Rotterdam’s Animistic Beliefs is crafting a unique musical language by blending IDM and Global Club influences into exhilarating hybrids. Drawing inspiration from Indigenous animism—where every object holds spiritual significance—the duo channels their Moluccan and Vietnamese-Chinese heritages to navigate their experiences as queer POC in the Netherlands.
Their journey began in Rotterdam’s underground club scene, where early encounters with dance music sparked a collaboration rooted in analogue sounds. Techno, electro, and gabber initially shaped their identity, but as they unearthed forgotten cultures, Southeast Asian tonality and tribal rhythms became integral to their work.
Since the release of their debut album Mindset:Reset in 2019, Animistic Beliefs has emerged as a distinct voice in contemporary electro. Their sophomore effort, MERDEKA, released on NAAFI, garnered acclaim for its bold fusion of IDM, jungle, and global club music, reflecting deep ties to their Southeast Asian heritage. Their recent collaboration with Herrensauna aligns them with a collective celebrated for queer culture and audacious techno.
Beyond their recordings, Linh and Marvin’s live performances are a visceral experience, interweaving punk vocals with tightly wound industrial loops. They have bridged the gap between genres, sharing stages with both techno icons and experimental artists. Pushing creative boundaries, they are exploring new media art and fashion, showcased in projects like CACHE/SPIRIT and performances at Dekmantel Festival. Through relentless research and a celebration of diverse influences, Animistic Beliefs is reshaping expectations within European techno, creating art that resonates deeply, whether in a gallery or on a club dance floor.
We’re excited to share this mix for Kaltblut! It feels like a reflection of us: unpredictable, multifaceted and endlessly curious. The mix explores liminality, those in-between spaces where worlds, cultures and soundscapes collide. It blends ritualistic intensity and intricate precision, where raw percussive chaos meets calculated sound design. 🌿
Animistic Beliefs recently contributed to Berlin-based label and queer collective Herrensauna for the third instalment of their compilation series, marking the label’s origin in 2020. This edition, Herrensauna Vol. 3, coincides with the collective’s ninth anniversary, celebrating its significant impact on Berlin’s queer underground. The compilation showcases an impressive international lineup, featuring artists from Japan, the USA, the Netherlands, France, and their home base, Berlin.
Blending experimental club soundscapes, Herrensauna Vol. 3 reflects the label’s current vision and includes contributions from admired artists and friends of the collective. Highlights range from the ethereal melodies of Cora, Sepehr, and Roza Terenzi to the experimental club anthems of De Grandi, Animistic Beliefs, 3ddancer, Galaxian, R325, and bass innovations from Fetus, truthspeaker, T5UMUT5UMU, and Sexapil.
Follow
@animisticbeliefs
@herrensauna.official
Stream/download Herrensauna Vol. 3 here: https://herrensauna.bandcamp.com/album/v-a-vol-3
