Interview: BRIANNA talks about her debut techno release on Mavic Music

BRIANNA is an Australian artist who is already respected in Sydney’s underground techno scene. She has an explosive style, which combines hammering drums and exhilarating synths, similar to other artists such as Reinier Zonneveld, The YellowHeads, and Bart Skils. BRIANNA is also a talented producer who joins Mavic Music to put out her first official release, “Hypnotherapy”, and in this interview she tells us more about those tracks…

How did you first discover electronic music, and what made you decide to become a DJ?

BRIANNA: “I’ve always loved music and grew up listening to everything from commercial hits to punk and rock. If I could dance to it, I was listening to it. Thinking back, my very first memory of electronic music was when I was invited to Stereosonic Festival in 2011 in Perth, Western Australia. I was blown away by Avicii and Armin van Buuren, who were headlining the festival. Not only did I fall in love with the music, but I was mesmerised by Armin van Buuren’s ability to hold a crowd in the palm of his hand.

My love for music—especially electronic dance music—only grew stronger as I attended more festivals and events and explored more genres. I love the way music can make you feel and tell a story, and that’s what inspired me to get into DJing and producing.”

Who are some of your biggest influences, and what makes them so inspiring?

BRIANNA: “YellowHeads are a huge influence and one of the main reasons I decided to pursue peak-time techno. I was lucky enough to meet them recently, and the show they put on was incredible. I brought a friend along who was strictly into Drum & Bass, and after seeing YellowHeads, he was converted. They were so lovely and down-to-earth.

They inspire me not only through the work they do for their own artist identity and their label, but also because even after being in the industry for so long, they still take the time to speak to newcomers like me.

Trent Hadid is also one of my biggest influences. He took me under his wing and mentored me through music production. Trent is incredibly kind, patient and supportive—even when I asked silly questions. He has been an amazing mentor.”

At what point in your career did you decide to start making your own music?

BRIANNA: “I started working in emergency services and was looking for a healthy, productive way to disconnect from work. I met up with a local mentor (Trent Hadid) who helped guide me through the early challenges of music production. I briefly self-taught DJing about a decade ago but didn’t pursue it at the time—I enjoyed being on the other side of the decks too much.”

Can you talk through the concept of the tracks on your new “Hypnotherapy” EP?

BRIANNA: “I’ve always had this idea that music—especially techno and other forms of EDM—has a mind-altering effect on people. Pulsing, relentless basslines combined with hypnotic melodies are central to my work. I believe they help engage the listener to the point where they can get lost in the music, feel a range of emotions, and in many cases experience something healing or therapeutic.

I strongly believe that music is medicine.

Turn the Night follows on from this idea of music as therapy. It’s a homage to all those memorable nights with friends that end up being life-changing. A lot of those nights start from nothing, and when I made this track I wanted to capture the raw energy that defines the techno scene.”

How do you approach making a new track, and what studio equipment is essential to your sound?

BRIANNA: “For me, inspiration comes first—I never want to sit down and produce just for the sake of it.

I usually start with the drums and bass to build a driving groove. I think this is one of the most important steps because the relationship between those two elements sets the tone of the track. After that, I create a rough arrangement and then work on the lead synths.

Even though peak-time techno is often rhythm-focused, I like to infuse as much melody as I can without taking away from the industrial nature of the genre. I’m obsessed with space and technology, which you can hear throughout my tracks. Then I work on what I call “ear candy”—the subtle background elements that are essential to the overall feel of the music.

As for my studio gear, I do all my work on my MacBook Pro M5. I use Ableton Live, and if I had to choose my top plugins, I’d go with Serum 2, Diva, Kickstart 2, and Valhalla Reverb. I don’t like to overcomplicate things.”

Your new “Hypnotherapy” EP is out on the Mavic Music record label. How did you first make contact with the label?

BRIANNA: “I met the owner of Mavic Music, Christian Barbuto, after attending one of the events the label had put on. I get a bit shy meeting new people, but I said hello and we spoke briefly about peak-time techno. We followed each other on Instagram. I sent Barbuto Hypnotherapy and Turn the Night for some feedback, and he replied saying he wanted to sign both tracks. I was genuinely excited to work with him.”

In your opinion, what sets DJs apart from bands or other performing artists?

BRIANNA: “I feel that DJs are uniquely equipped to take you on a journey. They can change things up on the go and react to the crowd’s energy in real time.”

What are some of your passions outside of music?

BRIANNA: “I genuinely love helping people. I work in frontline emergency services, and I find it extremely rewarding to support people in their most vulnerable moments. I enjoy being outdoors—at the beach or out on hikes—and I’ll never say no to a girls’ night in.”

Thanks for taking the time to do this interview. What else is coming up in your schedule, and is there anything you want to add before we finish?

BRIANNA: “Thank you so much for having me, it’s been great! My schedule is usually crazy busy, so coming into the Christmas period, I’m taking a step back from work commitments and enjoying summer with my family. I’m continuing to work in the studio on new projects and seeing where this amazing journey takes me.

I want everyone to know that the peak-time techno scene is well and truly alive in Sydney, and there are so many incredible local artists who need your support. So get out there to the clubs and events!”

BRIANNA’s new release, “Hypnotherapy” is out now, and can be purchased here.