Highbrow Magazine - anon https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/anon en Dance-Pop Act anon Focuses on the Power of Sound, not Trappings of Fame https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/1535-british-dance-pop-act-anon-focuses-power-sound-not-trappings-fame <div class="field field-name-field-cat field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/music" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Music</a></div></div></div><span class="submitted-by">Submitted by tara on Sun, 09/09/2012 - 14:40</span><div class="field field-name-field-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="og:image rdfs:seeAlso" resource="https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/field/image/2mediumanon.jpg?itok=s18LmOOY"><img typeof="foaf:Image" src="https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/field/image/2mediumanon.jpg?itok=s18LmOOY" width="480" height="303" alt="" /></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p>  </p> <p> Somewhere between happiness and fury, lies the music of <strong>anon</strong>. Choosing to go virtually nameless in a sea of up-and-coming talent, this British dance-pop act is taking an unusual route to exposure -- one which avoids the trappings of pre-judgment or the distractions of an overbearing personality. By identifying only as “anon” (short for “anonymous”), the electronic rhythms of the artist become the focal point rather than the typical celebrity ego. Despite being a somewhat reclusive act, <strong>anon</strong> recently took some time away from shooting a new music video for the song “U Got Me Trip’n” to engage in an interview with <em>Highbrow Magazine</em>.</p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong>Highbrow Magazine: I assume “anon” is short for “anonymous”. Why have you chosen this nomenclature for your stage name?</strong></p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong>anon:</strong> I chose the name “anon” because I just wanted to create a record to make people feel good. Who I am seems less important to me than how I make people feel. Being famous or breaking in as a newcomer both come with many levels of judgment and being “anon” allows me to create without those distractions.</p> <p>  </p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong>Highbrow Magazine: What you can tell us about the personal history of anon and how did you develop an interest in dance-pop music?</strong></p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong>anon: </strong>I always had a deep passion for music since I can remember, I would always dance to songs that made me feel good. At a certain point I started creating beats on my computer and writing words that allowed me to express different feelings that I felt that otherwise I found difficult to express. I chose Electro Dance Pop because it inspired me to feel good, and allowed me to express myself. It consumes my life.</p> <p>  </p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong>Highbrow Magazine: </strong> <strong>Were you influenced by any other musical artists (current or past) when recording your debut EP, “dilettoid”?</strong></p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong>anon: </strong>I’ve been influenced by so many artists, not only in Pop and Dance but also R&amp;B and some Indie Bands from many different time periods. When I created the songs for the <strong><em>dilettoid</em></strong> EP I was inspired by the situations I’m living. My influences vary by the impact the artist songs have had on my life that I was relating to at that time, both musically and lyrically. Everything in my life has influenced <strong><em>dilettoid</em></strong> and I believe the beginning of many different expressions by “anon”.</p> <p>  </p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong>Highbrow Magazine: Can you tell us why you chose the title “dilettoid” for your debut release?</strong></p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong>anon: </strong>I was working on the song “Feel Good” one night and I had a bit of a block so I stopped and took a break and sat back to think. For some reason the word dilettante popped in my head, I wasn’t sure why but was curios. I remembered that the meaning had something to do with young artists so I looked it up on Google. I felt it some sort of sign after reading the description and realized that I was a dilettoid. Here’s what I read:</p> <p>  </p> <p> <em>dil•et•tante</em></p> <p> Noun:     1.     A person who claims an area of interest, such as the arts, without real commitment or knowledge.</p> <p style="margin-left:.5in;"> 2.     A person with an amateur interest in the arts.</p> <p>  </p> <p>  <strong>Highbrow Magazine</strong>:  <strong>Your music seems both furious and happy at the same time. How would you describe your approach to creating music?</strong></p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong>anon: </strong>The <strong><em>dilettoid</em></strong> EP seemed to create itself with what’s going on in my life. Some of the songs got created from the growth of the music that inspired the words. The song “First Time” started with me sitting at a piano and coming up with a cool music hook, which inspired the words that then inspired the beats. Surprisingly, I wrote “Feel Good” when I was in a dark place, while creating it put me in a feel good head space. Creating music always seems to leave me in a better place.</p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong>Highbrow Magazine</strong>: <strong>Do you ever consider remixing for other artists? If you could create a dance remix any song by a mainstream artist, what (and for who) would it be?</strong></p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong>anon: </strong>I always seem inspired to want to remix other artists songs that inspire me, I always hear fresh ideas and hooks that I think would be cool. If I had to choose one song, hmmm, it would be wicked to do a remix of Michael Jacksons “Man in Mirror” because I feel that song has inspired so many people including myself, and the words have such a real impact on what so many people think today.</p> <p>  </p> <p> <img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/mediumanon.jpg" style="width: 600px; height: 268px; " /></p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong>Highbrow Magazine:  If you had your pick of any DJ to remix a song for you, who would it be and why?</strong></p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong>anon:  </strong>It would be hot to have a song remixed by Alessandro Ayer. He’s got a cool style and his remixes are unique and pumpin’.</p> <p>  </p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong>Highbrow Magazine:  You have been working on a video for your track, “U got me Trip’n”, can you tell our readers what that experience has been like thus far? Can we anticipate more videos from this EP?</strong></p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong>anon:  </strong>I’m almost finished the WM2 “U Got Me Trip’n” video, and it’s been much more work than I expected. Luckily I’ve had some help, but my goal has been to create the first video myself. My vision is to combine images that get people thinking about the feelings that you feel when listening to the remix. As for other videos, there are defiantly more to come! The second video is in the planning stages and will be directed by Rob Bryton, which promises to be an even deeper look into my mind and motivations.</p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong>Highbrow Magazine:  Name one album that you could never live without.</strong></p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong>anon: </strong>There are so many records I don’t think I could live without! One record that I haven’t lived without that’s had an effect on my life is Green Days “American Idiot”, because of what the words and music represent.</p> <p>  </p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong>Highbrow Magazine:  Do you have plans to perform or DJ live anywhere in the near future?</strong></p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong>anon: </strong>I recently did a couple of short DJ sets around London with a mate DJ and plan to do more when I can find the time. As for “anon” live performances, I’ve been working closely with SavageArts and some of their team to create a wild and crazy tour. I believe in the near future there will be an announcement of a 2013 “anon” tour.</p> <p>  </p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong>Highbrow Magazine:  It has been said that you share the following feelings with today’s youth culture: Growing Up, Self Confidence, Sexual Identity, Peer Pressure and the need to Feel and Love. Can you describe to us how you believe young people find these things in music and dance?</strong></p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong>anon: </strong>I believe everyone has an emotional connection to music and I feel we’re all drawn to what makes us feel. Music expresses joys, frustrations and passions to name a few, and whether dealing with peer pressure, sexual identity or any of the feelings or emotions you’ve mentioned, musicians and songwriters express what they feel. I believe artists and young people share a similar vision when it comes to expressing themselves and having difficulties expressing themselves. At times I find it easier to express myself in my music opposed to in person.</p> <p>  </p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong>Highbrow Magazine:  Describe, in detail, the ideal future for “anon”.</strong></p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong>anon:  </strong>I’m guessing you mean aside from Mansions and Lear Jets LOL. Seriously, the perfect future for “anon” would be for me to continue expressing myself and creating music. To continue growing and experiencing life, and continue to share my creations, and inspire people to feel.</p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong><em>Check out anon’s music (and soon to be released music video) by visiting this link: </em></strong><a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/anonmusicuk">http://www.youtube.com/user/anonmusicuk</a></p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong>Author Bio:</strong></p> <p> <em>Snapper Ploen is a contributing writer at</em> Highbrow Magazine. </p> </div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/anon" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">anon</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/british-dance-pop" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">british dance pop</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/british-artist-anon" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">british artist anon</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/savage-arts" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">savage arts</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/u-got-me-tripn" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">U got me trip&#039;n</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/music" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Music</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-author field-type-text field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Snapper S. Ploen </div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-pop field-type-list-boolean field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Popular:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">not popular</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-photographer field-type-text field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Photographer:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Courtesy of Savage Arts</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-bot field-type-list-boolean field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Bottom Slider:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Out Slider</div></div></div> Sun, 09 Sep 2012 18:40:45 +0000 tara 1527 at https://www.highbrowmagazine.com https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/1535-british-dance-pop-act-anon-focuses-power-sound-not-trappings-fame#comments