Hi Iman! Thanks for talking to us, how are you doing?
Hey guys , thanks a lot for having me here, I am grateful and excited,
You are known for your progressive melodic techno sound, why is this the genre/style you chose to produce? What about it that resonates with you?
I always tried to push the boundaries of storytelling and creating epic and cinematic sceneries. This kind of progressive and melodic sounds can satisfy that creator obsession on mine to some degree.
Your latest release with Gio Santi “Till We Meet Again” was released on your label Deed Music Berlin. What was the inspiration behind the track and what were you trying to bring the listener to experience?
Our work normally begins as an Abstract idea, I personally like to give myself to the process itself . This track was created during an improvisational YouTube video of mine , its available under Sunday Spice 4 on my YT channel. When I explored the voice of Giovanni on that Maceo Plex track ‘Revision’ I reached out to him , and soon we had some new sketches that were working together, Giovanni wrote that line on my piano solo and pads in no time! That very first take is normally more magical.
Also tell us about your label. New artists, events and projects to tell us about?
Label is doing great, wee didn’t miss a month, every month we are releasing, Till We Meet Again and Analog Slaves got on Beatport Charts in position 10 and 9 respectively. So Deed Music is finding its way in the Melodic , Progressive and Indie scene.
Deed Music is very happy because there is sister company now, past//future is the new born event company that we kick stared a few months a go with my friend Katerunser. We are looking forward to have Denis Horvat on board in our first event in Istanbul – Kastel this is gonna be Dec 1st , by the time I’m interviewing with you we have two more dates confirmed in Berlin and Netherlands ,, I will have to reveal them later. Deed Music is also giving birth to EduTech , this is where me we create educational materials like templates and sample packs , and go a bit educational as one of the branches in Deed Music Berlin.
Take us through a day in your life, from a possible morning routine through to your production work and otherwise, please.
My day starts with my Taiji practice, warm up and standing meditation at 7:30 almost for 30 minutes , after that I get a coffee and check my emails , social messages and comments or anything that need replying, then I go to Taiji training with the group at 9:00 that happens 3 times a week. So the other days I have more and I listen to my projects instead until 11:00 shower and breakfast. I get in studio for two hours, that is my office as well , some days are scheduled to work on music, and some are marketing and label stuff at this time. I normally get to cook myself or with my bestie. And that’s when i get busy with food habit and rest. Sometimes we explore Berlin restaurants. I have the second standing meditation ( Zhan Zhuang ) at 16:00 for 30 minutes And I get back in studio, finishing up projects, or creating new stuff, at 18:00 I take care of Social Media and last snack of the day. The rest of the day is also in Studio and office working on music related stuff like any marketing and promo or visual artworks for Deed until 21:00, this could be also meeting with my partners online or in person , or meeting friends in studio for collaboration or outside events, Then I listen to some podcast or learn between 21:30 and 23:00 and get ready to go to sleep. I have chunks of 30 to 1 hours in the day as Auxiliary task, which are planned spontaneously on the go. At the end I work something like 12 to 14 hours a day, weekends too just less hours, and I take rest and enjoy fam and friends.
There have been quite a few amazing electronic music artists to emerge from Iran like yourself, what was it like growing up there and who were some of your local heroes?
We had to face all kind of challenges, getting wdjs under your arm and run while the police rages inside the rave! Lack of good internet, and limited possibilities can create iron like champions sometimes, but it can also ruin dreams and potential life can get forgotten. I was always lucky with these stuff. My local heroes were some race drivers at that time! Like rest in peace Saeed Arrabian. Most of our local heroes either die or get in jail! Check out the recent local here Toomaj Salehi!
Who did you look up to and why If you were a tour-guide for nightlife in Berlin, what would be the clubs you’d take the people to see and what local DJs do they need to hear?
Growing up as a Dj I looked up at John Digweed, Steve Lawler and Steve Bug for example, I also admire Black Coffee recently and how he runs his business this one is not from Germany or UK yet a multi millionaire. I bring people to Sisyphos and Kater Blau and let them listen to Mira or Norman Weber or some unknown inspiration of Sunday Morning in Sisyphos. Recently I enjoy Club OST a lot and we are doing something there.
What’s a book you’ve read or film you watched that has left an impact on you, and why?
Tao Te Ching by Lao Tze is the book that I use daily since 2004, it synchronises with my daily passive or actual questions and unclutter my mind with an accurate answer when I just open a page randomly! Also Alchemist by Paolo Coheleo is one of highlights , everyone most read it to unlock the potential of our personal dreams. Believe it or not I watched ‘Berlin Calling’ when I was in Italy , and I learned that I have to leave everything I have in Rome and go to Berlin! And I did it in 2011.
Apart from music, what makes you happiest?
Chen Taijiquan , Good Food and Ganja
What does the remainder of 2023 hold for you? Anything you can share with us?
Not everyone can be your mentor, when the student is ready , the master appears! Do it yourself and learn by doing.
