Gabriel Ananda

by Jason BirchmeierGabriel Ananda established himself as a leading German techno producer during the mid-2000s with tracks such as "Süssholz" (2004), "Ihre Pers?nliche Glücksmelodie" (2005), and "Doppelwhipper" (2006). His often melodic productions have been released by a variety of reputable German techno labels, including H?rspielmusik/Utils, Karmarouge, Trapez/Traum, Ladomat 2000, Treibstoff, and Platzhirsch Schallplatten. He also is an active live performer and DJ, especially in Germany.

Born Gabriel Ananda Levermann and originating from Cologne, he was interested in music at an early age but didn't get turned onto electronic dance music until 1995 when he experience a live DJ set by Sven V?th. Within a few years' time, Ananda had made his debut as a techno producer, debuting in 1998 as half of the duo Da Hairy Belafontes on H?rspielmusik with the three-track EP Daylight Comes and We Don't Want to Go Home. In 2000 he made his solo debut, releasing 12" EPs on the H?rspielmusik sublabel Utils (First Comment) and on the newly inaugurated Cologne-based label Karmarouge (For Love). Further releases for Utils (Suspect) and Karmarouge (Wild Cherry) followed in 2001, as did a couple releases on Shot Records (Headmusic for Bodymotion, Time to Rise). He then switched to the Traum sublabels Trapez and My Best Friend for Schaukeldrehen (2002), Wegeschwindel (2003), Highway to Heaven (2003), and Oh La La La (2003).
Ananda experienced what was perhaps his breakthrough year in 2004 with "Süssholz," a popular track released by Treibstoff Recordings and distributed by Kompakt; in addition, he concurrently released a pair of EPs (Black Coffee, Atropa Belladonna) as well as his full-length debut (Tai Nasha No Karosha) on Karmarouge. In 2005 his popular success continued with "Ihre Pers?nliche Glücksmelodie," a track from the Childish Dream EP released by Karmarouge; a single-sided follow-up, Ihre Pers?nliche Glücksmelodie (Extended Live Mix), was released in the wake of the track's quick reception. Other releases that year were Ich Vermiss die Zeit (Bleib) on Landomat 2000, Süssholz (Remixes) on Treibstoff, Tai Nasha No Karosha - The Album Remixes on Karmarouge, and Vergissmeinnicht on Liebe*Detail.
Another year, another big hit for Ananda as "Doppelwhipper" from the Miracel Whop EP released by Platzhirsch Schallplatten in 2006 became a club smash. Other releases that year included, in alphabetical order, the two-part Ananda's Bassmaschinchen (on Treibstoff), Der Blaumacher (Glückskind Schallplatten), Glücksmelodie Remix Contest EP (Karmarouge), Harzer Roller (Traum), Ihre Pers?nliche Glücksmelodie - Remixes (Karmarouge), Karmarouge Noir Four (Karmarouge Noir), Küppers City (Tonsport), Lauschgoldengel (Treibstoff), and W?hrend die Anderen den Müll Rausbrachten (Karmarouge).
Ananda's output slowed a little in 2007 as his live/DJ performances grew in demand but were numerous all the same: the full-length Bambusbeats album (Karmarouge), Doppelwhipper RMXE (Platzhirsch Schallplatten), the Dominik Eulberg collaboration Kirschplunder & Jasmin Tee Bei Gabriel (Traum), Limitiert #4 (Platzhirsch Schallplatten), and Stream of Consciousness (Karmarouge).