Annabel Ross
Music Journalist
If you consume dance music, you’ll already have come across Annabel Ross. The Australian journalist has written an astronomical amount of features for Mixmag, Resident Advisor, Beatport, Rolling Stone Aus and a whole load of global and grassroots publications covering art, fashion, music, food, lifestyle and culture in all shapes and forms.
A fierce lover of all things music, Annabel’s work has allowed her to explore everything from the cosmic world of dream-pop to the chilling tones of industrial techno. She has reviewed events as diverse as Miley Cyrus performing in Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena [The Age] to writing a postcard from the dust-filled desert of Burning Man [Traveller], and interviewed DJs, producers and musicians from P!nk [Rolling Stone Australia] to Carista [Mixmag]. With a well-thumbed travel diary and all-encompassing ear for sound, Annabel has met with, listened to and danced alongside some of the world’s most influential faces in music, while bringing up those who were breaking through along the way.
Last year, you would have had to have been offline entirely if you didn’t come across Annabel’s investigative feature [Mixmag] detailing Erick Morillo’s alleged sexual assaults — one of many bleak but essential features in her repertoire — or read her opinion piece [Medium] observing the misogyny-fulled reactions online to the Danny Wang vs Peggy Gou debacle. Annabel shines a glaring light on the nauseous side of dance music in a clear tone of voice, marking pivotal shifts in its culture — some positive, others not so much. It takes a meticulous eye for research, a willingness to share unfiltered opinions and compassion for others to write these kinds of features, all of which are the backbone to Annabel’s writing approach.
Of course, her job has also provided a plethora of poignant memories over the years. The below memory is one of those and recalling it in more detail, Annabel revisits her birthday from two years ago and reflects over the last few months, the work she has produced and more...
Post-Berghain floats 🖤 Photo: Annabel Ross
Where was this photo taken and why did you choose it?
It was really hard to choose from so many photos, all related to different eras, settings and memories. But I like the contrast of the ugliness and beauty in this one, and remembering how content I was in that moment.
This was taken in 2018. It was my birthday, and I was walking home from Berghain (so clichéd, I know). I've only been twice. Both times I flew over from Paris, where I was living, to celebrate my birthday, and both times I had a truly magical experience. I thought it would be impossible for it to live up to such great hype, but the stars seemed to align for me on both occasions.
This photo was taken on the day of my second Berghain birthday. I'd arrived on the plane that morning, dumped my stuff at my hotel (fortuitously, it coincided with a work trip), and met my friend out the front of the club. The lineup was great, if overly white and male—no surprises there. Surgeon and Norman Nodge were playing Berghain and Massimiliano Pagliara, Nick Höppner and Lord of the Isles were playing Panorama Bar but the beer garden was the place to be; it was the first day it had opened that year and the weather was perfect. We spent all day out there. It felt like Paramida and Red Axes were being conducted by sunshine and the entire dance floor was totally blissed out.
I was floating home at dusk when I took that photo.
How have you been over the last while and what is life currently like where you are?
I have been faring pretty well, I feel. I've been fortunate to have my health and a roof over my head and that none of my close friends or family have gotten ill with COVID; I don't think you can ask for more than that this year. I moved out of my Brooklyn apartment at the end of December and am currently in hotel quarantine in Australia, where I'm from (now that has been an experience!) I'm here to spend time with my parents, who are unwell, and to catch up with friends and family, of course. I'm also pretty excited about going clubbing while home in Melbourne — the restrictions here have been insane but I guess that's also what's made it possible to return to a somewhat "normal" and relatively COVID-free life. I hope to return to New York at the start of April.
Since March of last year, the landscape of club culture dramatically shifted. The pause in parties allowed those working in electronic music, from bookers to artists, to take a step back and reflect on how things were in the scene. What would you like to see different in dance music once we come out the other side of this pandemic?
The pandemic has ravaged the world and of course nightlife in so many ways. It's been rough for most of us financially, but I'm also really grateful for how the shutdown has helped us to stop and think about what the scene looks like currently and what we want it look like going forward. I've certainly had my eyes opened in lots of different ways and it's left me hugely disappointed, to be honest. I had the uncomfortable realisation that I had fallen short in my own work, too, and am making a concerted effort to be a lot more conscious in my writing and actions.
What I'd like to see going forward is equality and safety for all genders and races. It needn't seem like some utopian fantasy, either, if we bring it back to dance music's founding principles. Capitalism has a lot to answer for.
Over the last number of months, you wrote noteworthy articles and opinion pieces about the problematic sides of dance music and all that comes with it — misogyny, sexism, plague raves and inequality for example. Does any particular feature resonate with you the most since writing it?
They all resonate with me, but speaking to survivors for the Erick Morillo and Derrick May investigations was the most affecting. It made me sad, and very angry, and I'm so grateful to them for having the strength to speak out, especially given the consequences that can come with it. Their bravery inspires me and has helped lift the lid on the sexism, misogyny and abuse that is rife in the scene.
As a journalist and music lover, how do you feel about the future of nightlife and club culture?
It's going to be what we make it. Do we want to return to the status quo, or do we want to keep pushing for something better? I think we all need to question our own behaviours and think about what we can do individually to make a collective difference. Maybe don't support artists or events that have shown their true colours in the past year in regards to racism and sexism. Maybe think about giving opportunities, platforms, and our money to underrepresented artists and events instead. Don't book sexual predators and if you know that someone is being racist or abusive, do something about it.
I'm excited about the capacity for change, but it's up to us in the end.
Back to the present moment. Tell us how the photo below is something that brings you happiness or comfort in your day-to-day life right now?
This was taken a couple of weeks ago in Santa Monica, a day before I caught my flight back to Australia. I'm a sucker for a beautiful sunset (see photo 1!). They are very healing to me and always make me feel hopeful. It was very eerie the couple of days I spent in Los Angeles due to the horrific COVID situation there, but the sunsets were a spot of calm and beauty. I went on lots of long walks to try and stay sane in New York this past year and if I managed to catch a pretty sunset while walking, I'd always come home feeling better than when I left. Right now my window in hotel quarantine is facing a grey apartment block—I cannot wait ‘til I'm free to see sunsets again!
Healing warmth ☀️ Photo: Annabel Ross