Become the Jellyfish

Sattva Ananda is a credit to our local DJ scene

"If you're a solo artist like myself, you've got to be a good drummer, a good drum programmer; you've got to be a good bassist and a good bass programmer…you've got to be a well-rounded composer when it comes to all of the instruments you use if you want them to speak together."

This is how local DJ, artist and businessman Sattva Ananda explains his musical method over a cup of coffee. With the recent release of his solo debut, Breakdancing Jellyfish, the composition of music is fresh in his mind.

"I don't want to say that making electronic music is more dynamic than making or producing live music or music with instruments, but it's a different kind of dynamism," he adds. "The beauty of creating electronic music is that it allows you to play with sounds and textures in a way that you just can't as a live instrument player."

These responses may go down in history as some of the best when it comes to the question, "What does a DJ do?" Far too often, it seems that just about anyone with a laptop and some fairly basic beat-matching software labels themselves a DJ when they are, in reality, little more than a human jukebox. Certainly, Santa Fe plays host to no small number of talented deck-smiths. Legendary locals like Feathericci come to mind as do relative newcomers like Dirt Girl or Muffintop. Ananda, however, dabbles in a style that is underrepresented (if not unappreciated) here in Santa Fe: bass.

"There are so many genres and sub-genres when it comes to electronic music," he says. "Bass is just the easiest way to describe mine."

Call it what you like, the music found on Breakdancing Jellyfish would serve well as a means to win over non-fans of digital music with its catchy yet complex style. Atmospheric is the word that first comes to mind, but Jellyfish can be playful as well. Ultimately, however, when you get right down to it, the album serves that number one electronic music purpose—it's danceable. Tracks like the titular "Breakdancing Jellyfish" or "Chiznickens" showcase Ananda's meticulous attention to detail and all but announce that he may just be a perfectionist. From behind layers of ambient sounds and the requisite blips and bloops shines a solid foundation of beat work and emotionalism seldom felt or seen from electronic tunes. After all, the EP was conceived during tragic events in Ananda's life (he lost his brother, Shanti, and his mother both within the last two years), and is the culmination of a lifetime's worth of experience with meditation, music making and that tried and true inspirational source to end all others—the trials and tribulations of our very existence. Mixing and mastering courtesy of local audio wunderkind Andrew Click doesn't hurt either, but even if we were to take away the impressive means by which Jellyfish was made, what's left is six tracks that seep into one's subconscious.

Still, it's interesting to have a window into the method. Ananda works exclusively with his computer, taking advantage of DAWs (digital audio workstations) and VSTs (virtual studio technology).

"Let's clarify something about synths," Ananda says. "Whereas a lot of people work with outboard gear like, well, synths or keyboards, I work with them inside the computer, which allows me a lot of freedom with the moving of MIDI notes and to compose within the digital world."

He cites a recent remix of a tune from newish Santa Fe band Lapcat.

"They sent me isolated recordings, and I went in and chopped them up so as to work the entire new piece around the excellent vocals of [their singer] Cate Coslor, and what I wound up with was an almost unrecognizable version of the song."

Breakdancing Jellyfish hit iTunes, Amazon and other outlets on Sept. 15, but Ananda seems to have trouble finding his niche in Santa Fe when it comes to live performance. His upcoming release party at a venue he won't name was recently cancelled, and he dislikes self-promotion.

"I'm sure it's that 3 percent of me that fears rejection, but I usually prefer to ask to be played," he says. "I will say, though, that all of my DJ friends who do well do so through their tireless efforts."

Allow me to do it for you then, Sattva. Somebody book this guy…his music is great.

Letters to the Editor

Mail letters to PO Box 4910 Santa Fe, NM 87502 or email them to editor[at]sfreporter.com. Letters (no more than 200 words) should refer to specific articles in the Reporter. Letters will be edited for space and clarity.

We also welcome you to follow SFR on social media (on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter) and comment there. You can also email specific staff members from our contact page.