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Chris Brann - Ananda Project
It’s Saturday of the conference week-end and getting things started on the soulful tip, is King Street Records. Early in the day, we had a unique opportunity to attend sound check and speak with Chris Brann of the Ananda Project and try to figure out just what makes his work so brilliant. Creating music since the mid-nineties as the Wamdue Kids or the Wamdue Project, he’s released albums and singles with some of underground’s most prolific labels such as Strictly Rhythm, Gui-dance, Ubiquity, and Studio K7! In the process, he’s created some of the underground’s most ethereal classics and helped put Atlanta on the dance music map with his distinctly soulful vibe.
But, like most things brilliant, the man behind it all would much rather let the music stand on its own and interviews, while undoubtedly necessary, are suf-fered with polite reservation. Still, if you’re going to be a man of few words, its helpful if those words are carefully chosen and carry a lot of impact. With Chris, that’s exactly what you get and that’s all good with us. Now, let him tell you about himself, his music, and what he’s doing down here in Florida.
At King Street (l-r): Stewart Upchurch, Kevin Williams, Romaine, Hisa, James B.
Welcome Chris and thank you so much for taking time out to be with us.
CB: Thank you.
First question is a basic…you’re from Atlanta, so how did you get started creating this beautiful music you’re making?
CB: I don’t know, it’s kind of difficult because I came out of a scene that really wasn’t supportive of house music. So it was a struggle to say that, you know, I’m a dance producer and working with these people who are just kind of, anti-dance, being from the South. It all kind of got diverted into, like, booty-shake or bass music. The "club" music. So, I don’t know, it’s just kind of an interesting struggle but I think that I’ve created… more space for me to create freely.
Is there a market for your music in Atlanta?
CB: Yes, but it’s small. There’s little pockets of it. It’s up-and-coming though.
Are there clubs that cater to dance music or is it all a mix where they’ll have reggae going as well?
CB: No, there are clubs. But again, it’s like, [there’s] always this thing where they think that rave drug music is always more popular than, you know, the real soulful essence of where the music came from - and that’s kind of more what I am about and supporting of; the true essence of where dance music is from.
So what inspired you to get started? Who were you listening to get you into this vibe?
CB: Well house music-wise, the obvious people from the late eighties, nineties, Mr. Fingers, Ten City. Stuff like that. Marshall Jefferson.
What do you play at home, right now?
CB: I’m playing this new artist named Santessa a lot. She’s produced by Stuart Matthewman; one of my favorite producers…from Sade. She’s a new artist from the U.K.
You’re here in Florida at Groove Jet, is this one of the first performances you’ve done here in Florida or anywhere?
It seems that you guys don’t perform all that much.
CB: I think we’ve DJ’ed down here in the past. But this is the first official Ananda Project performance so…
Talk a little bit about Ananda Project, who’s in the band with you, what’s the project about?
CB: Well, my main project has kind of always been Wamdue, or Wamdue Kids, Wamdue Project. So the Ananda thing started as, kind of an off-shoot of that - to concentrate on experimenting with more Afro-Caribbean rhythms, or Brazilian rhythms and still coming from like a deep house context…and a lot of vocals; a lot of emphasis on the song. [The group] features Gaelle Adisson, who sings "Cascades of Color"…
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My favorite… CB: Heather Johnson. Terrance Downs - who’s with us tonight, will be on a song called, "Glory, Glory." Is that from the new project? CB: From the new album which will be out, I think, summer. |
Terrance Downs getting busy! |
What is it called?
CB: Release.
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Chris Brann during his set |
What kind of message are you trying to deliver in your music? CB: Well it’s not so much of a conscious, stream-lined effort to say one thing. It is… music is magic. If you can hit with the right time, and the right space, the right people, and the right vibe – and if it all comes together correctly, then that’s good. And that’s always what I’m trying to achieve, all be it, non-consciously. Its something that has to evolve – you have to feel it. So, we don’t go into the studio and think we have to be this or that. Have to be formatted a certain way or it has to have a certain kind of message. That’s just not what we’re about. So what’s your process like for creating music? Do you wake up late at night needing to run into the studio? CB: I’m just a very kind of impatient person, so it’s like whenever the feeling hits, I have to do it. Whenever that may be. |
Thanks for taking time out for us and we look forward to seeing you later tonight for the party.
CB: Thank you. Cool.
Craig Roseberry with Chris
Interview and Photos by Donna Ward
