How Beats 1 DJ takes Friday nights to new heights

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anna-lunoe
DJ Anna Lunoe goes from the stage to the Beats 1 studio.
Photo: swimfinfan/Flickr CC

Beats 1 DJ Anna Lunoe revealed some details about how she got picked for her weekly gig before Apple Music had even been announced. Zane Lowe was apparently so impressed with her earlier work that he gave her complete freedom over what she wanted to do for the show.

Known for her house and electronic mixes, Lunoe aptly plays an eclectic collection of dance music during her slot every Friday night at 9 p.m. Pacific time or 12 a.m. Saturday Eastern time.

“I want you to make a radio show for me, and it can be whatever you want. You can play whatever you want, you can do whatever you want, you can say whatever you want,” Lowe told Lunoe rather bluntly.

Lunoe explained to The Verge in an interview that Lowe had contacted her about doing a show a month before Beats 1 went live for the first time. “I knew that he was leaving the BBC, so I was aware that Apple was doing something, but when he contacted me I had no idea what it was about,” she said.

She quickly got on board with Beats 1, stating that she knew immediately what she wanted to do in her show. It turned out as a very broad range of dance music, including everything from mainstream dance hits to some lesser known singles that aren’t getting as much air time.

“Because the Beats 1 show is weekly, I don’t have as much to choose from,” Lunoe said in the interview. “I try to focus on new music and keep it as fresh as possible. I listen to 400 to 500 songs every week.”

The DJ said that in doing this, she hopes to educate people about different types of music and why she chooses to incorporate them. She has a special appreciation for trendsetters and artists who aren’t afraid to push for innovative new sounds in the dance world, citing the “tropical house” influence in Justin Bieber’s “What Do You Mean” as an example. Lunoe explained that she’s always had a natural curiosity to learn about the whys and hows behind each new dance song she hears, rather than just observing at face value.

She said her Beats 1 show continues to grow every week. Along with it, so does she, constantly aiming to improve her artistry and deliver new sounds that will please a curious and amped up Friday night crowd. It seems Lunoe wants us to recognize that even electronic dance music is a form of art worthy of being taken seriously.

You can check out DJ Anna Lunoe’s full interview about Beats 1 and her show on The Verge.

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