Ysanne – The ‘Monday Is OK’ Mixtape

For this Monday mixtape, she’s crafted what she describes as “a cruisey ride through some ambient and downtempo records” – imagine a sleepy smiley face, or better yet, biting into a soft, juicy peach on a hot day.

Currently in her “self care era,” obsessed with playing records at the wrong speeds and turning her phone off, Ysanne embodies her own philosophy: if you’re not excited about life, make some changes.

New music available via KGV004 on Kulture Galerie and First Rodeo on Club Cowgirl.

Let’s get into this week’s mixtape and find out a bit more about Ysanne

Listen and read the interview below:

Who are you:
I’m Ysanne

Where are you:
London

What are you:
DJ, producer, water sign

Tell us about the Monday mixtape you’ve put together for us.
It’s a cruisey ride through some ambient and downtempo records

If it were to be drawn what would it look like?
A smiley face but not a ravey one, more of a sleepy one

If it were a food what would it be?
A soft, juicy peach on a hot day.

What would be the ideal setting to listen to the mix?
A Monday morning I guess, location is up to you though

What should we be wearing
A smile

Where was it recorded?
My home studio in East London

How do you feel about Mondays in general, excited…or?
I actually love Mondays, I’m lucky to be able to spend my them making and playing music and for that I’m very grateful

Who got you hooked on electronic music?
I grew up around a lot of electronic music, with decks at home so I suppose my family and their friends were a big factor, before I sort of found it again in a new way for myself in my late teens, going to bass and minimal nights in Brighton and then things like Sub Dub, Back 2 Basics, System, Flux, Louche, Teknicolor and Butter Side Up in Leeds.

Who would you say are your biggest influences and what are you hoping to achieve with your music?
I get influenced by all kinds of stuff, obviously other musicians, clubs, festivals and DJs play a part, but so do the books I’m reading, films, multidisciplinary artists, the people I love, nature, a beautiful moment on a dancefloor, a sunset. And I’ve always just liked connecting with people through music, whatever that looks like

What were your original aspirations as a musician and how do you think you’re shaping up?
I played the drums when I was younger and aspired to make music for a living and tour the world as a drummer. In retrospect I’m happier with the way things turned out, but I wonder how my rock n roll alter ego is doing out there in another alternate reality

Some self help questions for a Monday:
Am I excited to dive into the challenges that i have lined up for the week?
If you’re not excited about life you should probably make some changes

Am I looking forward to engaging with the people I am meeting or working with?
I’ve been working from the countryside for the last week so looking forward to engaging with some real people in the real world

Am I going to my dream job?
My dad used to say pick a job you like and you’ll never work a day in your life

Am I being compensated fairly for the value i bring to my job?
There’s two sides to every coin

Do I feel energised, rested, and confident?
If it’s summer and the sun is shining then always

If you were trapped on a desert island with one other person, who would you choose? How long would it be before you eat them?
If you take the eating people part out of this, it just sounds like a nice holiday doesn’t it?

Your doctor says you need more exercise….what do you take up for exercise?
I’d move somewhere warm and just swim in the ocean every day, if the doctor’s insisting, maybe the aforementioned desert island

If you could travel in time…where in time would you go? Why?
Probably one of the iconic Glastonbury performances I was too young to see (or coherently appreciate) Primal Scream ’92, Underworld ’92, Happy Mondays ’90, Pulp, Oasis and the Levellers ’94.. the list goes on. Or maybe I’d check out Ancient Greece, that seems like it was a vibe

What was the first electronic record you heard and how did it make you feel?
Apparently when I was a little kid I used to absolutely love the Prodigy, Firestarter in particular. I think I probably feel exactly the same now when I listen to it to be honest

How does your brain work when making music? How does it work when you aren’t?
If I’m making music regularly and the creative juices are flowing I get into a nice flow state and I’m fully fixated on it for hours, it’s the best feeling in the world.

If it’s been a while, it can feel a bit like trying to draw something with your eyes closed, still fun, but probably going to take me a lot longer to get something I’m happy with.

What were the first and last records you bought?
I think one of the first records I ever bought was Dawn Penn – You Don’t Love Me.
I think the last records I bought were some Portuguese early 00s tech house

What are you obsessed with at the moment?
Playing my records at the wrong speeds, running, the entire UMM back catalogue, smoothies, turning my phone off. I’m in my self care era this week

What’s your answer to everything?
Yeah why not

Anything else we need to discuss.
New music from me via.. 🙂
KGV004 on Kulture Galerie

The Ep features Techno, Tech House, Braindance, Electro, and Acid genres and includes tracks from YSANNE and Rare Happiness, analogue specialist Perseus Traxx, a collaboration between Uncanny Valley’s Herzel and North Macedonia’s L.O.V.D, Barcelona’s Sal Abi with “Mariani,” FLX’s “Expandy,” and concludes with Global Aphasia’s “Parking.”

First Rodeo on Club Cowgirl

Tracklist

Jeigo – Hey Child
Coco Steel & Lovebomb – Ice Cream We All Scream For
Adhémar – Blushing Bushes
Purelink – 4K Murmurs
The Deadbeats – Pick Me Up
Mateis e. aqir – Chimbo Ra
Ludwig AF – Omega Quest
Theme From Gay Man’s Guide To Safer Sex (Coil)
Hi Mount – U N Me
K.D. Lang – If I Were You
Earth Angel – Really Really
Awanto 3 – Happy Bird
D&S – Unwavering
Alex Kassian – Leave Your Life (Lonely Hearts Mix)