Jan Perse, a man behind Naian is an upcoming producer from Slovenia.
He was introduced to electronic music when he was 14 years old and instantly fell in love with the diversity it offers. After few years beeing a fan of different genres and exploring the surface and depth of electronic music he discovered listening wasn't enough. Curiosity led him into producing his first sounds back in 2008. From the very beginning it was clear he likes melodies, so eventually trance and progressive became the genres that satisfied his taste. Over the years his knowledge of production as well as love for it became stronger.
He decided it's time to offer his music to a broader audience. His first releases like 'Eta Piscium' and 'Zero Motion' were greatly accepted and supported by the likes of Armin van Buuren, Markus Schulz and Ferry Corsten to name a few.
Even tough he is a fresh name on the long list of young producers, he started releasing his music on big labels like Black Hole Recordings, beeing a part of In Trance We Trust 20th compilation and also throwing his eye on even bigger labels out there.
Releasing his music also gave him a chance to play his first sets in clubs over Slovenia with the names like Omnia, Arisen Flame and Beltek.
His passion for music is ever growing. He is experimenting with different sounds and ideas, broadening his horizons.
There are many releases waiting to see the light of the day and he will surely deliver.
Name: JAN PERSE (NAIAN)
Location: SLOVENIA
Dimitri: Can you mention your biggest achievements in your music career in 2014 as dj & producer,label owner,radio host and your personal life if it is something that you wish to share with our readers?
NAIAN: Since i'm still a newcomer, i am most proud of the fact that my very first releases were supported by the names like Armin Van Buuren, Ferry Corsten, Paul Oakenfold and Marcus Schulz.
Dimitri: 2014 was packed with releases from so many different styles, which Electronic Music style you believe is the absolute Electronic Music Style Of 2014 in the mainstream indifferent if you like it or not. Why you believe this style became so successful in 2014?
NAIAN: I think great things are happening in the deep house area. It's really growing in the mainstream genre, due to the fact that the USA got into it more and more these days.
1) Best Track:
NAIAN: If i check my most played list i'd have to go with the Andre Sobota's Survivor. But there are so many more depending on the mood i am in.
2) Best Artist (Dj & producer):
NAIAN: My favourite artist at the moment is probably David Gravell, at least in the electronic music.
3) Best Remix:
NAIAN: Would be David Gravell's remix of Vererocha - Carte Blanche!
4) Best Remixer:
NAIAN: There are great remixes coming from guys like Gai Barone, Mark Sixma, Alexander Popov and Arisen Flame.
5) Best New Talent (Dj or producer):
NAIAN: I have my eye on Mixail. His productions amaze me one after another lately! He's the one you definetly need to check out.
6) Best Electronic Music Album:
NAIAN: Found myself listening to the Cosmic Gate's latest album Start To Feel a lot. I rarely find albums that i like majority of the tracks that are on it.
7) Best Electronic Music Compilation:
NAIAN:That would most definietly be the Immersed compilation from Saturate Audio, which i was very proud to be a part of. First class quality on there!
8) Best artwork/cover of an Album or Compilation:
NAIAN:Kinda liking Deadmau5's Album title goes here.
9) Best Lyrics in an Electronic Music track:
NAIAN:From the recent tracks i am loving the lyrics in Punk Party Feat. Kelly Sweet - You and I. Otherwise the good old Motorcycle - As the rush comes!
10) Best Vocalist/Singer featured on Electronic Music track:
NAIAN:Emma Hewitt would be the safest bet here.
11) Best Electronic Music Label:
NAIAN: I'd go with the Armada Music and a few of their sublabels like Captivating, IHU and the newest addition FSOE Excelsior!
12) Best Electronic Music Video:
NAIAN: Moderat - Rusty Nails is rather interesting as well as Duke Dumont - I Got U that got a lot of attention probably also beacuse of the video itself.
13) Best online Funny video related to Dance Music:
NAIAN: WHEN WILL THE BASS DROP? parody was pretty funny everytime i saw it!
14) Best Online Social media network:
NAIAN:I am hanging on Facebook for the most of my day sometimes to the extent that i'm glad when the internet is down to take a break from it :)
15) Best Twitter or Facebook message you received from a fan or friend or you have read on someone else s account:
NAIAN: It was a comment i got on one of my previews, that it should be illegal to tease like this and the punishment should be being trampled by puppies. :)
16) Best personal selfie of the year, where, when and under which circumstances you took it?
NAIAN:I never really got in to the whole selfie deal. I see myself plenty, so i don't need to have a picture too.
17) Best music composition software:
NAIAN: Its my beloved Ableton Live. Piece of art and my daily best friend!
18) Best Event or Open Air Festival:
NAIAN: Biggest i went to was the Ultra Europe this year and i had a great time (just had to avoid the main stage for most of the time).
19) Best personal Dj Gig:
NAIAN: Haven't had many gigs in the short time i am a part of the scene, but i really enjoyed playing in one of the biggest clubs here in Slovenia beside Omnia and Arisen Flame.
20) Best Dj set of the year from other fellow Dj:
NAIAN: That's a hard one due to the fact that i don't go listen to many dj sets. Just recently i really enjoyed Basil O'Glue's Momentum episode 23.
21) Best country that you have visited to perform with the most up for it crowd:
NAIAN: Haven't yet visited any to perform in, but there are maybe coming some bookings in the future. Would love to visit all of them :)
22) Best Radio show:
NAIAN:When i get the time i go listen to the A State Of Trance mostly.
23) Best Radio station:
NAIAN: Liking the Digitally Imported Trance station as well as the Afterhours FM! Both great to tune in to anytime.
24) Best Online Record shop that you purchase your music:
NAIAN: My go to shop is Beatport, but i am browsing iTunes often too since its a little cheaper. I also see Google Play making some movement there.
25) Best Website that you visit frequently:
NAIAN: First would definetly be the Facebook, but since i'm a producer and a guy who loves technology i often go look at machinery on Thomann, which is a big online music store in Europe.
26) Best Smart phone/Mobile phone device:
NAIAN: I was a Sony fan for years but I got into LG now and i am not dissapointed. They know how to make a great mobile phone.
27) Best Dj equipment (software or hardware):
NAIAN: Pioneer for sure. They have a quality products. Software wise its Ableton all the way!
28) Best new sound or sample that has been used in Electronic Music this year perhaps introduced first by you?
NAIAN: I love all the bass sounds people are coming up with. It always surprises me what is possible to produce with only some digital tools and i also enjoy making my own.
29) Best tip that you learnt this year for your Djing techniques or music composition:
NAIAN: Me and my friend had big discussions over coffee about stereo field and Haas effect and i think we both learned something out of it.
30) Best piece of advice you got in relation to your career in 2014:
NAIAN: Stop wishing and start doing would sum it up perfectly i think.
31) Best hobby or activity that you spent a lot of time in 2014:
NAIAN: I dropped all the hobbies and got into producing this year. Its a great hobby to kill massive amounts of time :)
32) Best holiday destination for 2014 that you manage to visit this year either to relax or to perform in a club or festival:
NAIAN: I managed to visit Ultra Europe in Split as mentioned above. I finally saw some sea after a long time :)
33) Best Book of the year preferably related to Electronic Music:
NAIAN: I read a lot of user manuals regarding plugins and software if that counts :)
34) Best Movie of the year preferably related to Electronic Music that may inspire you to compose a track:
NAIAN: I love Sci-Fi so i have to say The Hobbit and Edge of Tomorrow, both with great inspiring music! Can't wait to see Interstellar too!
35) Best online/PC/video game of the year that you have played this year?
NAIAN: I was killing some time with Watch Dogs and Assassins Creed. Really loved it both. Then i needed to format my computer and now waiting for GTA.
36) Best soundtrack for video game of the year:
NAIAN: Haven't really been focusing on the music in the games i played to be honest. It was all about seeing how far the graphics have come and getting some off time from producing.
37) Best track used on video game or TV/online advert in 2014:
NAIAN: I really liked stuff Two Steps From Hell were and still are doing!
38) Best piece of News you learnt this year related to Electronic Music Culture:
NAIAN: Don't have any specific thing in my mind at the moment but it was probably releated to the release of a certain software or hardware.
Dimitri: Finally, 2015 is ahead of us would you like to tell your plans with your future releases, tracks, albums, collaborations, Dj gigs.
NAIAN: A lot of unreleased tracks are waiting to be released next year and some big collaborations coming up on big labels too! Also a remix for the grammy nominated artist in the works at the moment but more on that next year.
Also trying out different genres that might see the light of day. But overall just hoping for a great year and gigs to accompany it!
Dimitri: Thanks very much for your collaboration to reply in this interview!
NAIAN: Thank you too!
Thanks to Basil O Glue at Saturate Audio for organising the interview
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