Animism is the idea found in indigenous belief systems that all objects, creatures, and places possess a spiritual essence. Pre-colonial thought, traditions, and music connected with Marvin’s Moluccan and Linh’s Vietnamese-Chinese heritage are key inspirations behind the Animistic Beliefs project, and tools through which the duo explore their experience as people of colour living in the Netherlands, a historical centre of colonial power.

Electro, gabber, and punk formed the initial backbone of their sound, but as the duo rediscovered traces of culture that conventional history had erased, South-East Asian tonality, tribal rhythms, texts, and poetry have become central components.
Their music has appeared on some of the most vital labels in contemporary electro, including Cultivated Electronics, brokntoys, and the Exaltics’ Solar One, through which they released their debut full length Mindset:Reset in 2019 – an LP that combined icy, bass-heavy hypnosis with vivid melodic lines that stay lodged in the eardrums.

Parallel but distinct from their releases, the duo have honed a fast-paced and ritualistic live sound. In a dimly lit room behind a web of cables, they become a powerful force. As performers, Animistic Beliefs have been able to transcend the club circuit, and are as comfortable sharing the bill with techno mainstays like DJ Stingray and Helena Hauff, as they are alongside artists like Lotic, Rian Treanor, and Jlin.

Additionally, their avant-garde audiovisual project »CACHE/SPIRIT,« with Jeisson Drenth, is the most recent product of their expansive artistic direction, which has included AV  performances for Traumabar und Kino in Berlin, an online residency for virtual arts collective DGTL FMNSM, and a large-scale installation at Dresden’s Cynetart festival.