Michaela Dippel, aka Ada, started her musical career as a singer in a rock band back in 1994. As the band slowly incorporated synthesizers and samplers into their repertoire, Ada too started exploring electronic music. Whilst already receiving acclaim for her remix work, it was her debut release ’Blindhouse’ that signalled there was much to look forward to from Ada and Areal Records. Skip ahead to late 2004, Ada's debut artist album ‘Blondie’ is released, and it delivers. The ten sumptuous mini-symphonies of synth-pop, techno and omnipotent minimal sounds further herald Ada as part of the nouvelle vague.

As far as I can see you are a Sonar virgin – what are you expecting from this year's festival?
I'm very happy to meet my friends from Portugal and Spain there. It's the first time for Areal to be at Sonar and also the first time we all make a trip together (all means Basteroid, Metope, Konfekt and me, Ada). That's very special for us, because normally we have to travel alone.

What is your favourite festival memory?
I saw Beck at a Festival in Cologne a few years ago. He had a fantastic DJ in his band who could do tricks like throwing two records in the air and scratching with another one at the same time.

How do you change your style when playing to festivals rather than nightclubs?
It's more about the mood that I'm in and the people I'm playing for. Sometimes I play a set with vocals, but I'd rather do this at locations where the acoustics are okay for it and people are in the mood for listening. At bigger events I normally play instrumental stuff.

"Today it's possible to make a
whole live act with a Nintendo game boy
(I wonder how this would look like?). "

The Sonar programme includes features on art, multimedia and technology. How do you think advances in these areas affect the music industry and the music you play?
For playing live I still use the same instruments that I started with two years ago (two samplers/sequencers and one synthesiser). Today it's possible to make a whole live act with a Nintendo game boy (I wonder how this would look like). But I prefer the old school variation.

Sonar has a reputation for pushing new frontiers. What are you looking forward to catching at this year's festival?
I would like to see Roisin Murphy, Jamie Lidell and le Tigre. The rest of the time is just for meeting friends.

How will you be spending your time in Barcelona when not playing?
I've been to Barcelona once but didn't have time to see the beautiful city. This time I will stay for a few days to catch up on this.

Finally, will you be launching any new music at Sonar this year? Can you give RA a heads-up on anything to keep an ear out for, or anything else on the horizon for you in 2005?
Watch out for Metope's debut album on Areal Records which will probably be released in August/September this year. For me he's one of the most talented artists at this time.

Ada plays Sonar by Night on Friday 18 June.

This interview is part of RA’s exclusive 2005 Sonar Prologue interview series - check out the others below;
2005 Sonar Prologue with Jeff Mills
2005 Sonar Prologue with Richie Hawtin
2005 Sonar Prologue with Miss Kittin
2005 Sonar Prologue with Headman
2005 Sonar Prologue with Booka Shade
2005 Sonar Prologue with DJ Yoda
2005 Sonar Prologue with Ellen Allien
2005 Sonar Prologue with Basteroid
2005 Sonar Prologue with DJ T.
2005 Sonar Prologue with Damain Lazarus
2005 Sonar Prologue with Mu
2005 Sonar Prologue with James Murphy