Connecting The Dots - Afrodeutsche

Connecting The Dots is a new series of short films by director Daisy Gaston, which spotlights 3 leading Black, British figures in UK electronic music. In a time where the world is reckoning with the legacies of racism, these films offer a glimpse into the unique experiences of these three artists - what inspired them to get started in music? Is there still a disconnect between the black roots of electronic music and the current scene? And what does the future hold for equality in dance music? The films portray the artists outside of their usual lives on the road, offering intimacy and openness about a subject that must continue to be explored.
As long as Henrietta Smith-Rolla, AKA Afrodeutsche, can remember, there’s been music around. It’s a trusted companion, from memories of her mum’s records filling the family home and formative years spent in bands, through to her blossoming DJ career today. She made her name as Afrodeutsche with a breakthrough debut release in 2018, and since then Smith-Rolla’s star has been rising. Whether playing bass-heavy, Drexciya-inspired electro in the world’s finest clubs or getting eclectic on the radio, her musical selection honours her Black roots. The clue is in the name: Afrodeutsche is proudly Black-German. She has grown into an identity that’s inextricably linked with dance music hubs-Manchester, Germany and, less directly, Detroit. Daisy’s short film portrays how these links play out in her life and art; we are introduced to some particularly meaningful records, and invited to an intimate conversation with close friend, producer and lyricist Poppy xx.
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Director - Daisy Gaston
Cinematographer - Ben Halford
16mm Cinematographer - Joyce Nicholls
Associate Producer - Sophie Misrahi
Sound Mix - Guy Clarke
Motion Graphics - Jono Canning
Edit - Joyce Nicholls
Colour Grade - Andi Chu | Black Kite Studios
16mm Scans - Kodak Film Lab

[@MsZumoman]

Hearts to Poppy & Afrodeutsche. Plenty of Love for these two in Manchester.

[@nurmoody_]

This content is really good, should have more views. RA doing good stuff

[@nachogirl1976]

Love this! ❤️

[@NineHellHeaven]

Excellent stuff.

[@florencerutherfoord9810]

So inspiring ✨

[@iamburial]

Great stuff!

[@gracie99999]

[@michiel82]

Who exactly is whitewashing techno? Everybody I hear or speak acknowledges the birthplace of techno and the original founders aswell as the second generation. I'm not denying that it possibly happens, I'm just really curious where or who does that? I can't find or see it anywhere.

[@raymondpeter7524]

Paranoia. Everybody seems to have it these days. Some people think someone is out there to get them but they probably don't exist.

[@ndc5544p]

@Michiel Groeneveld I honestly never knew that techno had anything to do with POC. I never knew who the pioneers of the genre were, but I didn't make a connection to the POC community. In any case, it doesn't matter to me, I just enjoy the music regardless of who makes it. I hope that people who discriminate on these facts understand that techno is a more diverse and inclusive genre than they thought and their racism has no place in it.

[@ndc5544p]

@Raymond Peter the ladies in the videos are artists and see that the genre is being whitewashed. They express their opinion about it but continue to show and tell that the genre is diverse with roots in POC communities. I don't understand your point but if that's the only thing that stuck after watching the video, it's quite telling on what kind of person you are.

[@michiel82]

Yeah in my 23 years of being part of this techno community i always loved that it doesn't really matter what your background is. When people say there is whitewashing going on in this scène, I'm shocked because I've never read or experienced such a thing. But I'm more than willing to be informed about it if it does happen. Of course with my background it's easy to overlook such events unintentionally. Somewhere I just hope Afrodeutsche and her friend are wrong. Not because I don't believe them, but because I would be dissapointed in a community that is such a big part of my life.

[@Commandobadger]

@@raymondpeter7524 ok Raymond. Lol

[@raytekkers]

Stop trying to be Wes Anderson with your arty 4:3 aspect ratio. Just be real 😂

[@JanAndhisfiets]

Hate that everything now days have to be made political.. Techno always felt 100% inclusive to me. Please leave the politics out..

[@MrQuimDosMontes]

everything is political, whether you close your eyes to it or not , it will always be political just because YOU have always been comfortable, it does not mean that everyone else had that same experience

[@dede3925]

This isn't political, it's testimony.

[@rockhawksam]

lmao something is political to u bc there are black people doing it

[@rockhawksam]

caught in 4k

[@phug0id]

Underground Resistance was a political collective just as much as it was a musical collective.

[@DIRTY-MERLIN]