“Somewhere between the melancholy of trip-hop and a solitary journey on the dancefloor.” Les Inrockuptibles Rooting her emotions in a deep and long romance with Bryan Ferry and Sade, Minni’s voice floats somewhere between the latter’s irresistible sensuality and Annie Lennox’s fierce dynamics.
Minni showed interest in music from a very early age. At the age of seven, she started studying classical guitar in Zagreb, Croatia, and continued until the end of her teenage years. Minni then went on to write her own songs and in order to pursue music further and place herself in a more conducive environment, she moved to Brighton, UK, where she started a new project and released an album that earned her a publishing deal with Fat Cat Records in 2012 and got plays on BBC Radio 6 and BBC Radio Sussex. Based in Berlin since 2014, Minni acquired synthesizers, drum-machines and started producing a new series of songs which will see release in 2017 under the form of an EP and an album in 2018. The first three singles “Fool”, “Give A Little Love” and “Dark Horse” are a strong introduction to this new sensual and intimate dimension in her work, and were co-produced by David Kosten
(Bat For Lashes, Marina and the Diamonds…) with percussions by Jason Cooper (The Cure) and saxophone by Otis Sand sjö (Lucia Cadotsch, The Group).
FACTS:
1: “Assume no disguise as beauty is always so full of confidence.” Ovid
2: “One never bathes in the same river twice.” Heraclitus
3: All you need is love – don’t freeze it and don’t melt in it.
QUESTIONS:
1. What is the biggest inspiration for your music?
Lyrically it’s what I read, conversations I have, things that catch my attention. Musically, primarily I draw inspiration from the sounds of the instruments I use to compose. If I write using a guitar, it will be different than when I use a drum machine and a synthesiser. But generally most music I make will have something of that classic 80s sound I first discovered when I was a kid. That’s somehow embedded in me.
2. How and when did you get into making music?
I started playing classical guitar when I was 7. Then in high-school I had a few band s and we would play covers mostly, just for fun. When I was 19 I started a band with a drummer who was a poet too. So I decided to try and make songs using his poetry. Pretty soon I started writing my own poetry and songs. I’ve been doing that for more than 10 years now.
3. What are 5 of your favourite albums of all time?
Ah it’s hard to boil it down to 5 but these are one of my favourites: It’s gonna have to be 6!
Dire Straits – Brothers In Arms
Eurythmics – Revenge
Madonna – Erotica
Roxy Music – Avalon
Talk Talk – Spirit Of Eden
Daniel Lanois – Shine
4. What do you associate with Berlin?
When I think of Berlin I usually have this light vs darkness perspective on it. It’s kind of extreme in many ways…it’s beautiful and it’s ugly, it’s laid back and it’s intense – it’s like a love/hate relationship. What I do love about Berlin is the fact that there is no center really. Every neighbourhood has it’s own vibe so it feels like one can explore the city for a long time and still be discovering nice little areas and new things. Another thing that makes Berlin very special are the lakes. Those are true gems.
5. What’s your favourite place in your town?
I like to sunbathe on top of Victoria Park by the statue. On a sunny day the concrete on top gets quite warm so it’s nice to lay there on a chilly day.
That’s my Mediterranean spot in the city. I also like the rose garden in Hasenheide and the sense of space you get in Tempelhof.
6. If there was no music in the world, what would you do instead?
That’s pretty terrible to imagine… I would try to find another world where there is music.
7. What was the last record/music you bought?
Suzanne Kraft – What You Get For Being Young
8. Who would you most like to collaborate with?
Daniel Lanois and David Byrne.
9. What was your best gig (as performer or spectator)?
I think one of the nest shows I saw was Depeche Mode back in 2004 I think. I was quiet young but I still remember the excitement I felt during the show.
10. How important is technology to your creative process?
Well the creative process is somehow intertwined with technology in modern age. For example, even though I read books in a paper format, I also use Kindle. I mostly discover music through browsing on the web. So I think it’s hard to separate it from the process simply because it became a tool we use daily. But the process doesn’t start and stop anywhere. It’s continuous because it involves daily impressions. But when it comes to the execution of an idea or a feeling itself, I use synthesisers, drum machines, I record in Logic so for that reason, technology is crucial.
11. Do you have siblings and how do they feel about your career/art?
I have an older brother and he follows what I do. Sometimes he’ll post a comment on Youtube or something saying “Well done Sis!”
MINNI will appear at Badehaus on 29th November 2017 with a full backing band .
