Anahita Shamsaei

ANAHITA SHAMSAEI WAS BORN IN SHEFFIELD, RAISED IN TEHRAN, AND IS NOW BASED IN LONDON. SHE IS THE FOUNDER OF MAKAAN RECORDS, A LABEL AND COLLECTIVE BUILT TO GIVE A PLATFORM TO ARTISTS FROM THE SWANA+ AND MENA REGIONS WHO HAVE TOO OFTEN BEEN PUSHED INTO SILENCE BY SANCTIONS, POLITICS, AND BORDERS. FOR ANAHITA, DJING IS MORE THAN JUST PLAYING MUSIC, IS STORYTELLING. EACH SET IS A JOURNEY, WEAVING TOGETHER SOUNDS THAT CARRY MEMORIES, STRUGGLES, AND CONNECTIONS. HER PRESENCE BEHIND THE DECKS IS ALSO A STATEMENT; A WAY OF SHOWING THAT WOMEN WITH THIER BACKGROUND CAN STEP FORWARD, RESIST THE WEIGHT OF PATRIARCHY, AND TAKE UP SPACE IN SCENES WHERE THEY HAVE LONG BEEN OVERLOOKED. MAKAAN IS NOT JUST A LABEL BUT A COMMUNITY. IT EXISTS TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN UNSEEN AND UNHEARD FINALLY GET THE CHANCE TO BE VISIBLE. ON AND OFF THE DANCE FLOOR, ANAHITA’S WORK IS ABOUT BUILDING BRIDGES, CREATING BELONGING, AND TURNING TECHNO INTO A SPACE WHERE VOICES FROM THE MARGINS CAN RISE.