your soul, it can’t be indifferent.
Digital, CD or Vinyl? Which one do you think belongs to the past? Which one do you prefer and why?
Amaria: Each has its own audience and significance. There is nothing better than holding in your hands a material that symbolizes your favorite music but correspondingly there is no better access to new artists across the globe than digital distribution.
Lefteris: Vinyl, for the sound effect that comes through its cutting process, analogue warmth!
If you were actors what movie role would you like to have interpreted and why?
Lefteris: Emmett Brown from “Back to the future”, I think it suits me.
John: Luke Skywalker from “Star Wars” has a lot of personality in him that expresses me.
Amaria: I would like to be Hermione from “Harry Potter”, no coincidence for a band with a girl and two boys.
Do you deal with the social media? How do you feel that everything (relationships, music, opinions) is going through the online communities?
Amaria: Social Media don’t branch off the rule “all in moderation”. It’s so beautiful that technology now allows a both-way communication where the people who support and love your music can participate in the creation of your online persona. If there are boundaries and goodwill … I find it very democratic!
Lefteris: Social media is a very useful tool as long as you don’t identify with it, you don’t waste too much time and you filter everything.
Yannis: What the guy above said.
If you could change something in the music industry what would it be?
Amaria: The music industry lacks transparency and meritocracy. So I think technology has helped a lot the independent DIY musicians.
Lefteris: Sexism and drugs.
What should we expect from you in the future?
At the moment, you can wait for the release of the “SWIM” tracks one by one and swim up to the end of our first EP.
What is your motto?
“Fasten your seatbelt. Time to travel ”.
Would you like to add something that hasn’t been mentioned so far?
We would like to invite everyone who will be in Athens on December 27th at Six Dogs, where we will be presenting our work live for the first time along with Zero Won!
Interview: Thodoris Kolliopoulos
