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BIO: Acid leads, ethereal vocals, and driving basslines shape every Anekko track into a hypnotic late-night journey.  Since 2021, Anekko has pushed the edge of modern EDM, drawing inspiration from imagination, sci-fi, and video games to create immersive musical journeys. Her signature sound fuses punchy low-end, immersive atmospheres, and powerful vocals, always balancing gritty textures with polished production. Every track is crafted with the dance floor in mind. Fueled by momentum, emotion, and the urge to move, Anekko creates music that grips the crowd and never lets go.

 Originally from Canada, but now also proudly Norwegian. 

What’s the story behind your artist name  “Anekko”?

My artist name is both a play on words and a combination of things I love. I love cats, and “neko” is Japanese for cat. I added an extra “k” to make it “ekko,” symbolizing music and sound. So you can read it as either “A Cat” or “An Echo.” My official logo uses Norwegian letters, but is spelled with standard English letters online to make it easy to search.

What first got you into producing electronic music? 

I’ve always loved EDM and wanted to produce, but never found the time. When COVID hit, I thought, “Okay, now’s the time - let’s do this!”

Who or what were your biggest musical influences growing up?

Growing up, I listened to a lot of Astrix, Astral Projection, and releases from Platypus Records, as well as artists like Tiësto and Armin van Buuren. The first album that really hooked me into psytrance was Hallucinogen’s The Lone Deranger.

These artists made music that made my world explode into colors and images. I loved being completely transported by sound, and I carry that experience with me ever since. When I make music now, I try to recreate that feeling of being taken somewhere else for the listener.

My music is really just a reflection of my imagination, stories, and visuals I have in my head. I get a lot of inspiration from video games, sci-fi shows, or even just random conversations. All it takes sometimes is one little phrase, and an entire song can grow from there. I put in my music the kinds of sounds and elements I love to hear, and that can evoke the emotions that connect me to the music. 

Are there any genres or artists outside of EDM that influence your style?

I listen to a wide range of genres and artists. I think it’s great to draw inspiration from everywhere, and I enjoy incorporating sounds from other styles into my music, like dubstep or lo-fi elements.

What Genre are you currently producing?

I make Full-on uplifting vocal Psytrance (as I like to call it!)  

What do you want people to feel and do when they listen to your music?

I want people to connect to the music in their own way and come along for the ride. I try to tell a story that takes the listener on an adventure using the sounds, vocals, and atmospheres. Whether it's just sitting and listening, dancing,  driving, or any way they wish to experience and enjoy it.  

What makes the music you are currently producing different from that of other EDM artists?

My music blends floaty vocals, vocal chops, and uplifting leads with grit from glitchy grids and acid lines. I put all my emotions into my music and try to create a sonic story or journey through the dialogues, vocals, and other elements of each track. I never try to sound like anyone else - the music in my head is always on.

How would you describe your sound to someone hearing you for the first time?

I’d describe my sound as floaty vocals and uplifting melodies, with vocal chops, acid leads, and some unexpected surprises around every corner. I create sonic adventures that you can either sink into with your eyes closed or move to.

What strategies are you using to grow your audience and make sure your music stands out (make sure your music gets heard)?

I connect with people on social media by sharing my creation process, behind-the-scenes moments, production tips, and updates about my releases. I make my music stand out by staying true to my own sound - I never try to sound like anyone else. I create from the inside, driven to get the music I hear in my head out into the world.

I think you told me you were learning to DJ?

I’m learning how to DJ and am currently putting a set together, with the goal of starting to play some shows soon. 😀

What is your musical background?

I grew up surrounded by music. Both of my parents play instruments, and my mother is a music teacher. I started on piano when I was young, then later played oboe in concert band, and flute and mallets in marching band. I also learned to play other instruments over the years, such as tin whistles, recorder, guitar, and hand drums, especially djembe.

I use the Maschine MK3 to brainstorm main ideas like grid patterns and leads, and then pair it with vocal ideas. I really like how easy it is to lose yourself in the moment because you have every instrument right there available to play with, so you can play around with patterns, melodies, and ideas, or change the sound on the fly.  There is such a difference between making music with an instrument and jamming, letting it flow, versus using a mouse on the computer.

What other music production hardware do you use?

I don’t use much hardware, just a few MIDI controllers, like the Arturia MiniLab 3.

Which music software and/or DAW do you prefer for music production, and what makes them your top choices?

I use Ableton Live. I picked it at the start because the layout and workflow matched my creative style, and it came with everything I needed to get going - lots of tools and devices that let me experiment right away.

Do you mix and master your own songs?

I do, and I think it’s an important skill to have. It teaches you a lot, not just about the mixing and mastering process, but also about choosing the right sounds and shaping them during creation. It really refines your listening skills.

How do you start a song? Do you begin with the melody, the drums, or the bassline when building a track?

Every song starts with a vocal for me, either a melody, a lyric, or a phrase. I like each track to have a theme and a story, so without that core idea, I don’t really know where the song is going or what kind of feeling it should have.

How do you approach making kick drums and bass stand out in your songs?

The kick is the central element in psytrance, and everything else is mixed around it. You always need to be able to clearly hear the kick and bass, otherwise the track loses its heartbeat.

How do you go about finding the perfect kickdrum, snare, or clap?

Honestly, I probably use the same snare about 80% of the time. While it’s an important element, it’s not usually something people notice or comment on unless it doesn’t fit, so there’s often no real reason to change it from track to track.

Kicks can be trickier. Sometimes the one I choose at the start loses its punch by the time the track is finished, because the other sounds fill out the frequency range. When that happens, I’ll go back and audition different kicks until I find one that fits the mix better. (UEDM good tip! ) 😃

How do you choose or create the perfect acid lead?

It’s very much a product of experimentation. I start with my basic acid patch, then tweak settings or wavetables and try it with different MIDI patterns. Most of the results end up being happy accidents rather than anything fully planned.

What techniques do you use to make your basslines and leads stand out in a mix, or to give your kick extra punch?

It all starts with a good sample; it makes the mixing process much easier. I also make sure the kick stays central and audible while I’m creating the track. Finally, I reference other tracks during the final master to make sure everything sits right in the mix.

Do you mix your bass at the same volume level as your kick drums?

In psytrance, I usually keep the bass roughly 3 dB lower than the kick. It helps maintain the low-end balance and gives the kick its punch while keeping the bass clear.

What’s one production tip you wish you'd known when you first started producing music?

Mix as you go! It lets you hear in the moment whether elements are working, helps manage resonances early, and speeds up the final mix and master.

How do you decide when a song is “finished”?

I know a song is finished when the story is complete, and the energy flows naturally. It should take the listener from the intro, where the scene is set, through the journey, and finally to the epic finale at the highest energy point.

What music-producing advice can you give someone who is trying to break into the EDM scene? 

Always finish your tracks, even if they’re not perfect. Completing a song teaches lessons you can’t learn any other way. If something doesn’t work, don’t scrap the whole track; treat it like a puzzle: isolate the part, tweak it, and fit it into the whole.

I think the underground EDM scene is really exciting right now. There’s so much creativity, and it’s full of amazing people you can meet, connect with, and learn from. 

It really depends. Using AI as a tool, like for mixing or mastering, is totally fine. But if a full track is generated from a prompt, I think it should be labeled as such and maybe even kept separate from human-made music.

What’s the biggest challenge for underground artists today? 

I’d say the biggest challenge for underground artists today is just getting heard. Music is more accessible than ever; anyone with a computer or even an iPad can make it, which is amazing, but that also means there’s a lot more competition for listeners.

Where do you see your Music taking you in 2026 or 2027?

My goal is to start playing some small gigs in 2026 and see how that goes. It's all about taking the next step and seeing what opportunities come up.

Do you have any concerts or performances lined up for spring and summer 2026?

Not yet!

Where can I find your music?

My music is on all streaming platforms, but primarily Spotify & Bandcamp

Any closing statement?

Thank you so much for your interest and for the opportunity to share my music and creative process. I really appreciate you reaching out and giving exposure to a small artist like me. (UEDM, you're welcome. We're helping each other by networking.

The Martinic Kee Bass plug-in is based on the original electronic schema and an actual physical Kee Bass. Firstly, Martinic modeled the instrument precisely (no sampling at all), then added a few modern features to make it more versatile and unique, such as an extended range, a filter, and modulation.