The Records That Made Me: Anastasia Kristensen

With The Records That Made Me, VF uncovers the vinyl releases that have influenced and shaped our favourite musicians, DJs and artists.

Danish producer and DJ Anastasia Kristensen has built a name on her explorative techno sets and sleek productions. Having performed at festivals including UNSOUND Festival, CTM, and Field Day this year and clubs like FOLD, BLITZ and Bassiani, she’s a rising fixture in Europe’s techno scene.

Kristensen has been surrounded by vinyl for as long as she can remember – a photo below of her in 1992 attests to such.

“My family always were fond of all sorts of music and it was absolutely normal to have records spanning from German synth pop like Frank Duval, to Finnish classical music, like Jean Sibelius to British rock,” Kristensen explains. “They were born and had their adolescence in the Soviet Union, and Western records were not widely promoted back then among people. My father truly was looking for gems on shady markets to get these records back then”.

Vinyl is essential to Kristensen because it counteracts streaming’s lack of ritual and tactileness. “In a streaming era, owning vinyl gives music lovers a tangible connection to their music, encouraging deeper engagement by listening to entire albums as intended by artists,” she describes. “It represents a slower, more intentional way of enjoying music, which due to many factors today has become more rare and possible to make”.

In line with her love of vinyl, Kristensen takes to the Haarlem Vinyl Festival from September 27 to 29. Performing on Saturday at the Patronaat, Colin Benders and Thrills in +41, Kristensen graces the world’s only vinyl festival alongside a stacked line-up of performances from the likes of Altin Gün and Lefto Early Bird and many talks and listening sessions. Find out more here.

Ahead of her performance at Haarlem Vinyl Festival, find out the records that made Anastasia Kristensen.

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Anastasia Kristensen

Cordyceps Disco EP

(Absorb Emit)

This is the first time I have printed a record myself, so of course this is probably the most meaningful one in my collection. Having worked on it for almost a year, it was an incredible joy to put it out there. A famous graphic designer Luca Devinu aka Blessnd has designed the cover and the logo. The bat you are seeing in front is actually from a photo I took at the National History Museum in London, and it stuck to the whole narrative of the EP.

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Encephaloid Disturbance

“Sulk”

(Dance Opera)

I found this record when I was just starting to play in 2013 or so. I have been fascinated by Belgian sound ever since and I think this one and similar records truly got me into dance music.

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Nine Inch Nails

Pretty Hate Machine

(Bike Music)

This release is incredibly important to me, as it truly “formed” me in my teenage years. While it’s very raw and, some would say brutal, it is also incredibly soft and tender if you really listen to the lyrics. I love all the cover designs by NIN, but this one is just the number one. It’s their first album and my personal number one.

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Planetary Assault Systems

The Messenger

(Ostgut Ton)

I think if the original Blade Runner movie was filmed today, this would probably be the music accompanying it. It is truly one of the best works by PAS and this record is dear to me. Ostgut Ton label (RIP) sent the physical format to me as a present, and I’ve rinsed it ever since. This album has everything – glitch, groove, ritual, mystery and future. What’s not to like?

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SOPHIE

Nothing More To Say EP

(Huntleys & Palmers)

Both because it truly rocked my world back then in mid ’10s when it came out, but also to remember SOPHIE. The legacy she left is incredible and the music has become a genre on its own on labels like Numbers, Because Music and many others. Playing this today is perfect for a dancefloor, but it’s also very soothing for listening – a rare combination.

Haarlem Vinyl Festival runs from September 27 to 29 across various venues in Haarlem, Netherlands. Find out more here.  

Read more of The Records That Made Me series here.