Joanna Coelho: I love to be in my studio, it\’s really where I feel safer.

Joanna Coelho, a rising force in the hard techno scene, is known for her dedication to self-made music and captivating live performances. Based in Barcelona, she spends her days in her home studio, creating powerful tracks like her latest release, \”Luvers\” on Chlore, which explores themes of fake friendships and relationships. With a deep connection to her Brazilian roots and a desire to leave a positive mark on the scene, Joanna blends industrial, hard psy, and hard techno influences. In this interview, she opens up about her creative process, collaborations, and plans for 2024.

Hello, Joanna! We are happy to see you on the pages of Tune in Mag! How are you? Where in the world are you currently located? Tell us how your typical day goes and what are you working on now?

Hello Tune in Mag! Thank you so much for having me. I\’m currently in Barcelona answering your questions from my home studio, where I spend most of my days producing, playing and hanging out with my dogs.

How did you grow up and what influenced your desire to become an artist? Do you feel the influence of your Brazilian roots on your work?

I remember my wish to become an artist as a very early one, but I didn\’t have musicians and much less producers or Djs in my family to look up to. That\’s why my biggest influence at the very beginning came from the scene itself, rave culture, friends and Djs who inspired me.

Your release, \”Luvers\” on Chlore, is gaining attention. Can you tell us about the inspiration behind this track? Are you satisfied with support on musical platforms and stores?

“Luvers” is a hard techno track that talks about fake friendships and relationships, something I was feeling very strongly at the moment of creation. I was so happy when Chlore Records signed it. I really felt so lucky to have an incredible media outlet where I could express myself and make some statements through my art.

Your dedication to \”self-made-music\” is inspiring. Could you share more about your creative process and how you approach producing your tracks?

I love to be in my studio, it\’s really where I feel safer. I usually go first thing in the morning , list priorities, get practical things out of my way and start the music. When producing a new track, I usually start with drums and then melody. If it\’s a collab I choose the most interesting stems and load on a loop that I already worked on, and decide the subgenre or textures depending on the vibe I\’d like to bring, like more industrial, reverse bass, hard psy, schranz, hard techno, hardstyle etc. I always used Ableton, it\’s my favorite DAW.

How do your skills and personal values reflect in your music, and how do you aim to bring a new light into the Hard Techno scene?

I believe we are made out of our experiences and that definitely reflects on the music you make. I\’ve been through a lot and I\’ve listened to an almost obscene amount of music in my life so I hope I can use those tools to say something relevant, to leave a positive mark somehow. As an artist I like to explore form to express function and although that is something that changes through time , I believe one of my most tangible attempts to do so currently are the original vocals on many of my tracks and live vocals on my performances, where I try to bring an element of live performance to my dj sets.

Collaborations play an important role in an artist\’s development. If you could collaborate with any artist, living or deceased, who would it be and why?

I truly value all the collaborations I\’ve made because I always learn something working with other artists and observing their workflow. I guess if I could ever collaborate with any artist on the planet dead or alive my highest bid would be Green Velvet.

Having performed in various countries, how do you adapt your sets to different crowds, and is there a particular place or event that resonates with you the most?

It\’s important to know a little bit of the local musical culture in order to communicate deeply with the audience on a set. Even though most people might be there to listen to you, it\’s inevitable that they have their own background and repertoire to which they refer to regarding their taste in music. There are a few instruments, styles or textures that might be more popular within specific crowds, and knowing this in advance could affect your track and mixing choices and therefore the whole outcome of the performance .

Beyond music, are there other creative outlets or hobbies that you\’re passionate about?

I don\’t have much time for my hobbies since music is so time consuming so I try to do things that I can introduce in my realm of work but that can also be relaxing. For instance, I love to create graphic designs for t-shirts and other types of clothing and that\’s how I make my merchandising.

I offer you a short blitz survey. Share with our readers your favorite):

The track that always inspires you: No One Takes Me Down- Bentech, SIS
Book: It\’s impossible to decide on just one book, so i\’ll give you three: The Game of Life by Florence Scovel Shinn or The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz and Tales of Power by Carlos Castaneda
Film or series: The Get Down, Wu-Tang: An American Saga, This is Us
Dish: Acai Bowl

What about your plans in 2024? Are there any specific themes or styles you\’re exploring in your upcoming releases?

Listeners can expect to see more Psytechno and Industrial Techno on my productions, not to mention a revisitation of schranz on another EP