Dastan is a US DJ Producer/Artist who’s name translates to story. As a journeyman of dance music, and a fan of the long form experience, he’s been obsessed with quality sound and the state of being lost in music. We caught up with him recently to find out whats happening with him in 2022, and his recent track “Luft” on Nick Warrens The Soundgarden label…
Hey Dastan, It’s great to meet you! How’s your summer been so far?
It’s a pleasure, thanks for having me. It’s been an unbelievable summer so far. I’ve been quite busy with performing and production, and fortunate enough to play alongside my friends and even dj idols. It’s all a bit surreal to be honest. Looking forward to another handful before the perfect endcap of Burning Man.
Congrats on your new release Luft on Soundgarden’s Summer Collection 2022. What was your inspiration behind this record?
It’s really quite funny how it worked itself out. I’d started the song as something quite dreamy and airy, and hit a wall when trying to finish it. I think as I was striving for something that wasn’t really where my head or heart was at that point. My friend Mustafa Ismaeel was over one weekend, and we spent a night collaborating. We finished the track together quickly, sending copies back and forth until it was done. Miraculously, the melodies and groove just came naturally. The song was meant to be light but now I think it does a good job of uplifting any spirit or dance floor, without being too heavy. A solid mix of delicate and deliberate.
Does Storytelling play a big role in your process as an artist? What is that you’re aiming to express with your music?
It absolutely does. It’s in my name after all. I grew up fascinated with stories and had a strong imagination often losing myself in daydreams or whatever was at hand. I want to share that full immersion with the people around me. I spend a lot of time being deliberate in what they’ll experience, whether it’s a dj set, song I write, or experience I’m a part of. I try to imagine myself in the middle of the room feeling what I aim to deliver and if it sticks, it goes in the set or song.
I aim to express a range of emotions. Happy, sad, tense, excited, and sometimes rage. The human experience has all these things and what I stitch together I hope is compelling enough to feel and express that honestly.
What does your setup look like?
In the dj booth, cdjs, a xone 96 mixer, and my eventide effects pedal which my brilliant friend enamour put me on to years ago and it travels with me everywhere since.
In studio: ableton live, a moog sirin, korg minilogue xd, 303 and my trusty ableton push are my most used items at the moment. There’s a few other revolving pieces of gear but these are what my hands touch most.
What studio gear do you believe defines your sound?
I’ve gotten pretty nifty at writing music with my push, I love the hands on feel with any soft synths and the instant feedback. That, my 303 and the moog are choice. The 303 as a cv input makes for some really interesting patterns too.
Digital or Analog?
Honestly both in practice but analog all day if I have a choice. I need my hands on something to tweak out a sound I don’t even know I’m looking for half the time. Otherwise playing in plugins just doesn’t give that same satisfaction.
You have collaborated with Mustafa Ismaeel on this track. How did you connect and how was it working together for you?
We met while playing a show together in Colombia a couple years back and stayed in touch. When he came through my city, we spent some time together in the studio and a lightbulb went off with this song. When he came back with his first version of updates I couldn’t look back at how it was started. He nailed the new direction and we flew with it.
What has been your highlight gig this year?
Definitely playing the soundgarden event in Mendoza with Nick Warren. The venue was a stunning lake surrounded by mountains and vineyards. You couldn’t dream of a more picturesque scene, and the Argentine people have a club and music energy second to none. It was spectacular from beginning to end.
DJ’ing or Music Production?
I love DJing and really laid a foundation there, but music production is something different entirely.
The two are separate ways of connecting with yourself and other people. It’s like asking if I like cooking the food or eating it with everyone at the party. Both are necessary and I love them.
What can we expect from Dastan in the near future?
I’ve got a few more releases stated for this year so keep your ears tuned, they’re monsters! I’ll be proudly presenting the second edition of my festival Luna Obscura which takes place in Mexico, and has been touring around North America the last few months. It’s all very exciting really and we are just getting started.
Dastan & Mustafa Ismaeel single “Luft” is out now on The Soundgarden
Grab It Here
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