Behrouz Interview: Endless

April 21st, 2007

Life provides us with so much over time. Its good to occasionally stop and look at the work we have done over the years. And sometimes we haven’t even begun. In some instances you could say this about one amazing DJ/producer named Behrouz(myspace). In a class of his own and an undefined style to pin him to, he travels the world astounding dance fans all over.

Behrouz Nazari, born in Iran and raised in the Bay Area(CA), got his start playing at Club DV8 in San Francisco, after 7 years he moved on to play for Release at 1015 Folsom. Release quickly became one of San Francisco’s premier nights for dance music. His undeniable sound took flight, he started playing at top clubs around the world. Behrouz eventually starting producing/remixing notable tracks such as Safe From Harm, Never Felt So Good, What You Do In Life Echoes in Eternity, and Narcotic Thrust,…. on the labels Yoshitoshi, Renaissance and Shinichi his sound quickly traveled. Behrouz has also mixed astounding compilation CDs such as In House We trust, Frontiers with Yousef, an Essential Mix for Pete Tong’s Radio One Show and the widely praised CD Yoshitoshi Ibiza.

Behrouz began working alongside tops djs/producers throughout electronic music. He met with Deep Dish at WMC and they eventually held a monthly residency in SF. They pushed Behrouz further along with similar likes which became a lasted friendship. In 2003, Behrouz was named DJ to watch in DJ Mag’s annual Top 100 DJ issue. IN 2004, Behrouz was nominated for Best Breakthrough DJ at the Dancestar Award, nominated also for Best Breakthrough DJ at the 2004 DJ Awards in Ibiza and nominated for Best Resident DJ at the 2005 Club World Awards for his famous Pure Behrouz residency at Ruby Skye in San Francisco. At this time Behrouz had already been djing for over 20 years, he’s just getting started.:D A special moment at the 2002 Winter Music Conference, good friend Danny Tenaglia stopped the music and played two of Behrouz tracks. “He’s the bomb”, Tenaglia said to devoted music fans.

Straight from the 2007 WMC, Behrouz had six successful gigs and each one gave him an opportunity to show a different side of Behrouz. we got a chance to enjoy a special B-day Celebration at his SF
residency at Ruby Skye, Pure Behrouz on April 21st. An amazing show to the very end, he painted a portrait of a nice future for house music.

VM: You were born in Iran, when did you come over to SF?
Whats your best childhood memory?
Behrouz: Yes, I was born in Iran but I grew up in Santa Cruz. I actually came here when I was very young and was fortunate enough to have most of my family here as well. One of my best childhood memories was going to my first record store in Tehran and being fascinated by all the international music. At the time Cerrone, Bonny M and Jean Michelle Jarre were big.

VM:With such a diverse background growing up, do you have mixed feelings about the US and it’s world affairs?
Behrouz: I have mixed feelings about the prejudices that still exists in the world. For me, my family and culture taught me that we are all the same and are all human beings. But as I travel around the world, I see the opposite. These days you are judged by your religion or color of your skin and it exists right here our backyard in the US. My music is my foreign policy and through it I teach others to love and to express themselves in a positive way.

VM: You play in SF, Paris and Miami routinely for residencies. How do you prepare yourself for your many travels and gigs throughout the year?
Behrouz: Preparation begins with realizing what region of the world you are playing for and for what club. You have to know what people are feeling in all those regions. For instance in Europe, people are more into minimal or techno so I have to program my music geared towards that sound. But it all comes down to walking into the club and feeling the overall vibe of the crowd. There is no preparation for this. You just have to open your mind and your heart and taking your listeners on a journey.

VM: Behrouz, you’re an artist and a storyteller when it comes to DJing. What inspires you outside of music? Explain to us a little of your musical stories…..
Behrouz: I am inspired by so many things- everything around me depending on how I feel. If I’m sad, you can feel in my music because my music is full of emotions. My mother, my wife even my dog inspires me as does some of the amazing books I read. Then you have the people from all over the world I meet, good and bad. These inspirations, whether good or bad, affect my music and are incorporated into my journeys into sound

VM: You have completed four new tracks this year, Touch, Free Your Mind with DJ Simi, Beat Box and the highly reveared track, Dreams. What was everyone’s reaction to them at WMC 2007? Is there a new Behrouz label we don’t know about?
Behrouz: I got a great reaction from all my tracks at my Pure Behrouz show at Mokai this year during the conference. My set was aired live on Sirius Radio and people called and emailed me about my tracks which made me very happy. I really produced each one of those tracks based on life experiences I had this year so to get positive reactions from my fans really means a lot to me. I’m working on some great projects this year and who knows, a label might be in the works.

VM: Any new artists or djs that continue to impress you?
Behrouz: I’m impressed by so much great talent out there. First and foremost, my mentor and good friend Danny Tenaglia continues to amaze me with his dedication to music. EVERY year he out does himself during the conference and every year I continue to learn so much from him. There are a lot of new producers / remixers like Radioslave, Shlomi Aber, DJ Yellow, Roman S., DJ Simi, Martin H from Sweden, Andy Slate and so many others. I’m so impressed with the unique sounds that each of these producers are coming out with.

VM: Some of us don’t get to see what its like in Dubai, Shanghai or Bangkok, what’s it like?
Any particular parts of the world that embrace what you do most?
Behrouz: I really enjoy the scene and fans in Tunisia as well in Dubai. Whenever I play in Dubai I have many fans that come from Iran (clubs are not allowed in Iran so it’s great to see so many fans enjoying themselves).

VM: What is the toughest decision you have had to make professionally?
Behrouz: Transitioning from the corporate world into the dance music industry. I spent half of my life preparing for corporate America and sacrificed all of my education and work experience for the love of music and today I realize I made the best decision of my life. There is no greater feeling in this world than waking up and doing what makes you most happy in life.

VM: Many have heard you play for SF Releases 15th Anniversary with Danny Tenaglia, what an amazing night in music for SF. Any other amazing Berouzza and DT moments you care to share?
Behrouz:All of my sets with Danny have been amazing. We did a great set together in Ibiza at DC10 and we both dove into the crowd. We did a techno wedding at the Cannes Film Festival (we were playing techno for a bunch of guys in tuxedos, lol). I love playing with Danny in NY as well. We bring out the best in each other. It’s like two soccer players passing the ball to each other – you know exactly what the other wants to do with the ball and we know the timing and where we want to go without speaking to one another. It’s about knowing the professionalism of how to build up a night properly and setting it up right for Danny.

VM: Scenario: Its the very last night for house music, the very last night of house music to be played anywhere on this planet. Where would you play and whats the last track you’d play?
Behrouz: I would play in New York city because I love the people there and my last track would be my track What You Do In Life Echoes in Eternity (on the Shinichi label).

VM: Any expressive words you would like to share with global dance community for 2007?
Behrouz: Good music is good music. Stop making it all about genres. If you feel the music play it and don’t be judgmental about what others play. At the end of the day, good music is good music.

VM: On behalf of Behrouz fans around the world and the many people who get to enjoy life for what it is, whether its music, art, traveling, good food or even if its just watering the grass…… Thank You, Behrouz what you do is endless. Special thanks to Megan, for making this interview happen….. your a gem!