Hailing from the vibrant music scene of Australia, Naz has quickly gained recognition for her innovative approach to electronic music production. Naz is an Iranian/Australian Electronic Music Producer and international touring DJ bringing a unique blend of cultural influences to her craft.
With notable releases on esteemed labels such as Anjunabeats and Enhanced Music, her signature production style is distinguished by its emphasis on mood and emotion, resulting in a diverse array of sounds that captivate listeners.
In a remarkably short period of time, Naz has made an indelible mark on the global stage, playing prestigious events and venues across the US, UK, Europe, and Australia. Highlights of her rise include performances at Creamfields, Brooklyn Mirage, The Gorge, Piknic Electronik, and Drumsheds. Notably, she has shared the stage with Tale Of Us, CamelPhat, Chris Avantgarde, Above & Beyond, Qrion, and more earning accolades for her captivating live sets and innovative soundscapes.
In September of 2023, Naz launched her multimedia label, New Eden Records, marking a significant milestone in her artistic journey. New Eden transcends traditional boundaries, offering audiences an immersive fusion of fantasy storytelling, mesmerizing music, and captivating live visuals.
With a passion for pushing creative boundaries and a commitment to forging deeper connections through music, Naz continues to inspire audiences around the world. Whether commanding the dancefloor through a genre blended journey or transporting listeners to fantastical realms with her visionary multimedia experiences, Naz is a trailblazing force in the world of electronic music.
Her latest track Face Off is part on Rotation 14 compilation released via In/Rotation part of Insomniac Records and we are very excited that she found the needed time to answer the questions in our interview. She discusses her journey, influences, and creative process. She highlights her multimedia fantasy label, New Eden, which combines music with a book and visual music videos. Naz also shares her preferences for vocal tracks, collaborations, and venues, emphasizing her love for blending genres and creating immersive experiences for her audience.
Dimitris: To begin, it would be beneficial for you to share with us your three most significant accomplishments or objectives that you are particularly proud of achieving thus far in your professional career.
Naz: 1. Launching my multimedia fantasy label
2. Playing EDC Las Vegas
3. Playing Creamfields
Dimitris: Could you elaborate on the reasons behind your decision to embark on the journey of DJing or producing electronic dance music?
Naz: I had a whole different life before this… it’s kind of crazy to think about but long story short, I had always been crazy about music since I was a little kid. My mum put me in piano lessons from the age of four and I grew up playing different instruments and singing and I always wanted a career in music but just never thought it could happen for me. So I did the boring life thing, had a successful corporate career, bought a house, was married. And then I turned 30, was going through a divorce, had just lost my job due to Covid… and I had a bit of a ‘wtf am I doing, life is too short’ moment. I decided then and there I would only do things that I really loved and that made me happy. So I sold everything I had, moved from Australia to Amsterdam, signed my first EP all within six months of making that decision.
Dimitris: Could you please identify the three most influential producers who have shaped your decision to pursue a career in the electronic dance music industry?
Naz: 1. Chemical Brothers
2. Prodigy
3. Sasha
Dimitris: Could you please provide the top three tracks from the past that have had the most significant influence on your musical style and explain your reasoning?
Naz: 1. Sasha - Ohmna: this is the B side from his Arkham Asylum record from 1996 and to me this is such a beautiful example of pure progressive music. This takes me to a different place and it really influenced the art of the journey within arrangement for me.
2. Camelphat - Breathe: I produce a lot of vocal tracks, and absolutely love working with vocalists. This track is just so beautifully written… plus it was my divorce anthem haha. I remember just driving aimlessly around Sydney crying and listening to this on repeat. I still use it as a reference track in some of my songs. Banger!
Dimitris: It would be wonderful to discuss your latest release. Kindly share the inspiration behind the creation of Face Off as part of featuring on IN/ROTATION's 'ROTATE Vol.14' compilation and provide insights into the thought process behind it.
Naz: This was the first purely instrumental track I have released in a while and ultimately I just wanted something that could work on a dancefloor, on a roadtrip, at the gym, at your grandmas nursing home during dinner. And the name was inspired by the movie Face Off with Nic Cage and John Travolta because I could really see this song being used in a bad ass fighting scene.
Dimitris: Could you please provide an estimate of the production time and describe the production process in a simplified manner?
Naz: This one came together pretty quickly to be honest, within a couple of days it was wrapped up. The bassline was the starting point then the drums and the drop with that syncopayed synth lead came at the end.
Dimitris: Could you elaborate on any specific technical challenges or obstacles you encountered during the production of that particular track?
Naz: Honestly none for this one. Twas a smooth process interestingly enough.
Dimitris: If you had the opportunity to alter your current track and potentially create a new remix, which aspects would you be dissatisfied with and what changes would you implement? Additionally, is there any particular artist whose remix you believe would be exceptional and why?
Naz: I wouldn’t change anything, but if I could choose someone to remix it I would choose Rebuke. I think he would do a mad techno spin on it.
Dimitris: Which music composition software or hardware do you prefer, and why? What are your thoughts on the recent trend towards producing music using more analogue equipment, with less or no digital software?
Naz: I’m an Ableton girl although I started out in Logic. I’m definitely pro analogue equipement and hardware… but its just been that for me I’ve been moving around and travelling so much the past four years I haven’t had a place long enough to set up a studio. Now in London permanently though so will definitely be investing in some cool hardware!
Dimitris: Which type of music do you prefer: vocal or instrumental tracks? If the track we are discussing contains vocals, please provide information about the singer you collaborate with.
Naz: Definitely vocal. The magic a beautiful Vocal provides to a song is next level and I realllllly love the production side of working on vocal tracks. It’s where I feel most creative.
Dimitris: Are there any vocalists or singers in the electronic dance music genre that you aspire to collaborate with?
Naz: Jem Cooke and Naomi Sharon.
Dimitris: Could you please provide information about your record label? If so, please include the establishment date, the reasons behind your decision, and your top three releases to date. Additionally, we would appreciate it if you could recommend two or three releases that we should consider exploring from your label.
Naz: So I wanted to create a new world… a fantasy world. And I love creative writing and reading… and so I thought about the many times I would get lost in a book and visualise the scenes playing out and even think about what kind of music would accompany these scenes. So I created New Eden to do just that. With every single that is released, I release a teaser of a chapter from the book that is being written, and a visual music video that depicts what is happening.
1. Into The Night ft. Frynn
2. Night Rider ft. 88 Birds
Dimitris: Could you describe your music as belonging to a specific genre, such as trance, house, or techno? Alternatively, does your music defy these categorizations? What are your thoughts on hybrid styles and artists who experiment with blending influences from various genres in their compositions?
Naz: I don’t like to be defined by just one genre as I find that very limiting. I love that nowadays, a lot of producers and DJ’s are really blending genres. I think when it comes to House & Techno, it’s easy enough to do and so if we want to categorise my music, let’s just say it falls within the House & Techno umbrella
Dimitris: Which type of venue do you prefer for performing: small clubs or large festivals? Are there any specific festivals or clubs that you aspire to perform at in the future?
Naz: Festivals are fun but there’s something electric about playing in an intimate dark and sweaty club environment… can’t be beat!
Dimitris: Please provide your message & wishes for Flux Bpm Online readers.
Naz: Thank you so much for the support, and keep on rockin and rollin’ and ravin’ xo
I would like to express my gratitude to Naz for facilitating this exceptional interview.
I would also like to thank Lydia Laws for arranging this wonderful interview.
Stream / Download: https://insom.co/ROTATEVol14
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