Mazi Interview

April 26, 2006 7:27 PM
by [email]

Mazi’s music has always defied simplistic genre definitions. From new wave-inspired vocals, acid, jacked up house and techno, his style is near impossible to define. The common denominator though? He always plays for the crowd!

His record label Gourmet Recordings is quickly becoming a household name among the industry elite and fans alike. And with ten years plus under his belt, Mazi Namvar continues to light up dancefloors worldwide!

In an exclusive interview for CoolJunkie (prior to his upcoming gig at the Connected party at Cafeteria on 4/29), I sat down with Mazi to discuss his career, the music scene and more.

Having earned the respect of both peers and fans alike throughout your stellar 10 plus year career, the name Mazi Namvar is widely recognized. Nevertheless, it seems as though many in the Miami EDM Community have never heard your work before… What do you attribute this to? Is it due to your rare appearances? Or is the Miami music scene just too close minded?

I guess it would be best to ask a member of that EDM community why this is so. I would be guessing but maybe it’s because I play London and Paris about 4 times more a year than I play Miami? Yeah you said it, probably just because I don’t play enough in the area.

Having heard you spin on two occasions, (once a few years back at the former Privilege, and last year at the Movim/Basic Party during Conference at the Beach Plaza Resort), I have a great degree of difficulty pinpointing the exact genre that you most adhere to. You are the perfect example of a DJ that likes to think “outside the box.” From techno and acid house to deep and moody, your sets are as diverse as the venues you play at. What style have you found yourself drawn to recently and why?

For my DJ sets I like house and techno that takes in some disco and rock influence without getting cheesy. I guess I’m drawn to fusion sounds because I’ve been listening to and playing this music for over 20 years so it’s inevitable to like things that take in all those influences I’ve grown up with. That being said, so much of the fusion stuff today is just over the top and unimaginative; I’m talking about the electro-house, minimal and disco punk that clogs the “modern” record shops. Of course some of it is great but as a whole so much of the trendy stuff is just sub-par. I don’t want your readers to misunderstand me. I think there’s more good dance music coming out today then ever before; it’s just that there’s more crappy music coming out then ever before as well and it outnumbers the good stuff.

How important is it to continue to solidify your record label Gourmet Recordings? Many DJ/Producers find it difficult to both tour worldwide while trying to expand upon their label. What advice do you have to those rising artists/producers on where their focus should lay?

I’ve been doing my label for 6 years now and feel I’m still figuring out how this all works. The first 5 years we tried to bring out new artists. Now the goal is to put out my own music for the most part along with a small group of core friends. My advice to new artists and producers is to not jump the gun and start a label just because already established labels turn down your demo. Just because I don’t pick up your track doesn’t mean someone else won’t. And, although this is hard to swallow if no one picks up your track maybe it’s time to go back to the drawing board. What I’m saying is the focus should be put on music; as an artist your first priority has to be that the music is brilliant and if it truly is then the rest will work itself out.

What is the next major project that you plan to work on under your label and with what artists if any?

Right now my focus is on the next Audio Soul Project album. I’m taking my time working on it. Tentatively, it should be done by the end of this year with a release sometime early 2007. I’m writing a lot of music and just letting the best songs boil to the top by them selves. Some people I’ve been collaborating with include Rachael Starr, Joshua Collins, Nathan Drew Larsen and Lori Riegler.

From Fabric in London to the Sullivan Room in NYC, you have brought your unique sounds to the corners of the world. What has been your favorite city/country to play in? Likewise, how do the crowds differ in the various places you have toured? In other words, what cities seem to have the most educated music heads, party animals and most importantly… hottest women?

Well my favorite cities to play are Chicago, London and Istanbul. My hometown has my favorite crowd because I’ve grown up with them and we share the same musical DNA. London is the bomb because they are hands down the most educated music people I’ve ever played for and more specifically because of Fabric. Istanbul is amazing because of its vibrant scene, brilliant clubs and most importantly because of the warmest audience I’ve ever come to know. As for the hottest women…basically the whole of Eastern Europe from Estonia to Turkey has the most gorgeous women on the planet!

The Winter Music Conference/Miami Music Conference is not only the highlight of us clubbers in Miami but the rest of the world as well. A few of my close friends attended the “Rest Relax and Recover BBQ” Party at The Fairwinds Café and said you “tore it up.” How would you rate your set and the party in general? Furthermore, what parties/dj’s did you make it a point to see during Conference ’06?

All the days at RR&R were excellent this year. The day I played was no exception. I played with Little Mike, Scarlet Etienne, Nic Fanciulli and James Holden. The party was packed from open to close. I would rate my set as a 10/10…I know I’m being modest.

What DJ/Producers have most inspired your unique sound? Who has been your favorite DJ’s that you have collaborated with in the past and who do you wish to work with in the foreseeable future?

Right now I’m into Ame, Laurent Garnier, David Duriez, LCD Sound System, the Get Physical crew, the DFA label, Ewan Pearson, Funk D’Void, Phonique, the Mood Music vibe and a whole host of older rock bands the likes of Joy Division. As for collaborations, if you’re talking DJ’ing I’ve had lots of fun playing with Jay Tripwire, David Duriez, Mike Monday and Nathan Larsen.

The club scene in Miami over the past months has undergone some massive changes. Pessimists hearken it to the eventual demise of House music as we know it in the “Magic City.” From established nightclubs closing to the ongoing battle between condominium associations and club owners, there have been many roadblocks to the successful continuation of EDM in Miami. Based upon your travels, are the changes in Miami simply a “local” event or is it a microcosm of a future global trend?

Well it’s different from place to place but globally dance music is bigger than ever. What people don’t realize is that even with the digital revolution and P2P networks and all that there was a 5% increase in overall vinyl sales globally last year…that’s right an INCREASE. Sure some labels or some clubs that used to do well are now dying. But that’s because they individually or locally have checked out of what’s vital in the bigger picture. When I talk to friends in London or Berlin they tell me about more people coming out than ever before; some of the biggest events are taking place in the middle of the work week.

What should we expect with your upcoming gig at the Connected Party at Cafeteria?

I’ve played Cafeteria a few times and I really like the venue. I think it’s going to be easy to catch a vibe there. It’s just the right size for the kind of set I like playing. Not too big and no too dark and gloomy. Musically you can expect a combination of things that will tickle all the right body parts at the right times.

Many of us on this site (myself included), rely on Nightlife message boards and or Myspace to get our info or state our opinions. What is your stance on boards such as Cooljunkie.com and Myspace as reliable sources of information and ways to network? Are you a member of any boards and what is your myspace page if you have one…? (I am sure you don’t mind having a million new friends).

Well I think boards are a great place to network and exert some direct energy about your opinions. I think they’re more fun then they are accurate or reliable. You can catch me as Audio Soul Project on at this MySpace profile.

Thank you for your time and I know I speak for many of us in Miami, we look forward to your gig at Cafeteria this Saturday April, 29th and any future stops in the “Magic City” in the near future!