Naz is an up-and-coming Iranian/Australian Electronic Music Producer and international touring DJ that hails from the Land Down Under, Australia. With releases on Anjunabeats and a passion for the underground scene, her production style is driven by mood and emotion, often resulting in different and eclectic sounds. Her goal is to ‘make people feel’ through the powerful language of music while pushing boundaries with genres and style and sound design.
In just under a year, Naz made her debut on the international stage, playing at several high profile events and venues across the US, UK, Europe & Australia such as Creamfields, Brooklyn Mirage, The Gorge, Piknic Electronik, Drumsheds plus selling out her first headliner show in Sydney, Australia at the end of 2022.
WWD: Welcome to When We Dip! Thanks for talking to us – how’s 2023 treating you so far?
Thank you for having me! Love what you’ve done with the place. 2023 is treating me pretty well so far! I can’t believe we are almost at the end of March already though – I swear January was literally yesterday?!
WWD: What are your earliest memories of music?
I learnt a lot about music and different genres and artists from my Dad. I remember when I was really young we would go on long drives together and he would play the most recent cassette tape or CD he just picked up in the music store at the time and he would be so excited to listen to it so we’d get snacks, jump in the car, hit play and drive around just vibing.
WWD: How would you describe your music style, and who are some of the artists that you draw inspiration from?
I think my music style is very much driven by mood. Whether it’s the mood that I am personally in at the time of creation or the mood that I’m trying to perhaps recreate or even curate. I draw inspiration from a variety of artists to be honest. Whilst a lot of the stuff I make at the moment is four to the floor dance music, I grew up listening to a lot of Rock & Roll and R&B and Hip Hop. The ‘mood’ and nostalgia from those era’s and genres definitely inspire the stuff I make today so it’s really hard to pinpoint just a few artists!
WWD: What were the first records you can remember being into, the ones that really made an impression on you?
I’ll never forget getting the single of ‘You Get What You Give by New Radicals when I was I think 9 or ten years old and just being completely blown away by the feeling that the song gave me. It was definitely a record that when played in the car, I’d be in the backseat staring out the window pretending I’m in a music video haha. So dramatic.
WWD: How did you hook up with Anjunabeats? That’s a fantastic label to be involved with…
Yeah they’re amazing! So kinda funny how this all happened to be honest… I was chatting to the Anjunabeats A&R who asked me to send in demos, and then I think a day or two after that conversation I saw an email in my inbox from Anjunadeep also asking for demos. This was all off the back of my first release, my EP with Statement! Records and then Anjunabeats picked up the demo and it was released a couple of months later on their Rising series.
WWD: What’s your take on the current situation in Iran? How difficult is it for women there at the moment, especially those who are trying to be creative or work outside of the system?
It is extremely heartbreaking and frustrating. To have an archaeic and barbaric regulating government and regime that dictates how you should dress, act and behave is unbelievable. I know it is extremely hard for women living there.. I experienced it myself whenever I would go back to visit family. To not be able to hold hands with the one you love on the street if he or she is not your legal spouse, to live in constant fear of being arrested and assaulted for not ‘covering up’ properly, to live in an extremely volatile economy… I mean I could go on and on about this but it’s just absolutely terrible. A lot of western and commercial music is illegal and deemed as being ‘against the regime’ so if a female producer or DJ was to even get caught… they would be immediately arrested. Iranian women are strong. They had to be, growing up in a place like that. They will be the ones to pioneer the revolution and rewrite history.
WWD: When you’re not working on your music, how do you like to spend your time?
I’m a bit of a homebody to be honest. I do love catching up with friends but I very much love chilling at home with a book or game or going for a walk or drive somewhere.
WWD: What else do you have coming up in 2023 that we should be looking out for?
Can’t say too much at the moment in terms of specifics unfortunately but I have some exciting new music on the way this year and some really cool gigs coming up!
WWD: Finally, for you, what is the greatest progressive house track of all time?
Without a shadow of a doubt it’s Sasha – Ohmna. This song was the epitomy of progressive in my opinion and so ahead of it’s time, it came out in like 1996 I believe? Beautiful beautiful track!