Full of joy, enthusiasm and passion for everything she does. As much as she follows her music, Anna Borsuk follows her dreams – and one fuels the other, giving her plenty of inspiration, opportunities to go beyond genres of music and being conventional. Proud of her country and its fearlessness, she invites artists from Ukraine to Poland and shares the underground culture with everybody who wants to get to know it better.
This weekend Anna will perform at the first edition of the Muse Festival at the Goszcz Palace. We asked her a few questions about her plans for the summer season, where in the world she feels most comfortable, and what the near future holds for her – as well as the dreams she has already made come true.
Agata Omelanska: Hi Anna, I am very happy to meet you. How are you? What’s going on in your musical world, what are you working on and how do you plan to spend the summer?
Anna Borsuk: Salut, intensely, thank you. Lots of big changes and plans, very much for the better and for moving forward. This year will be a big step for me – a new stage with a lot of work and self-realization ahead.
Some people go on traditional vacations full of sightseeing, chasing sunsets on the beach and blissful laziness, while others go crazy for so-called “technotourism.” In which group do you find yourself – more than one answer option is acceptable! – and which place on Earth makes you both recharge your batteries and get inspired by music?
The summer season brought my debut at HOR (in June), and the long-awaited Muse Festival is coming up. For now I can’t tell you everything, but soon more details will be revealed, step by step. At this point, I can say that for me this summer is definitely different than the previous ones – and at first it seemed very hard, but then I saw a great sense in it, and a moment that opened another great door for me. You will see that in time!
The only thing I can reveal at this moment is that my friend and I are working on a fashion project called “CUD8”, which we will launch and present right at Muse. By the way, for me the TOP 5 places that have the best scenes in the world are: 1) Ukraine, 2) Georgia, 3) UK, 4) Romania; 5) Germany!
As we are in the middle of the festival season, what are your travel plans – both as a DJ and a festival attendee? Where will you be seen dancing and what events do you recommend?
Every year I choose for myself one event, concert or festival that I’m going to privately: this year I already have a plan and I’m dreaming of Atonal in Berlin, or a trip to Georgia in September. Next year I would like to go to Glitch in Malta or Sunwaves in Romania.
Last year I had the opportunity to be at Draaimolen in the Netherlands, musical top level! But a special place in my heart will always be held by Garbicz – this year the week after Muse – at which I had the pleasure and distinction of playing at the rominimal stage “Buk Corner” 2 years ago. And I still consider it the best moment of my life so far!
Speaking of festivals, we will soon see you at Muse Festival at the Goszcz Palace. What are your feelings about the venue itself and the amazing line-up – I should add that this is only the first edition!
The entire line-up of the first edition is one big banger and includes only the top artists. I see great potential and wish this wholeheartedly for the Muse team!
Let the church bells sound… or rather a solid bass, and right in the heart of the temple! Have you already prepared a selection of songs for your set? What music do you listen to most often now – artists, labels or genres – and please name 3 tracks that we should definitely pay attention to.
This time I’m playing in a rather early slot, which actually makes me very happy – I’ll be able to show myself from a different side. I’m known for my versatility, and throughout my life I’ve been scrambling with different sounds, genres, producers – starting from classical music to gabbers!
This time I’m going to take you on an acidhouse journey in the style of Roman Khropko or Sasha Zlykh – some of my favorite Ukrainian producers – or a couple of tracks from Dr. Banana. I’ll also add a dub-bass claw and a bit of latino or drums in the style of “One n Only” from my favorite DJ, SVZZ, and much more!
Which Muse artist(s) do you absolutely need to hear and why?
I’m definitely and hugely looking forward to Nite Fleit’s performance – she’s one of my favorite producers and DJs. Of the local artists, I am very curious about Milena Glowacka’s performance, finally I will have the pleasure of listening to her live for the first time.
Okay, we’ve already jumped to the future, but let’s go back to the past for a moment. For the first half of the year you were very busy: you played in numerous Polish clubs, such as Jasna 1, Smolna, Schron, Piekło nad Niebem, Drugi Dom and Crackhouse. You’ve also recorded a very well-received podcast for Mixmag, ‘Bass In My Heart’, and made your debut behind the iconic Berlin HOR dj booth. What would you call this moment in your career, and how would you sum it up? Did you ever imagine that your decision to become a DJ would have such a development?
I have always been a nerd and a “big psycho freak music lover,” as I remember myself. I fell in love and found my calling about 10 years ago, at the famous “Nowa Jerozolima” club at one of the Technosoul events.
From that moment, I felt that this was my great destiny and it was meant for me. I became enthralled with culture, music and underground – once and for all. I’m doing what I love; straight from the heart, forever and ever, for the sake of a real passion and idea. And that’s all that matters!
And speaking of flourishing and having many opportunities to create and share your vision with others – how would you describe your event series, Candyflip and MRIJA? What are the stories behind them and how would you like to develop them in the future?
MRIJA, from Ukrainian, means “dream,” which I had and have. 2 years ago, just after Russia’s attack on Ukraine, I felt and had a goal to support my country, the military and the people with all kinds of bricks through artistic charity events, where I share the Eastern culture, scene and artists from Ukraine in Poland.
CANDYFLIP is about sweet euphoria and great passion; events with foreign bookings that are usually gems of my selection. In this series I present lesser-known, but upcoming and noteworthy producers, as well as outstanding locals. I will soon be starting publishings on Instagram and Soundcloud, where you will be able to listen to recordings from headliners as well as locals – both those who have already played and those who are yet to play at my party.
The last couple of years I was the artistic manager and booker of K-Bar Powiśle. I gave a lot of strength, vision, ideas and heart to the creation of this venue, the development of the Polish underground scene and the education of culture without borders, stereotypes and frames.
As humans, we like to strive to achieve our “milestones” – both in our personal and professional lives; mostly measured by money earned, marathons run, balanced health, etc. Speaking of these achievements in the field of the music industry, which ones are the most important for artists today? I don’t mean the prism of social media or business techno, but more about the daily life of DJs/producers.
For me, the greatest satisfaction all along – and what I work hard on and focus on – is producing, making my own music in the future and live performances.
And what “milestones” do you consider most important for yourself? Have you already achieved any of your dreams in the world of music?
Dreams have to be in the heart, pure and sincere – go with the flow, and then everything goes with the rhythm and in step. I cherish every moment I have in my life and am grateful for everything.
I am curious to see what it will show me, what will come out of this all and stay with me in intimacy and turn out in love. That’s the thing, being a dreamer and free spirit in life.
And as I mentioned the topic of social media… How do you use it and have fun with content creation? How do you find the balance between your presence on Instagram, real life and privacy?
Hahaha, I would love to have no socials – as it used to be. Because it’s mostly about music, in the end of the day.
Thank you so much for the interview and your time, Anna! See you at Muse Festival!