Saeed Younan talks debut album twenty years within the making, ‘Morph’ [Q+A]
In selector’s circles, Saeed Younan‘s title is one which instructions due respect. The Iraqi-born DJ has constructed a world-class profession as one in all dance music’s most beloved producers over the course of greater than twenty years within the recreation. Younan is aware of its not all glitz and glamour although—he’s endured each prosperity and hardships, from fleeing a conflict-torn area, finally touchdown within the U.S. within the early 80s, to rising via the dance music ranks nicely earlier than EDM grow to be a worldwide, multi-billion greenback trade. Younan would finally sharpen his chops behind the decks via the invention of hip-hop, which might finally give option to membership tradition, and thus, his introduction to deal with music. From there, the remainder is historical past. Although now, after years on the scene, Younan has delivered his debut full-length debut artist album, Morph, with the intention of celebrating his narrative as each an artist, and an individual. The report carries on the multicultural passage that has helped formed Younan’s signature tribal, percussive sound, and, as Younan himself places it, “You may say I've morphed from a wide-eyed DJ touring the world to a seasoned musician with a narrative to inform.” Morph is that story.
In an interview with Dancing Astronaut, Saeed Younan discusses what impressed Morph, what it appears like breaking out his Deepart alias, some sage recommendation for upcoming artists, and the way Younan has developed as each a DJ and particular person the final 18 months.
As a veteran DJ who’s seen the dance music house evolve over a prolonged profession, what’s one factor you’d advise youthful selectors with?
“I’d inform them to stay to your weapons, hone your craft, don’t fall into or observe musical traits that don’t serve the true cause why you bought into music within the first place. Most significantly, keep away from chasing the flavour of the month.”
In that vein, relating to the occasions of 2020, what are you able to inform youthful, much less skilled DJs/producers about pacing and the significance of psychological well being?
“I’ve instructed many individuals, 2020 was a time for all of us to mirror and look inward, as a substitute of outward. Cease and be glad about what you’ve obtained. I actually took the time to do some inside engineering, dived deeper into meditation and breathwork. It helped me an important deal in dealing with my nervousness associated to lack of earnings and work. I additionally targeted extra on making music, creating new DJ edits, in order that when the time comes, I’ve obtained my dancefloor weapons able to convey the home down!”
‘Morph’ supplies an eclectic array of digital sounds with a genre-fluid stream. Inform us a about how the album displays each the place you at the moment are, in addition to the place you began.
“My purpose was to create an artwork album, one thing to showcase the place I got here from and the place I’m heading as a music author. You've gotten tracks like ‘Tribal Coronary heart Percussive Soul’ and ‘Church of Bass,’ that are the core elements of how I used to be introduced up in dance music, specifically tribal and hip-house. You additionally produce other genres that impressed me, just like the liquid drum ‘n’ bass observe on the finish of the album. Additionally, extra playful, natural, musical parts sprinkled all through the album. My different goal for this album was to point out that I’m not only a one-trick-pony with regards to writing and producing musical compositions.”
Inform us a about what impressed you to interrupt out your Deepart alias for the brand new album?
“I’ve been producing and releasing music beneath ‘The Deepart Venture’ for a couple of years now. I’ve at all times needed to make music geared in direction of leisure, meditation and yoga. Our lives have grow to be so nerve-racking, I really feel that we want an outlet or an escape from our every day grind, to look inward. I used to be creating this music for myself at first, then a couple of yoga and meditation lecturers satisfied me to start out releasing the music to assist others. Beginning The Deepart Venture alias was a blessing in disguise. On the time, I didn’t understand how a lot I wanted some ‘me time’ to decelerate and focus till I began creating the music for myself, as a option to calm down within the studio. I made a decision to incorporate music from my alias into my album as a result of it's a large a part of my life now. This music grounds me in a sure means, mentally and bodily. I needed to share this with my followers who don’t essentially know that I additionally make this kind of music.”
What's one factor about this album you hope listeners take away from it?
“In case you’ve been a fan of my work, this album will open new doorways and experiences, not essentially just for the dancefloor, the place you’ve seen or heard me play. In case you are a brand new fan to my work, this album will present a blueprint of my complete musical catalog. You’ll really get to know me musically on a private degree.”
How have you ever developed within the final 18 months? Each as knowledgeable DJ/producer, and on a extra private degree, as a human being.
“The final 18 months have been eye-opening, to say the least. It’s been powerful, however I've to offer thanks for every part in my life proper now. I launched a Patreon account throughout the pandemic to make up for some misplaced earnings. I'm grateful to have some wonderful followers who contributed to my Patreon and helped me hold the enterprise afloat. I additionally launched a brand new sequence known as Low Lit Division (LLD) beneath my label, Younan Music. The main focus of LLD is on slow-burning natural home, and slower dance tracks normally beneath 119-BPM. Throughout the pandemic I sharpened my DJ abilities each on turntables and CDJs, additionally creating new DJ edits and instruments to play out as soon as issues open again up. You possibly can say I obtained my ammunition prepared with some wonderful music prepared for my ‘Morph’ tour.”
Because the nation is quickly rising from the pandemic into a brand new, post-COVID-19 world, what's your mindset like?
“I’m undoubtedly hopeful and optimistic that our music neighborhood comes out of this stronger than ever. I imagine this pandemic helped filter a number of the riffraff who had been in it for all of the incorrect causes and solely the purest at coronary heart DJs caught via. I additionally hope this pandemic was a wakeup name, that we have to make some adjustments in our lives for the great of the entire. We are able to’t hold dwelling life the best way now we have been. Mom nature is giving us all of the warning indicators. We've to take these indicators significantly and actually make some uncomfortable adjustments within the coming years if we wish to survive and thrive.”
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