We Caught Up With ANATTA — Here’s What You Might Not Know About Him

We sat down with ANATTA for a quick, fun Q&A to get to know him beyond the booth — the food he loves, the tracks he plays to fire up a crowd, and the things that keep him grounded outside of music.

Since breaking onto the scene in 2020, ANATTA has released more than 60 tracks, scored three No. 1 EPs on the minimal/deep tech charts, and built his own label, ILLUSTRATE, home to artists like Chesster, Fede Aliprandi, Omari, and Inflair. Off the dance floor, ANATTA keeps a clear and simple routine. He studied law before fully diving into music, still rides mountain bikes and dirt bikes whenever he can, and has a ritual of sushi and sake before shows.

From a breakout set at Coachella to finding one of his favorite crowds in New York City, his journey has been fast-moving — but he hasn’t forgotten those early gigs playing to empty rooms on shaky setups that shaped his grind. In this interview, ANATTA talks about the tracks that serves as weapons in his sets, the artists inspiring him right now, and what it’s been like to build a label while touring.

If you weren’t a DJ/Producer, what would you be?

I would be a lawyer. It runs in the family, and it’s what I went to school for.

What’s the most memorable moment of your career?

So far, it has to be playing Coachella.

Who’s an artist that inspires you right now?

I’m getting a lot of inspiration from Dabeull. He’s a little outside of dance music, but his music is incredible.

What’s a track you play when you want to get the crowd hyped?

LF System – All I Got. It works every time.

What’s your go-to snack or drink before a show?

Sushi and sake are always a safe bet for me.

What’s your favorite city to play in, and why?

New York City is my favorite. The crowds I’ve played for there are really receptive to the full scope of my sound.

How would you describe your sound in three words?

Funky, swing, disco.

What’s one non-music-related thing that makes you happy?

Dirt bikes. I grew up racing them and still love the sport.

What’s a track that always brings you back to your roots?

Dennis Cruz – Everybody.

What’s your favorite non-music-related hobby?

Mountain biking. There’s a mountain right next to my house, so it’s nice to ride when it’s cool outside.

If you could time travel to any era of music history, when would it be and why?

The era of Studio 54. I bet that room was magic, and I love that whole era of music — as corny as it may be.

What’s a record that never leaves your crate or USB?

Ki Creighton – Trivial.

What is something simple that makes you smile?

Blueberry muffins.

When do you feel most at peace?

Unfortunately, when I’m smoking a cigarette.

What are some things you forget but feel better when you’re reminded about?

The early days of DJing. I started at the absolute bottom — playing bad shows, with no people and terrible setups. Looking back on that always makes me grateful for where I am and motivates me to keep going.

What makes you cringe when you listen to your early material?

The mixdowns, the writing, the sample selection — pretty much everything about it. I’ve changed a lot as a producer.

What do you find yourself obsessing about most in the studio?

Every part of creating a track. I tend to obsess over the hook, the vocal, and the groove. Those three things need to click for me to be happy with a track.

What is your favorite set time and duration?

I love peak-hour sets. I have a ton of high-energy, classic-sounding house that I really enjoy playing out.

If you had the power to erase one musical genre forever, which one would you choose?

Most people would probably go with country or screamo, but those are actually two of my favorite genres outside of house. I could probably do without opera — it’s never done anything for me.