It’s been a hot minute since two music fans from Edmonton joined together but they’ve been nonstop ever since as ANZU. Making electronic music influenced by some of the most notable names that made MTV what it was in the ’80s, ANZU worked overtime last year to ensure they’d have more than one volume to deliver to the world come the next. They’ve already dropped Without Love Vol. 1 which features “(When I Was) Loving You” back in February and they have a lot more coming your way by the time the calendar changes again. We talked about all of the above, artistry and more.
Kendra: When you two banded together in 2012, was electronic music it or did ANZU go through some phases before landing on a defined sound?
ANZU: It was always electronic based music but we did go through a few phases before we landed on our current sound. We started off doing vinyl DJ sets that were very noisy and more experimental at first. We really liked stuff like Amon Tobin, Caribou, Radiohead, Liars, etc. After a few years of producing tracks together, we started releasing tracks online that were more of a Justice style electro sound. We worked on a few pop tracks with a few singers that are heavily influenced by Robyn’s Body Talk and Tegan and Sara’s Heartthrob. We started making disco and French house late 2016. We’ve always loved that music and decided that it was the right fit for our first proper release.
Kendra: Back in the early ’00s electronic was still pretty much in an infancy when it came to the mainstream. Where do you feel like Anzu fits into all of that?
ANZU: We enjoy a few mainstream EDM artists but we’re definitely more influenced by classic sounding house artists.That being said some of our biggest influences are some of the biggest artists of all time like Madonna, Prince, Michael Jackson, Daft Punk. I don’t think we’d fit on a bill with Diplo very well but we definitely want our music to be enjoyed by as many people as possible.
Kendra: Last year you two spent a lot of time writing. Now you have a few EPs dropping this year. What was the process to pick and choose which songs went on which release?
ANZU: We tried to group them based on feel and with a good flow in the track listing. Overall there’s a cohesive sound between the EP’s but they do have their own unique independent vibes as well.
Kendra: Well, we got Without Love Vol. 1 on Valentine’s Day. Is this record for the romantics or those rocking #SingleAF tees?
ANZU: Both!
Kendra: As far as the first single, “(When I Was) Loving You,” it’s for everyone. It has such a great energy. Can you describe what it’s like to perform songs like this life in just three words?
ANZU: Jolly, good, fun.
Kendra: Okay, so we need to talk about your logo. Who is this and why do I feel like they could be besties with Steven Universe?
ANZU: That’s ANZU. We wanted to avoid having press photos as best as we could and we wanted our artwork to be more artistic than pictures of us wearing headphones or behind turntables, wanted to do something different. We love cartoons and we grew up watching anime. There was also influence from Daft Punk’s helmets, Gorillaz, Deadmau5, Flat Eric, Justice’s cross. Just our way of having a more artistic identity beyond the music.
Kendra: When can fans expect the other albums this year, and will you be playing shows in between each?
ANZU: We’re hoping to have Vol. 2 out by summer, and Vol. 3 out by the end of the year or early 2019. We’re most likely not touring this year but we’ll be playing some gigs in and around our hometown of Edmonton.
