The latest episode of the Select Cuts series welcomes house and tech maestro Anett Kulcsar AKA Dansor. The Comport label boss joins us after an incredibly hectic schedule at Amsterdam Dance Event, which saw the live presentation of her debut album at Sugarfactory ahead of its release later this year. Kulcsar took the time to run us through her ADE highlights, while sharing some important tips for emerging artists. What’s more, she detailed the future of Comport as well as what the next few months have in store for her as an artist, providing in accompaniment the ultimate soundtrack – an exclusive 60 minutes straight from Haarlem.

WWD: You’re just back from a very busy , can you talk us through the presentation of ‘’Theory Of Love’ at Sugar Factory?

Yes, it was a super busy ADE and amazing as always! This year I really focused on finishing my debut album, which is now finally sorted I just have to set the exact release date. Considering the presentation of it, I had this live band idea already in my head for a while whilst producing the tracks, but back then I was just thinking that it could actually work well if I perform the album with a band – especially with live drums and bass. The hardest part was to find the right and dedicated musicians who get the idea behind this concept and were willing to work alongside me on the live translation part. Finding rehearsal moments was sometimes a pain in the ass as well, especially as the presentation date came closer and closer and the pressure grew bigger. But at the end it was all worth it, we managed to perform all the 10 album tracks, even jazz trumpet player Saskia Laroo joined for some of it and the visuals looked wonderful too! Putting this whole show together – besides our HOTCHPOTCH live electronica event during ADE – was definitely a great chance and challenge at the same time, as for me it’s a new experience to play together with others on stage and to be able to share those moments together. Also to hear your original creations become ‘alive’ this way is something super special. The first reactions were really enthusiastic, so I hope we can do a ‘Theory Of Love’ Tour with this full band setting whenever and wherever it’s possible.

WWD: In your eyes, how important is ADE as an industry event?

Amsterdam Dance Event celebrated its 20th anniversary this year, and became probably the biggest event around dance culture, so it’s definitely an important one for everyone who would like to be involved whether it would be from a commercial or underground perspective. With great new initiatives like ADE Green or ADE University, it’s getting more and more complete each year. Just to give you an example of its level of importance, we had the Hungarian ambassador together with the Albanian ambassador visiting our event!

WWD: Best set you heard at ADE and where?

I really loved the improvisational ambient/dubby live set of KiNK with Rachel at the ‘Blauwe Theehuis’ (Blue Tea House) and also enjoyed the Ibiza Sonica set of Ralph Lawson and the Sonica crew in NL on the Saturday. I had a big ‘to check’ list in the first place, but it was just impossible to get everywhere with the album presentation and our own event going on at the same time…

WWD: One tip you’d give to emerging artists, who is considering making the trip to Amsterdam next year?

Because of the huge amount of events, panels, and all kinds of happenings going on, it’s the best to figure out for yourself in advance what you would like to achieve, who you would like to meet and what you would like to hear. And don’t be disappointed if things turn out different, you’ll probably end up seeing other interesting things and meet some like minded people anyways.

WWD: Tell us about the “Woman Are From Venus” Release!

‘Women Are From Venus’ is the second single taken from my upcoming ‘Theory Of Love’ album. One day I sent this one with another track to Thomas Gandey to see if he was interested in doing a remix for one or the other and I was super happy to hear he enjoyed it so much he wanted to go for it.
At the end he just did what I expected and what he’s the best at – putting his wicked, deep and cosmic touch on it. I tested his version during Ozora festival and peeps loved it a lot!
I also would like to add here that while I was still quite insecure about the whole album project, Thomas was the one, encouraging me to finish it. He gave me a lot of mental support where he could, even when I felt it’s never going to end. I’m really thankful for this.

Considering the other remixes of this EP, I know Zoë Xenia for many years now and our first Comport release was her ‘Avoid The Void’ tune, which meant I knew she’s going to come up with something brilliant for this particular one, and well, she did! She turned it into an amazing techno banger, I think the Dutchies will love this one and would be great to hear this one back at a festival or an event like Awakenings.
Last but not least, Sezer Uysal is one of the hardest working producers I know out there, and his massive Mars version was actually a last minute decision. I’m so happy I was patient and was waiting for the result as it turned out to be a perfect dark, raw beauty – recognised and premiered by DJ MAG at the end!

WWD: There was huge support, how did that make you feel?

Yes, having 3 premieres – from the ones of DJ Mag, Electronic Groove & Complex UK – for this release is really amazing, loads of radio support and great feedback of some of the bigger names means probably we are on the right track with Comport! It’s always good to feel the support of others when you are working on something so hard together and put a lot of energy into it.

WWD: Can we expect more new music from you before the close of 2015?

I’ll have to push release date of the album probably to next year if I also want to have it on vinyl – which would be another dream come true, so I’m figuring that out right now as we haven’t done any physical releases yet so far.
In the meanwhile, there is already a lovely new remix finished by Him_Self_Her’s Just Her for my ‘Hallo’ track and getting road tested right now, so probably we will drop that sooner or later with the original!

WWD: On the Comport front, who does the next few months hold?

Besides the album, we have a release coming up from ‘Ayden Vice’ – the guy who did the vocals on my ‘Theory Of Love’ track – with his other alias ‘Twice As Vice’, accompanied by a couple of great remixes. And we have some new exciting talents on the radar as well, which we are willing to sign for Comport, so hopefully you’ll hear about them soon!

WWD: Finally, tell us a little about the mix you’ve recorded for us – what are we to expect?

I made a pretty eclectic mix for you of some of my current favourites to reflect my style, this time starting with an intimate melancholic vibe, building the set up slowly towards a climax: the huge techno version of Zoë Xenia’s remix of ‘Women Are From Venus’. I hope you enjoy the journey!

Follow: @dansor // @comport-records