NCM GUEST MIX 006: ARTEMIS
"The entire room lit up with daylight. It was this epic moment of, “Oh my god, I’m in Germany dancing in arguably the best club in the world on a SUNDAY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DAY.” – Ann-Michelle Neal aka ARTEMIS.
Where are you from, how did you end up in SLC?
I’m originally from Utah, then moved to Seattle when I was 19 for my undergraduate degree. Living in Seattle for 5 years in my early 20’s was definitely a definitive experience in my life. After college I moved to Flagstaff, Arizona, which is this scrappy little mountain town full of artists and hippies. A lot of people don’t realize Flagstaff is a lot like Eugene or Fort Collins – quite progressive and full of creative, interesting, outdoorsy people. Both places were hugely influential to who I am. I moved back to Utah several years ago for graduate school and have found Salt Lake City to be a really cozy balance.
How did you become interested in music and electronic/dance music?
I went to Berlin! I’d been following indie-tronica bands like the Postal Service for several years and knew a little about electronic music. Going out dancing with my friends was awesome and therapeutic. After grad school, I spent a month in Europe and went to some of the best clubs in the world – Fabric, Paris Social Club, Watergate, and of course Berghain and Panorama Bar - and I came back completely obsessed and bought some equipment. A place like Berghain will change your life forever. I was there once for 9 or 10 hours and heard sets from Gunnar Stillar, Answer Code Request, Marcus Meinhardt; I’d never heard anything like it in my life. I stood at the decks in the Panorama Bar for a 3+ hour minimal tech house set by the producer duo The Cheapers. I’d say that was a pivotal moment for me. They’re still on my list of favorite producers of all time and the minimal aesthetic, regardless of genre, is something that I really seek out and love. I didn’t want to leave! But I guess you have to eat at some point. There’s a reason “Don’t forget to go home” is spray-painted on the wall there.
What kind of art, music or scenes inspired you when you were younger?
Ha! I was kind of a nerd mostly and listened to a lot of NPR. I was never really obsessed with one particular music scene before being consumed by House and Techno. One thing that I consider to be very influential for me as a DJ is my background as a modern dancer. I was in modern dance classes throughout my whole childhood and early in college. Even though it’s not something I do anymore, I feel the musicality, ability to express emotion and create a story through movement and music that I learned as a dancer are hugely important to me as a DJ. I can also count bars and measures in my head without really thinking about it, which is really useful.
What is your favorite dance floor memory?
At Berghain/Panorama Bar, the weekends start on Thursday night and end in the dawn hours of Monday morning. I was on the dance floor in the Panorama Bar on a Sunday afternoon; the place was nicely packed with mostly local kids and the energy was really good. After a breakdown in the music the DJ dropped in the baseline and the panels that cover the windows opened. The entire room lit up with daylight. It was this epic moment of, “Oh my god, I’m in Germany dancing in arguably the best club in the world on a SUNDAY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DAY.” You aren’t supposed to take any photos inside Berghain, but I took a photo of that moment.
How did you come up with your DJ name?
I think this is a weird story! I had a dream about it. I kind of thought DJ names were cheesy and I wasn’t really sure I even wanted one, but one day my friend Al insisted that I needed one. That night I had this dream that my DJ name was Artemis. In my dream the letter A was a triangle; specifically, it was the Greek delta I tattooed on my arm in London. Delta is a mathematical symbol for “change”, and that seems fitting given that was where this all started.
How would you describe the scene here vs. the one you came from or grew up in?
The biggest thing I’ve noticed is the dramatic shift in the scene here over the last year or so. Mainstream clubs are booking great house and tech house DJ’s and packing dance floors. This is a big change from the EDM that dominated everything when I started playing (with you) a few years ago. There’s also a really thriving underground scene and incredible local talent that I’m lucky and proud to be a part of.
What surprises you the most about living in Salt Lake and Utah in general?
This place is cool – it has a lot more in common with the other places I’ve lived than when I left Utah at 19. It’s full of incredibly creative and interesting people. I love that.
What do you think could be improved?
Conservative politics.
What equipment do you use for DJing (or producing)?
I play on an Allen & Heath Xone:92 mixer with Native Instruments X1 and Traktor software. I’ve recently started experimenting with a guitar delay pedal to replace digital effects.
What is your dream setup?
I kind of have my dream setup, honestly. The Xone:92 is a beautiful mixer. It’s fully analog so it has a warmth that is irreplaceable, and the filters are truly incredible. I sort of feel like my mixer found me, not the other way around, and now I’m lucky enough to have the same tools at my disposal as some of best producers/DJs in the world. If anything, I’d love to get my hands on a Roland TR-8. That would really open up a lot of creative possibilities.
How would you describe your style of selecting and mixing?
First, I use Mixed in Key religiously. Second, I rarely plan out a set track-by-track ahead of time (unless I’m really nervous), so keeping my files organized by genre or context is huge for me. The organization I do ahead of time allows me to pick the mood or vibe I’m going for and then have freedom to experiment in the moment and to really respond to the dance floor. It allows me to be creative while staying cohesive.
How did you approach your mix for NCM?
I’ve been really inspired over the last several months traveling and going to festivals. Hearing some of the best DJs in the world play at places like Burning Man and Time Warp New York has caused me to reflect and really try to define my sound. As a result, I currently have hundreds of new tracks. I was exploring my library and I hit really this moment of creative flow – so I started recording. I think this mix is really representative of what it is I am trying to achieve.
Where do you see yourself with music or DJing in the future?
Oh, God. Who can tell? Three years ago I never could have imagined that I’d be where I am now. For me, DJing has been one of those things that just fell into place and continues to so. Good things keep happening, I’ve been given really amazing opportunities, and I’m surrounded by the most amazing people. I’ve always said I don’t really know how big to dream, so I just keep saying “yes” to opportunities that present themselves.
TRACKLIST: 1. Max Richter, Ben Russel “Sublunar” [Deutsche Grammophon]
2. Philip Badar “Blue Frog” (PAWSA Remix) [Lost Records]
3. Sabb “One of Us feat. Forrest” (Dennis Ferrer Remix) [Toolroom]
4. Butch, Hohberg “Thai Cubensis” [Otherside Music]
5. Stephen Bodzin “ Singularity” (Fur Coat Remix) [Herzblut Recordings]
6. Oscar Mulero “Ascension” [PoleGroup]
7. Krissky “Talking People” [Natura Viva]
8. Traumer “Tirade” [Get Physical]
9. Pleasurekraft “Andromeda” [Octopus Records]
10. Adrian Hour “Again, Faster” (Alberto Ruiz Remix) [Natura Viva]
11. Ben Coda, Meat Katie “Dog Eat Dog” [LOT49]
12. Felix Krocher “Catena” (Wigbert Remix) [Deeperfect Records]
13. Susanne Vega “Tom’s Diner” (Rampue Remix + Artemis Re-Edit) [unreleased]
14. Deepbass “Themis” [Soma Records]
15. Hot Since 82 “The Core feat. Alex Mills” [Knee Deep in Sound]
16. Klunk, Terry Francis “Relax” (Tigerskin Deep Mix) [Wiggle Records]
17. Cosmic Cowboys “If You Leave Tonight” (Kollektiv Turmstrasse Remix) [Musik Gewinnt Freunde] 18. Rampue “Sephiroth” [Recovery Tech]
19. PAWSA “The Shapeshifter” [Solid Grooves Records]
20. &Me “Woods” (Reda Briki Re-Edit) [unreleased]
Panorama Bar, Berghain in Berlin