Samantha Togni – The Meaningless Beautiful
Samantha Togni has established herself as one of the most uncompromising voices in electronic music. The London-based Italian DJ, producer, and multidisciplinary artist has built an international reputation through her genre-fluid and high-intensity approach to techno, while refusing to separate her artistic practice from her political and advocacy work. She is the founder of Boudica - a platform encompassing a record label, event series, and a conference dedicated to amplifying the voices of women, trans and non-binary artists. Togni is also a resident of Berlin’s significant GEGEN collective, working to reshape the scene from within.
Having released a series of acclaimed EPs on labels such as Noise Manifesto, Voxnox, and Rant And Rave Records, her long-awaited debut album is finally out via her own Boudica imprint. Constantly expanding beyond the dancefloor function of peak-time techno sounds, the album explores a more introspective and emotional side of herself, unfolding an artist whose work has always sought to challenge conventions.
“The Meaningless Beautiful” is a collection of nine tracks that she produced with queer and FLINTA+ artists, and the list of collaborators is jaw-dropping. Skin of Skunk Anansie, Louisahhh, I.JORDAN, Shannon Funchess (Light Asylum), Wax Wings, Claudia Kane, Wanton Witch, Kobramulata, and Dai Burger bring their own personalities and strong techno reference points in Samantha’s visions of electroclash, punk, trance, EBM, acid house, and bass, creating an in-your-face, unapologetic result. Picking my personal favorites was a task. “I Wanted To Be Perfect " with Louisahh echoes as an ode to the experience of being a FLINTA+ artist and person in this world. “United Underground” with Funchess is a glimmer positioned deliberately in the darkness. In “False Alarm” with I. JORDAN, both of them bring forth their mischievous side in a pure floorfiller, and in “Body Mind” I envision her playing B2B with Wax Wings for the sexiest and most inclusive crowd you can imagine.
Samantha Togni’s album is the total opposite of meaningless; it is purely beautiful. She exposed herself through her taste, her references, her role models, her trajectory in the scene, delivering something truly personal - exactly as a debut album should be. “This album is a celebration of how music has been deeply liberating and central to who I've become. This record is a thank you to every influence, every sacrifice made, every space, and every person who brought me here”, she says, and she actually has the proof that she means it.
Samantha Togni By Joseph Delaney.
