Montreal-based selector Aso Ani pulls together a velvety mix showing off some extatic gems, straight outta her collection.

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Tell us more about yourself: 

I’m a dj and producer born and based in Montreal. I’ve been practicing more or less for 2 years now and started digging the type of music i currently listen to just as a hobby while I was studying in university. 

- What was the main idea behind this selection ?

I wanted to create a mix that offers the listener a sense of control and direction but that also feels simultaneously thrilling and unpredictable. Even though being an artist of any kind involves a lot of living life on the edge and being ok with stress, for the most part you’re driving the ship of whatever projects you decide to undertake, and its nice to finally have control over something dear to me, and doing it at my own pace. This mix is also channeling the gratitude I have for being a part of a community that is constantly motivating its members to become their best selves like a family that deeply cares about one another and wants to reach the highest collective state of mind so we can put trust in each other in the spaces that we congregate and organizations we operate. 

- What are your influences when it comes to music ?

If you’re implying as far as day 1, The Doors, Led Zeppelin, disco, emo, pop, R&B, deep house and trance. When I finally stumbled upon underground sources of music, my tastes gravitated towards more leftfield genres. Nowadays I’m making my way back to the basics and putting a subtle leftfield twist on it. The ultimate guilty pleasure is a mix or track injected with elements of comedy. If it doesn’t make me laugh or smile, I get bored.  
 
- What’s your best memory when it comes DJing / selecting music ?

I went to a daytime listening show at the Good Room in NYC a little over 2 years ago dedicated to playing the selected ambient works 85-92’ from start to finish on a state of the art sound system and finally understood why vinyl is so beautiful, after resisting what I thought was a pointless trend for so long. I caved and decided it was time to buy my first record.  A week later, I was in Toronto and by chance found the last copy of that record in a shop. After listening to it periodically for a year, I decided to sell it so someone else could experience what I did. 

- What are you listening to the most lately ?

Mostly local artists and friends abroad. There’s no better feeling than bonding with the people you know and love over your projects and supporting one another through those journeys. 

What’s next for you ? 

Spinning vinyl more regularly as a hobby and teaching myself graphic design and a bit of programming.  Those are my priorities before I jump back to music production.

GUESTMIX: ASO ANI

The Casa Voyager rising producer shines the light on his favorite tunes for a delightful hour of timeless grooves. 

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- Tell us more about yourself.
 
My name is Youssef Benjelloun, and I'm a music composer from Casablanca, Morocco.
 
- What is the main idea behind this selection?
 
I selected my favorite tracks of the moment, that's pretty much it. 
 
- What are your influences when it comes to music?

I lived in the U.S. for a few years and that has had a huge influence on me and my music. The American scene, both early and modern, definitely steers and shape my sound. I think the genres that have the most impact would be acid house and Detroit electro/technobass.

- What's your best memory when it comes to your music career?
 
That would definitely be the release of the first record on our label Casa Voyager. It's something we've been talking about for quite some time and thanks to Driss Bennis (the mastermind behind the project also known as OCB) it happened. The release was pretty well welcomed and that motivated us to continue the project and push harder.
 
- What are you listening to the most lately?
 
Mostly electro and breaks. A bit of acid. Some Detroit stuff too...
 
- As a Moroccan artist/DJ, how was your journey so far?
 
It's been great. A lot of good things happened since I came back to Morocco, and the best is yet to come.  
 
- What's next for you?
 
I have an EP on Casa Voyager, a few gigs in Morocco, and Oasis festival later this year. Catch the train.

FROM THE 212: KOSH

Rotation is a Moroccan-based platform aiming to promote and support both local and international selectors and encourage freedom of expression. We hope to prove that the power of community is stronger in its ability to challenge our preconceptions of DJing and offer novel content than one individual would ever be capable.

Feel free to send us a selection of yours and spread the word. Reach us on completetherotation@gmail.com or via Facebook.
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FROM THE 212 is the show allowing moroccan selectors to serve their vibe the way they want. Simple as that. No holds barred. 

GUESTMIX is the show for our guests from around the world. If you ain't having a green passport like us moroccan peeps, just know we don't care. We love you and we want you to be part of the rotation.

ROTATION

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