Name, Location, What You Do:
Anne Frankenstein, London, DJ & Broadcaster

Influences:
I really love late ’70s/early ’80s rap music and I’m inspired by that era of music and style in New York, the creativity, the inventiveness and the DIY party vibes. I’ve always loved soul and jazz music, blues and folk too – I’m fixated on older music because it always seems more authentic to me, and nothing pleases me more than finding something old, in any genre, that sounds completely brave and original – like a gospel group singing about the Atomic Bomb, or a bunch of kids rapping about how they don’t want to go to school, or some old guy who locked himself in a basement with a bunch of synths for years making music. That’s the stuff I keep an ear out for when I’m digging.

Favorite Records at the Moment:
I’ve been listening to a lot more Manu Dibango just to celebrate his life – his solo piano records are favourites. Don Cherry’s Hear & Now was made for times like these, as was Bill Withers Live at Carnegie Hall (RIP). Also I’m trying to work on my scratching while I have all this free time so Super Duper Duck Breaks are never far from my decks!

Best Digging Story: I had a really fun trip digging around the States a few years ago, and I plan to go back soon, but Tokyo was my absolute favourite place to buy records. They have so much rap and electro there for some reason, and it’s so cheap! I bought so much that I filled the empty suitcase I brought with me and had to go to a 24hr department store at 2am to buy another one. And even then we were barely able to fit everything. Lesson learned – bring three extra bags next time. I’m actually writing a little guide to Tokyo record stores at the moment which should be out soon.

Favorite Mix and Why. Any Genre, Any DJ:
Has to be “The Adventures of Grandmaster Flash on the Wheels of Steel” – purely for the fact of how hard it blew my tiny mind when I first heard it and how it helped me make the decision to get into djing.

LP, 12”, or 7” format?:
Always a 12” – nice and long, hopefully, better audio quality too

Junk Food You Can’t Live Without:
Don’t know if it counts as food but I have to have at least four different types of soft drink in my fridge at all times, plus iced tea. I like to drink Diet Coke in the morning instead of coffee – people think it’s gross but it’s just a different flavour of caffeinated brown sludge.

Most Memorable Gig Played:
Probably the afterparty for Gossip at Somerset House last summer, the band danced madly to everything, especially when I slipped in some Bikini Kill. At one point Beth Ditto leaned over the decks to cool me down with a Japanese fan she was holding. It was pretty surreal.

Record That Never Leaves Your Record Box:
“Atomic Dog” by George Clinton. Fits in any set and always unites the dancefloor.

Shout Outs, Last Remarks, and Gig Info:
No gigs at the moment obviously but when I’m back at it catch me at Jazz Cafe, Spiritland or the Social, and I’m still on the radio at the moment, every weekday from 10am on Jazz FM. Also, I just redid my website – djannefrankenstein.com!

Listen to her on Jazz FM here.

Dig Deeper!