Music / B10
B10 presents: APH – ‘Strong female energy’
Anna Pixie Holmes, or APH as she’s known on the scene, never intended to become a DJ. But the music was in her and it had to find a way out.
Her rapid rise up the ranks from bedroom blends to smashing out festival shows at Glastonbury, Boomtown and Shindig – among others – and on tour with Catching Cairo, Eva Lazarus and Gardna has taken her by surprise; but she’s here for the ride and she’s giving it her all.
APH brings all the energy to her sets, a concoction of new school heavy rollers and future classics that pay homage to her d’n’b and jungle foundations. She tells Bristol24/7 more about her journey so far and what she’s got up her sleeve for our B10 birthday party.
is needed now More than ever
How did you start out?
“My journey is abit blurry…. An afterparty in 2018 was when I first tried to mix some tunes together. Then lockdown happened and I started practising and picking the tunes, putting them together in my record box. I filmed a couple of blends and put them online – just for fun! I never really thought anything of it.
“Coming out of lockdown, a great friend of mine, Carasel (Oli Reed), offered me a gig at the Attic Bar opening for an AFT show. That’s really where it all started – the AFT boys took me in, always put me on their lineups, Oli really cheerled the start of my career and I’ll always be grateful for that.
“So that’s how it started – I just put up some videos of me mucking about and here we are!”
What sort of music gets you going?
“My mum was a big influence: she was an aerobics instructor and we always had music on in the house – it sounds so cheesy, but there was always a Massive Attack CD on the side. She took me to Ibiza for 3 weeks, and to loads of festivals, she’s really into that party scene.
“I love House, I used to go to Motion to watch people like Patrick Topping. But with mixing I just almost instantly fell into the drum and bass sound.
“Now, I really love that old school Amen break. I love abit of jungle, I love a hi-hat, and that old school bassweight flavour, especially the stuff that comes out of Bristol. Some of my favourite nights have got to be Bryan Gee, DJ Die, Watch the Ride. Everytime I watched Randall I wouldn’t talk to anyone for the whole set, I would just be in and amongst it. And 4am crew for new people on the scene.”
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What’s your connection with Bristol?
“Me and my fiancé Luke (Gardna MC) are from the area. I would come to Bristol when I first started partying, around 16-17, and I went to a couple of free parties. Rave on Avon was such good times, it made me stay. I absolutely love this city, I’m so grateful to call it a home.
“One of the reasons Bristol is so special is it’s become the legendary hub for drum and bass so you can walk down the street, see one of your favourite DJ’s and say hello.
“We’re so lucky to be a part of that community. To call some of these people my friends is something that a lot of people dream of. That’s what makes the drum and bass scene so strong and so loved – you can reach out to anybody, whether the big artists, the elders, the new up-and-comers… It’s so accessible.”
Anna appeared on the Garden stage at the last ever Nozstock this year
What are your absolute favourite gig memories?
“My first gig will always be a really special one.
“The second time, in 2019, I went along with Luke on his tour of Australia and New Zealand. He was playing in a tiny little spot called Raglan and he let me get on the decks. I did a couple of blends – and it was rammed. Everyone was going mental! It’s the first time I really had that rush – a special moment of my journey.
“My favourite gig this year was Nozstock, I’ve worked my way up at that festival – I used to work there, then I played a couple of gigs on smaller stages, so it meant a lot to get the call and do the Garden stage this year. It was really special.
“In October I was tour DJ for Catching Cairo, supporting Becky Hill on her arena tour. We were in Newcastle and she played Touch. To see her in front of 12,000 people, all the lights up: that is a moment I will never forget – watching my friend, and just crying at this beautiful moment! It brings me to tears just thinking about it. I was so in awe of her. It was magical.
“It’s been abit of a wild time! I’m really lucky to have been put in some of the positions I’ve been in. We talk a lot about imposter syndrome – you’ll always doubt yourself, but I really love music and it’s not my main job which takes the pressure off abit for me. I do it because I love playing the music that makes me happy in front of people.”
Anna says she’ll bring the high energy she’s renowned for to her ‘half hour of power’ set at the Spiegeltent
What can people expect from your set at B10?
“It’ll be half an hour of power! I’m really looking forward to it. I love the Spiegeltent, I’ve been going there since I was little so I’m really excited to play there.
“I’m going to focus on that jungle sound and bring something really fresh and exciting. People always say I’m like a ball of energy, sometimes I’ve even missed the cue button because I’m having so much fun dancing around!
“So you can expect high energy, some jungle rollers and that strong female energy behind those decks.”
The B10 B24/7 tenth birthday bash takes place at the Spiegeltent on November 30. Get your tickets at christmasspiegeltent.co.uk/product/b10-celebrating-10-years-of-bristol-24-7-30th-nov
Members can get 1/3 off tickets: find out more at bristol247.com/news-and-features/news/over-one-third-off-b10-party-tickets
All images: APH
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