roni
NEHZA RECORDS // RINSE FRANCE
APRIL 05 2022
RONI
Parisian-Malaysian DJ and Nehza Records founder RONI is next up in our interview series. Over on Rinse France, where she's a resident DJ, her sound dips into skittery breaks, forgotten gems from the 90s and fierce techno NRG. The aesthetic of Nehza Records is on the same tip—there's something for everyone, from slow-burning chuggers to frantic peak-time bangers. That's why we want to know more about RONI and what else she’s got lined up for Nehza Records.
RONI grew up in Paris and first went out to clubs with her mother at the age of 12. Towards her late teens, she saw Jennifer Cardini and Miss Kittin play in Le Pulp—a legendary lesbian nightclub created in 1997 specializing “in the dissemination of electronic music.”
The space left an impression on RONI, and it’s partly responsible for her varied sound today. She has a nu-soul background that evolved into house before morphing into techno, jungle and breaks.
Fitting, seeing that the latest V/A on Nehza Records is a nine-track compilation called Transnaturel. It explores the idea of transforming and breaking free from rigid forms set out by society. Wanton Witch, Aloka, Amaliah and more feature on the V/A, and convey themes of climate change, emergency and protecting the earth’s natural beauty.
As well as DJing and running Nehza, RONI pursues other creative outlets, like film directing—scroll to view her fantasy-led, stylised short film ‘DSO by Neida’ for a whirlwind through the streets of Paris, a leathery rave, a gathering of cowboys and RONI’s interpretation of an Oracle creature—played by Ines Rau—dressed in a metal-clad outfit. Wild.
We chat about the ups and downs of running a label, life drawing as a form of meditation, the adrenaline of motorbiking, and why she relates to The Matrix film in daily life and through art and music.
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Basic but valid question. How are you?
I’m good, trying to recover from the past weeks which have been extremely intense but I’m working on projects always, and that fills me with great energies for which I am grateful. I’m on the train back from a gig at C12 in Bruxelles, the energy was so incredible, I loved that smoky-packed-dark-sweating-leather vibe.
Before we talk about your projects in club music, you recently shared a video of your work with Vaillant Studio in Paris. What is Vaillant Studio and tell us about your role with the brand?
Vaillant Studio is a brand that designs exactly the silhouette I love—leathers, lace and fake fur. When Alice Vaillant reached out to me to do the musical direction of her show, it was with great honour that I said yes without even blinking. Fashion and music are two worlds that influence one another creatively, and curating the music for her show was the perfect match considering my curating and DJ skills. I’ve been watching Benji B doing the musical direction for Louis Vuitton to such a perfect level, that it has obviously inspired me and taught me so much but I never thought someone would trust me on that! ☺️
It was a beautiful and deep experience, and I hope more of these projects will come. The level of storytelling through music for a 10-minute show is creatively so interesting, It’s such a search for perfection, that it took my passion for music to another level, and emphasised the focus on creating atmospheres to reach the public’s heart. You have to touch people who are not here for you and have probably very different tastes than yours.
You need to put music at the service of enhancing the clothes, silhouette and style. It’s another exercise.
It’s been just over a year since you launched Nehza Records. What have you learnt about running a label? Give us the fun and not so fun aspects of the job.
I have learned so much! It has been an incredible journey of joy actually. Since very young, I’m a bit obsessed with the idea of curating and highlighting new talents, and new music to the world. I grew up listening to Gilles Peterson who has been an incredibly inspirational figure for me.
I love searching for new music and it’s actually funny because all the music I have released so far on Nehza Records has been written especially for the label. It has always been a request I have to the artist to compose accordingly. So the fun parts would be music curation, working with Alice Gavin Services for the visual and creative direction (she’s the best) and doing all the PR behind it. For some reason, I really enjoy exposing the artists I release and do my best to push their music and careers.
The not fun aspects are definitely admin. I kind of have an administrative phobia even in my daily life, and I can see this is a huge handicap. I could do so much more if I was a little sharper on this. I also learned that there’s also ALWAYS something more you can do, you just have to be creative.
As well as supporting emerging artists, Nehza Records is about spreading the message to protect the earth and its natural beauty. Can you share a photo from your travels that you think depicts this natural beauty?
Tough call I have so many! It’s hard to pick between Jamaica, Lanzarote and Bromo in Indonesia. I love landscapes that do not show any trace of humans. It’s what moves me the most and heals my soul. I love long trips that take you to the edge of the world and what is striking is that it’s more and more difficult to find these kinds of places—you really have to take a journey of 30 hours now to get there because humans have invaded so many virgin lands.
The climate crisis is really critical and it seems we have now reached the point where it’s irreversible according to the GIEC. I understand it’s tough to process because it is so scary but it’s impacting our lives and our future. So putting this project at the service of spreading this message of protection was just the only thing that I could think of. I had to do it, no other option.
Vibes
You recently dropped the third release on Nehza Records—the ‘Transnaturel’ V/A. What sparked the idea to compile a V/A for your imprint?
It’s something that I wanted to do for a very long time because it gives me more freedom in covering the styles of music I love and the ones that influence me. It also allows me to reach out to more artists that I wanted to sign and bring a more sophisticated touch to the label. It’s been a very interesting process to see everyone’s interpretation of the brief which was a bit of a concept. 😌 The desire of human beings to permanently transition into a natural element—I wanted our connection to nature to be challenged, to push everyone to meditate on this idea and reflect on what our relationship is with wild nature.
I also loved the fact that the music released has touched so many different DJs, it’s like so many different scenes being bound up through Transnaturel and I really like this idea you know, when it all comes together despite differences.
Outside of music, I’m curious about your abstract paintings and life drawings. Do you create visual art on a regular basis or is it something that you occasionally dip into?
This is something that I do very occasionally to quiet my mind and reconnect with myself. On a daily basis, I push myself and work really hard and sometimes I reach that point where I no longer know who I am. I learnt to draw when I was at the fashion school, a model would come and pose naked for us to practise. I was terrible at that time until I accepted the fact that I didn’t know how to draw but what mattered was the joy I was getting out of it while doing it.
So when I feel lost, or want to reconnect with my hippie soul, I cut my phone, sit in a beautiful place and draw or paint. And instantly it connects me to a slow life, softness and makes me feel complete. I contemplate the world and allow myself to be vulnerable. I love being in that state, it’s my small private garden.
RONI’s life drawings
I’m also intrigued by your love for motorcycles. When did you develop a passion for biking?
A few years ago, a friend took me to a gathering called Wheels & Waves in the South West of France. We rode for several days by the sea, in the mountains and I think I fell in love with the sense of freedom, the beauty of nature and sharing this experience with people who were riding with us.
I came back to Paris and decided to pass my car license and then my motorcycle license. I ordered a custom bike from Jambon Beurre Motorcycles and they delivered the most craziest bike. I was hooked. I love the sound and the turns and the speed. And I love also the fact that you have to learn how to use and fix this machine. I don’t know and can’t explain it but when I ride, I just feel I can do anything and explore the world. I’m still hooked, although now I always feel guilty about how polluting using a motorcycle is. But I love driving so much. I try to not use it too much, but it’s my hobby for real so I allow it sometimes.
Lastly, I get the impression that you like The Matrix films, through your fabulous trench coat collection and even creating a character called ‘The Oracle’—played by Ines Rau—in your short film to accompany the track ‘DSO’ by Neida. Do you channel themes from the film in everyday life? If so, tell us more…
Besides the fact that the photography is absolutely stunning, and that it’s an incredibly creative film in terms of style and fashion. I think I really relate to the duality of their world and the forces at work to control society. I think it says a lot about humanity and what a brain can understand and accept. This movie to me is like a dissection of the mind to understand how it works and that the key is beliefs.
I also love the idea that Keanu Reeves is the one because others make him believe he is. And that’s all that scene with the Oracle is about, it’s about his choice and how he decides to see the situation.
Every time I watch it I understand something more about our world, it’s philosophically so deep. It’s a scenario you want to study in class! And I think we should because it makes your consciousness grow, and make you think about who you really are although most people don’t want to know. They don’t want to know where their beliefs come from and certainly do not recognize it’s not even their own. It questions our choices, and how we look away but also highlights beautifully how change can come from hopes, and fights, and how strong a human can be when he follows his heart. I could talk for hours about it. 😎
I always look for things to guide me in my life, whether it’s an author, a therapist or a concept of life. I believe it’s very difficult to find yourself in this world but it’s also the most beautiful gift that you can do to yourself. Your level of vibration will only take you to receive more love.
But yes, I love wearing trench coats and leathers, I feel protected and unstoppable.
100% Red Pill 📸 Ghalia Kriaa
RONI plays Macadam in Paris this Saturday with Tommy Holohan