‘Witches’ – Juno Daily writer’s role in resurrecting headline grabbing disco tune | Juno Daily
Matt Anniss finds himself at the centre of a media whirlwind
An obscure one off disco track from an unknown 80s trio has been grabbing headlines recently, from BBC News to the US media – and its re-birth owes a lot to the efforts of a Juno Daily writer.
The tale of Zenana, whose single ‘Witches’ has been picked up, remixed and re-released nearly four decades after they stopped recording together, has captured the media’s imagination, with broadsheets and TV stations from the UK and beyond loving its fairytale ending.
But it was a Juno Daily writer – Matt Anniss – who helped engineer its comeback.
“The first time I heard ‘Witches’ was way back in 1986 or ’87, when my dad’s friend Mike presented my mum and dad with a 7″ single that he’d produced for his sister Anita’s band,” he recalls. “I knew Mike was into making music with synthesisers, because he’d let me and my brother play on his synths when we visited his terraced house in Cornwall. That was the first time I’d seen synthesisers in the flesh and it was really exciting – my memories of that day are still very vivid, so it definitely made an impression.
“I remember hearing ‘Witches’ and thinking it was quite good, but my dad wasn’t that into electronic music so it didn’t get played loads at home. He kept the record though and my mum still has that copy. “
Matt had stayed in touch with Mike and saw him when he visited his parents and after the passing of Matt’s father they stayed in email contact, exchanging memories.
“Then in the summer of 2022,” he continues, “he sent me a message saying that he wanted my advice on something. He and his sister Anita explained over email that a crate digger and record dealer who lived in Bristol called Kiernan Abbott had been in touch asking about the record, as he’d found a copy, loved it and wanted to know more. Kiernan also told them that they should reissue it.
“We got chatting and, having listened to it again at my mum’s house while visiting her, suggested to Anita and Mike that it had all the ingredients to make a great 80s style dance mix or dancefloor dub. Because it was only ever recorded and released as a 7” single, it never had that extended 12” take back in the 80s. So I offered to remix it for them with my Bedmo Disco partner Gareth Morgan – he’s a great DJ, but an even better producer and musician. Mike didn’t have the multi-track tapes of the single version, but he did have digiital transfers of the various parts of the original 1985 home recording – made in his front room studio of course – so we created the remix from that. It was a great thing to do. We’ve genuinely been blown away by the reaction to it.”
It was Matt who played the track and their remix to Netherlands-based distributors and label Rush Hour, who agreed to put out the track on 12″. He says everyone involved in the project has been astonished by the media attention it’s gained since its release – scheduled for May 27 – was announced, with Channel 5 news, BBC Radios 4 and 5 and The Times being among many outlets to feature the band.
“I can honestly say that neither the band, producer Mike or I expected this level of interest in Zenana’s story,” he says, “Anita was even interviewed live by a TV news station based in Chicago the other day. It is a genuine good news story though, as very few forgotten or overlooked artists get that second chance or finally receive media coverage almost 40 years after they stopped recording and performing together. There is an element of nostalgia for some and it helps that they had a very strong look back in the 80s – designed and created by band member Penny Griffiths – plus they are genuinely enthusiastic, funny people. It has been wonderful to see and I am really proud that they’re getting a chance to tell their story and that people are appreciating their music all these years on.”