Animistic Beliefs are here to put on a proper rave

The grass at the Frontyard stage is taking quite a beating at Finland’s Flow Festival. Beneath the feet of stomping dancers, large muddy divots are forming as the crowd parties beneath the warm, early evening light.

The catalysts of all this frenzy? Animistic Beliefs, aka Linh and Marvin – the Southeast Asian DJ/​producer duo from Rotterdam who specialise in otherworldly sounds influenced by jungle, bubble trance and industrial music.

Surrounded by modular synths, their set journeys through thumping beats and hypnotic bleeps that sounds like a souped-up version of Detroit duo Drexciya. Occasionally, Linh hops onto the mic to deliver a soaring, guttural vocal on the sáo bầu, a reed instrument from China and Vietnam traditionally made from a gourd. They used to have one but had to buy a ceramic replacement after a flight damaged the original.

The pair met in high school in the east of Rotterdam; growing up in a quiet area, they would often take the train into the city centre to party at now-shuttered clubs Waterfront and Hollywood. ​“You had gabber in the nineties, but you also had this Dutch bubbling scene that people of colour were especially into and it was equally big,” Marvin explains.

Animistic Beliefs’ musical partnership began at 24, when Marvin joined a ​“very nerdy synthesiser club” where people made their own instruments. He invited Linh to come and four years later they picked up mixing, putting the well-trodden path of DJ to producer in reverse.

Though admitting they were searching for themselves at the beginning of their career, Linh, who is of Vietnamese descent, and Marvin, who is Moluccan, are now keen to centre their Southeast Asian heritage in their music: ​“I think that we wanted to let go of [the notion that] certain kinds of electronic music have to sound a specific way. We would like to experiment and mix the things that made us with what we grew up with.”

What’s the secret to a good party?

Linh: Being surrounded by open-minded people that affirm you.

What’s a festival must-have?

Marvin: I am always the one with the bag that has the gum and the lollipops and the perfume and the deodorant with me when I go to a festival. I think that’s all really essential!

When was the last time you fell over?

Linh: We trip a lot because everytime we play we have to bring the suitcases down our tight, spiral staircase…

What’s the best meal you’ve had recently?

Marvin: I was in Bandung, Indonesia a few months ago and I had a really good Nasi Padang.

Linh: At my parents’ house, we had Nem Nướng which is pork with shrimp wrapped in lettuce with herbs and vegetables, dipped in fish sauce.

What’s an instrument you wish you could play?

Marvin: Acoustic drums.

Linh: An erhu [a Chinese two-stringed bowed instrument].

What gives you confidence?

Marvin: When people hype me up but I also like to get ready and put on makeup and a cute outfit. If you feel good about yourself it also reflects in all the other things that you’re doing.

Do you have a dream collaboration?

Marvin: I’d like to work with Moong Soul, he’s a really talented Indonesian artist that built his own acoustic instruments.

What was the last great film you watched?

Marvin: Inland Empire by David Lynch.

What’s your go-to karaoke song?

Linh: Misery Business by Paramore.

Marvin: We could sing My Boo by Alicia Keys and Usher together!

What does the electronic music scene need more of?

Marvin: Less rigid thinking and more colourful, cute people.

Linh: Less white men, QTBIPOC people to the front!