Dubstep newcomer NAZAAR has quickly risen the ranks of the bass music scene as a tribute to his ceaseless work ethic and diligence for refining his craft. A diverse childhood spent between New Mexico and Texas has provided ample inspiration for NAZAAR to craft his Persian-infused style of bass music that carefully treads water between the furious tides of trap and the dark depths of dubstep.
The Legacy EP provides the first opportunity for NAZAAR to grace the ranks of Never Say Die: Black Label. Brandishing this feat with confidence, the five-track project demonstrates his ability to work with stunning solo proficiency, further emphasizing the middle-eastern influences of his style through Arabic strings that blend coherently into massive chasms of bass.
We were delighted to catch up with NAZAAR to discuss the early inspiration for his style, his preference for working individually, and what The Legacy might look like written as a novel. Be sure to check out the EP and the full interview below!
How has growing up in New Mexico had an influence on your style or trajectory as an artist?
My childhood was spent all over from Las Cruces, New Mexico to Houston, Texas & shortly Boston, MA for a while, but growing up in New Mexico was nothing short of amazing for my artistry. I was exposed to all types of music & arts growing up, and really learned how to project my cultural identity, and heritage, while also being a part of a community that had much different, yet equally as strong and amazing cultural identity. Overall, New Mexico really teaches you how to be proud of who you are, and where you come from. That’s why it was so easy for me to pursue my Arab-Persian style of music.
In what ways did your time at boarding school contribute to your passion for music and help shape your ambitions as a producer?
I spent 4 years at a boarding school in Boston, MA and the experience was a rollercoaster for me. As a child, my parents always had an inclination towards musical education as an extracurricular passion, and I developed my passion for it as I grew. I had an amazing music teacher, who was also the band director, who helped me expand my genre palette, and in the process he introduced me to Skrillex, Deadmau5, Armin Van Buuren, and many more, and watching the journey these artists went through, the passion and emotion in the music they create, I knew instantly that being a musician was my destiny, and I wanted to leave that as a part of my legacy (haha, pun intended).
To see bass music flourishing right now is a blessing and a curse
What has been the most challenging aspect of establishing your career at such a peak moment in popularity for the bass music scene?
To see bass music flourishing right now is a blessing and a curse. The ever-growing popularity has made it tough for a lot of the smaller guys to establish themselves, just due to the saturation of the genre. For me, the most challenging part has been getting my music to the right places, and I’m very thankful to the whole Never Say Die Records team for giving me this opportunity to be a part of such an established and talented roster of artists. The challenging moments are the ones that test our devotion, patience, and passion the most, and how we navigate our movements and actions ultimately define our character.
Your style expresses immense diversity and you’ve demonstrated the ability to work aptly between genres. Was this something you had always hoped to establish within the brand, or do you simply make an effort to create whatever feels right?
I think it’s a bit of both honestly. I myself love listening to a whole range of genres in and out of Electronic Dance Music & Bass Music in general, so from the beginning, my whole goal has been to demonstrate that genre boundaries should be non-existent. When I’m in the studio creating and brainstorming, I tend to make whatever I feel is right to me, and lately, that’s been a lot of Riddim, Dubstep, & Trap.
I spend countless hours (19+ hours daily) working on music, there have been weeks of sleepless nights, and years of blood, sweat, and tears that have been put into this
How is an opportunity to grace the talented roster of Never Say Die Records an indication of the dedication and persistence that has gone towards refining your craft behind the scenes?
First and foremost I really want to thank the whole Never Say Die Team for giving me the opportunity to be a part of such an amazing roster of highly talented artists. I’ve been producing since I was 14 years old, and refining the craft is a part of every producer’s daily agenda. I spend countless hours (19+ hours daily) working on music, there have been weeks of sleepless nights, and years of blood, sweat, and tears that have been put into this, and now to say that I am part of a roster that includes some of my own inspirations is truly staggering to me.
I can not wait to release more music with Never Say Die, and continue to push the limits.
The Legacy EP, as well as the bulk of the releases in your catalog, are solo efforts. Do you prefer to work individually, or are you simply waiting for the right collaboration to come onto your radar?
Haha, great question. So I’m really picky when it comes to sound selection, and this has led me to pursue a lot of solo work. At the moment I have some really cool collaborations coming with some of my good friends such as Jayceeoh, GLD, and Perses, but I’d really love to work with Eptic, Trampa, and Mastadon sometime in the near future!
If you were tasked with vividly depicting The Legacy as a novel, what genre would the story fall within and what would the setting and characters look like?
The Legacy EP in itself is a story, and here’s how that would go. The setting would be 1980’s Registan Desert in Afghanistan (where my ancestry originated before migrating to Pakistan). The main character in this story is a young dude, NAZAAR, who can split into multiple personalities, one being a normal teen and the other being a monstrous Evil Eye, which defeats all enemies with a single look that shoots lasers.
NAZAAR has to travel from the middle of the Registani desert to Lahore, Pakistan. Along the way, he’s tasked with fighting many evil spirits & demons, and the only way he can get past them is by transforming into his other personality, NAZAAR – The Evil Eye.
Through the course of his journey, you’ll hear soundtracks depicting the severity of each situation he’s put in, and each song tells you the story. Do we know if he makes it..? I guess you’ll have to tune in to find out.
BE PERSISTENT, BE DEVOTED, BE YOURSELF, AND STAY HUMBLE.
What advice do you have to share with aspiring producers that might be looking to make a career out of music?
The best advice I have for aspiring producers looking to make a career out of Music is BE PERSISTENT, BE DEVOTED, BE YOURSELF, AND STAY HUMBLE.
Be willing to listen, and learn, and always push yourself to explore.
Reach out and connect with people.
Try anything and everything, find your sound, and run
The world is yours for the taking, now go get what’s yours.
