Artist of the Month: Anetha

Anetha's voice is a little croaky when we speak to her a few days after ADE, but it's not from the late nights she played in the Netherlands' capital; it's the dregs of a cold she's had since her wedding in September—probably the most significant date on her 2024 calendar, and that's taking into account her slot at the closing ceremony of the Paris Paralympic Games too.

Weeks have passed since both ceremonies, and the dust is still settling. The same goes for Anetha's debut album Mothearth, which she released on her record label, Mama Told Ya [MTY], in March. Like running the label, booking agency Mama Loves Ya, and digital-only experimental imprint Fané.e, all alongside her close-knit label and agency family (both literally and figuratively), the album was another significant project she poured her energy and time into this year and one that she's still processing.

Mothearth celebrates Anetha's decade-long journey in the music industry and explores themes of femininity, self-expression, motherhood, nature and sustainability, as told through bouncy techno, iridescent trance, liquid drum & bass and flavours of psy, gabber and other curveball-shaped sounds. Comprising ten tracks, Mothearth was a lengthy endeavour to produce and promote. "It's not one project, and then I move on to another one [straightaway]," she says, referring to her slow-burning approach. "This project is not the 'part one' and then on to the next. It's more organic."

Following an unrushed, organic approach has worked well for Anetha. The critically-acclaimed album recieved a "positive response", reinforcing her profile as a producer, especially since she has spent a solid chunk of her career DJing, touring and delivering notable mixes for Boiler Room, ARTE, Rinse France, and a mix for her Mixmag Cover; another huge milestone.

Anetha applies as much effort into creating visual stories to accompany her music as she does producing and DJing. Take the video of her track "Terraphoria"; she worked with a crew of set designers, prosthetics designers, stylists, artists and extras who helped to evoke the surreal landscape and characters in the illusive world of "Terraphoria." "I had an idea, but they built everything," she says, citing the music video's director and scriptwriter, Guerand Retout, and visual artist FEMUR, who helped bring Anetha's concept to life. "But to play as an actor was also something big," she adds. "And also my mom, she's in one of the scenes." Anetha's father, who is a videographer and cameraman, was also on site of the shoot to help film behind-the-scenes content. A true family affair.

Anetha has teamed up with FEMUR for her next sizeable project: an exclusive ten-date A/V show worldwide, kicking off in a 3000-capacity venue in Paris in Spring 2025. It will be a Mama told ya collaboration with other visual artists too, including another of Anetha's favourites, Kévin Bray, who came on board after watching the clip for "Terraphoria."

In the meantime, Anetha has lined up more releases on Mama Told Ya, including a collaboration with KI/KI, another album from Mac Declos, and Randomer's EP Everything Happens for No Reason, which will drop on 6th December. Like all records on Mama Told Ya, the EP includes a co-produced track with Anetha. "And now, obviously, Randomer is not an emerging artist," she adds. "But for me, sometimes it's cool to learn from artists with a really big experience in the scene and producing."

The idea to co-produce a track on each release stems from a time when Anetha felt "alone in this industry"; it's her one way to connect further with emerging artists, whom she often books to play at renowned club and festival stages for various MTY showcases, from RSO. Berlin to Stone Techno. "So it's an exchange," she explains. "And I'm happy because it's giving more sense to do my job because you're not alone and just touring by yourself." 

Anetha is "super happy" with this dynamic and praises Spencer Parker for doing something similar "back in the day"; in 2015, he remixed Anetha's debut EP Ophiuchus on his label Work Them Records when she was coming up in the Parisian techno scene. This is where Anetha began to make her name as a DJ and producer between completing her studies in architecture and running the Blocaus party series and record label.

While the French capital informed part of her musical education, she discovered electronic music at home in Bordeaux through her parents' affection for new wave, electroclash, electro and minimal. Soon, she began mixing vinyl in her bedroom, landing her first gig in a bar in Bordeaux. More recently however, she revisited her roots in the more obscure corners of music by making an edit of a track by synthpop duo Vive la Fête, which will come out in 2025, and she's already road-tested it. "It's funny to see people like 'It's cool, I don't know it, but it's cool," she says. "But I'm happy I can show this track again to the new generation. It's cool."

This summer, Anetha met one of her electroclash heroes in real life, Kittin (fka Miss Kittin), who also played at the Paralympics closing ceremony for a B2B marathon between 24 notable French DJs and producers, from Jean-Michel Jarre to Chloe Caillet. It was an exceptional lineup combining electronic music in all its sprawling shades, so varied that it sparked a flicker of hesitation in Anetha: how would everyone musically gel?

"And then I thought, 'you know what, I think it's the opportunity of your life, so you have to just take this experience as it's going be,'" says Anetha. "But for sure, it was one of the best things that happened in my career because it was so emotional, first of all, to have had a chance to meet all those artists I would have never normally met, and they were so kind. Busy P was the best, super nice, and I was super happy. Everyone was connected: the athletes, the volunteers, everyone."

Hanging out with Kittin made the occasion even more special. "We were holding hands throughout the day," she laughs. "And we were so emotional. And it was a full circle, because Kittin is obviously one of my idols. It was crazy. It was really, really beautiful. In the end, the idea they (the ceremony's Musical Directors) had in mind really succeeded."

It's one of the many nights Anetha will remember from a jam-packed year, and it's not over yet. In December, she'll tour the US and South America for Mama told ya showcases in New York, Miami, Los Angeles, Bogotá, and Medellín, plus her own bookings in London, Manchester, Amsterdam, Berlin and beyond.

With so much happening, it's a good thing Anetha has a strong support network around her; her brother Xavier manages Fané.e, her husband Jules takes care of Mama Told Ya and Mama Loves Ya, and she's had the same agent, Joy, for several years now. The combination of working with family and chosen family has granted her the freedom to spend time with her daughter and be more selective with bookings. "I don't know if I would continue in another way, to be honest," she says. "Before lockdown, I had this burnout, and I was like, 'You know what? If it's still like this in a few years, I'm gonna quit. I can't do it anymore. I don't see the meaning. I'm unhealthy, tired, and stressed'. I'm not saying it's easy to be an artist nowadays because it's still hard, but I see more of the meaning of everything because I'm working with my brother, Jules, and Joy, and I trust everyone."

Anetha will have a well-earned month off in January, but we have a feeling her brain will still be churning out all sorts of ideas, whether related to art, music, or fashion. She looks at Jules, who pops into the room for the last few minutes of our call. "Do you realise how many projects we have done this year, even personal projects?" she smiles at him, mentioning their recent wedding. "But this is why we are here now; we always want new concepts and new projects."