Anu Pillai Music + Sound Design
Anu Pillai Music + Sound Design
In these fast moving times, where many acts come and go in the space of a few
blog posts, it's becoming harder and harder to find artists and producers with true staying power. Anu is one of that rare breed; a multi instrumentalist, producer, composer and DJ with broad musical experience in an age of increasing micro specialisms.
Anu has been involved in music for picture for many years, soundtracking TV advertising spots in every musical style imaginable for some of the worldʼs largest brands including Apple, Nike, Nokia, Eurostar, Playstation, Mercedes, Verizon, Vodafone and X-Box amongst others. Anu also composed identity packages for Nuvo and Ovation TV in the USA and BBC Asian Network radio
over a period of eight years, (which culminated in a nomination for the Sony Radio Awards). He applies a deep insight into the strategic and acoustic designing of brands and products with a natural understanding of how music and sound design can transform images and stories.
Anu started to release records as Freeform Five on the seminal labels Classic,
Glasgow Underground and NRK. His version of Isolee's 'Beau Mot Plage'
redefined the art of remixing, juxtaposing the micro synthesis of the original
with intricate Afro & Latin polyrhythms, creating a bonafide house music
classic.
He soon worked his way into the premier league of remixers, producing
stunning reworks for artists as diverse as N*E*R*D, Brian Wilson, Xpress 2 &
David Byrne, Jamie Lidell, Justin Timberlake, Felix da Housecat, and The Killers
– as well as work for cutting edge labels like Warp and Cocoon. Heʼs spent a
small fortune carbon offsetting his air miles with DJ & live appearances at
Fabric / The End / Ministry of Sound (London), Space / Manumission / Ibiza
Rocks (Ibiza), Cocoon (Frankfurt), Watergate / Cookies / Week End (Berlin),
Razzmatazz (Barcelona), DEdge (Sao Paolo), Womb / Ageha / Unit (Tokyo),
Rex / Social Club / Paris Paris (Paris), LAX (LA), and Lux (Lisbon) – plus tours of
Scandinavia, Australia, America, and all the major festivals, including
Glastonbury, T In The Park, Benicassim, Parklife and Pukkelpop.
Freeform Fiveʼs debut album ‘Strangest Thingsʼ was released on Atlantic records, followed by two pioneering DJ mix albums, ‘Bisous Bisous IIʼ & ‘Misch Maschʼ and contributions to several of Kitsunéʼs genre defining compilations. He also wrote and produced the vocal remix of “Muscle Cars” by Mylo, helping to turn it into a hit on his Platinum debut album. Following a relentless touring schedule, Anu decided to take a break from Freeform Five a few years ago to concentrate on writing & producing for other artists, creating hits across diverse genres. From singer songwriter Lewis Capaldi, to indie band Prides, American icon Lana Del Rey and indie pop heroine Ladyhawke. Collaborating as Kid Gloves with old friend and fellow producer Roy Kerr, theyʼve released three singles of their own on DJ A Trakʼs super hip Foolʼs Gold imprint that topped the Beatport charts and crafted remixes for Santigold, Snow Patrol and Phoenix (with A Trak himself.)
Anu also set up boundary pushing label Perspex Recordings with releases from
Chicago DJ legend Derrick Carter, French rockers Poney Poney /Jamaica
(produced by Xavier from Justice) and Swedish auteur ‘The Subliminal
Kidʼ (producer of Fever Ray & Matthew Dear). Coming full circle, Anu is starting
to release music without boundaries as Freeform Five again. His remix of
Deadmau5's "The Veldt" was nominated for an IDMA award. This was followed
up by a collaboration with Gambian griot and master musician Juldeh Camara
(a member of Robert Plant's Sensational Space Shifters band) "Weltareh".
Prins Thomas joined the the stellar list of super talented artists who've been
invited to remix Freeform Five tracks (following on from Tiefschwarz,
Radioslave, Alter Ego, Lindstrom, Mylo, M.A.N.D.Y, Switch, Ewan Pearson,
Jackson & His Computer Band and Maurice Fulton to name a few.) This was
followed by the collaboration "Leviathan" with Mercury Music Prize nominee
Roisin Murphy, and “Throwing Stones” with Ali Love (the voice of Hot Natured,
Infinity Ink, The Chemical Brothers and Justice) which have both garnered
praise from all quarters and set the stage for continuing adventures...