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| Artist Statistics |
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Artistopia Rank : 106
Member Since : 5/2004
Last Login : 1/9/2007
Views : 16,032
Songs : 9
Events : 3
Alliances : 3
Releases : 3
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Artistopia URL :
http://www.artistopia.com/ankha |
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| Latest Music By Ankha |
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The Other Side
Published Date : 11/2001
Total Downloads : 230
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News Article |
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Artist Review: Ankha |
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| Published on 5/30/2004 |
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| By DJ Shakti for BPM Magazine |
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Once in a while you get to interview an artist who has so much knowledge, so much to teach and share… its an absolute pleasure.
Here’s Ankha
Where did it all begin? I was about 6 years old and after bashing around on my moms piano she sent me of to the normal syncopated piano lessons, which I did till the age of 14 but I wanted to know more, just playing "tunes" did not satisfy me anymore, my then piano teacher said the best thing for me to do was to study classics and arranged for me to audition for Prof. Epstien, he only took 5 pupils a year and not having a classical background meant I had a very slim chance of being accepted, but to my surprise he accepted me and I went on to complete my grade 8.
Which artist(s) influenced you the most?
Kieth Emerson (Emerson, Lake and Palmer), Rick Wakeman (Yes), Allen Parson (Allen Parson Projects), Mike Oldfield (Tubular Bells) and King Crimson. Kieth Emerson is an awesome keyboard player, his ability to combine, classical, jazz and rock was outstanding, I wanted to be just as good as him. He was the major influence for me doing my grades, the only style of his that I could not do was jazz, I do not like it at all.
What was your first electronic keyboard?
My first electronic keyboard was a Roland SH-3 analogue synthesizer, I had just turned 16 and my mom saw it advertised in the classifieds and bought it for me. I thought I was in heaven, it was just what I wanted.
How did you get into audio engineering?
After finishing school, tried to get into producing music but without any credits nobody would trust me, the closet to where I wanted to go was a position at EMI factory, at least a step closer. Did tape duplication, next tape mastering, then moved to vinyl cutting. Cut most of the Club tracks. Then was offered a tape-op position at EMI studios, which means you get to do everyone else's dirty work. After more than a year of this, went to the studio director and said I'm tired of this, wanted to leave, but he believed in me and told me to "hang in there"… it just takes a bit of time...you'll get your chance. Three years later I was Chief Engineer.
What was your first major success?
Had one hit that broke me… Blondie & Pappa, went platinum 2 weeks after release. The album got rave reviews with lots of media and industry comments about the excellent sound quality. Suddenley I was "noticed", no longer the "tape op", the backroom girl, top producers booked me for their productions and the gold and platinum credits rolled in. It was from this point that I started to get offers to produce, especially from the rock and alternative labels, they liked the way I put the productions together. As my clientele grew I was able to leave the "corporate" world and go freelanece.
Who did you work for as a freelance engineer?
Worked for the major and the indie labels but eventually worked the most for Inhouse Records as a freelance Producer/Engineer.
What did Inhouse Records release?
Inhouse Records released a lot of the death metal, alternative, Gothic, Punk and rock, that got me into playing speed metal guitar, I have a natural flair for producing "underground" music and love the awesome energy that these bands have, especially live.
And when did Ankha, The Artist, come about?
About three years ago, had enough of working on other artists projects and had the resources not to have to do tons of freelance work to "pay" the bills.I did a fair amount of "mood" writing for film and TV, but still did not have a clear concept of the direction I wanted to go in.
Then one day I wandered into "The House of Isis" a new age store in Johannesburg, looking for "things" as any good witch does from time to time and they were playing the "usual" music, after listening to quite a few tracks, it suddenly dawned on me that the music lacked groove and a certain amount of "energy".
I went back to my studio and wrote “The Other Side” and people liked it, said it was refreshing and different, even some of the die hard traditional coven members started to rave about it. My music spread out to most of the Pagan community, eventually ending up at the Pagan Federation of South Africa's HQ who really got behind it and pushed the CD. The Other Side also spread via the internet and was featured on Witches Voice and many other Pagan stations and "zines.
So how did you end up doing Psy Trance?
Thanks to Patrick Scharer, a former student of mine. He had an insatiable appetite to learn as much as he could and because of this I asked him to help mix "The Other Side", he "played" engineer which freed me to concentrate on the mix production. The amount of effort he put into the project can be heard in the superb sonic quality of the final mix.
I was about to start a follow up to "The Other Side" when he suggested that I should rather tackle the Psy Trance market, he brought me loads of CD's to listen to and with his more Techno Psy influences and my moody, emotional, very layered writing, created my own distintive style of Psy trance. I have since written over 60 tracks and at least 49 of them are Psy or Progressive Psy. (Note: Patrick Scharer is now Ankha's management)
How did your Live Show come about?
Well firstly, I'm not a DJ, so trying to get your music out there to be played is a problem, I had to think of another way. After watching other live electronic artists, one aspect I noticed is that it got boring after awhile, make no mistake, they are excellent, but watching someone fiddling with "knobs" etc. just didn't do it for me, it needed more to be entertaining, lights, smoke, visuals. movement and just a touch of "glam". So Patrick and I put a concept together, which has now grown, 2 years later, into the fully fledged Ankha show.
The future, where do you see yourself going ?
Want to tour outside South Africa, Europe, States and especially the eastern countries, I know that Japan, Thailand, Taiwan scene would enjoy my show. Need to find a promoter that can set up gigs for me there.
Would like to do more ambient trance, also getting more calls from the film and tv industry, but it looks like I'm heading deeper, darker, kind of Darkwave with a twist of metal, a splash of Goth, more extreme synths and textures, but won't be loosing my "Kick" nor my odd 5/4 bar. |
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| Article Credits and References |
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DJ Shakti for BPM Magazine:
email: shereen_d@mweb.co.za
BPM Magazine: P.O. Box 4758, Tygervalley,Cape, 7536
Email: bpmmag2@eject.co.za
TEl/Fax: +27 21 910 4373
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