DJing for over a decade, Mazayr‘s passion for creating music stems from his earlier years as a drummer in his youth. A love for rhythm naturally translated to dance music and birthed a tireless focus on crafting his own sound as an electronic music producer.
Mazayr’s sound infuses a blend of emotional, uplifting and melancholic melodies, intertwined with punchy, solid grooves. His influences come from an eclectic mix of genres and this style has earned him debuts on such labels as The Purr, Cigarette Music and Canopy Sound with more exciting projects already in the pipeline.
We caught up with Mazayr ahead of his new release ‘Hypnose de la Lune’ which is out now on Musique de Lune Records.
1) Hey Mazayr! Great to meet you 🙂
Hey guys, thanks for having me! Great to be here.
2) Your bio tells me that you were a drummer in your youth? Do you think this
influenced how you compose your drums now?
I’m not sure there’s any stylistic influence – at least, none deliberately. The music I enjoy
now compared to when I played is quite different. However, there probably is some
subconscious muscle memory coming into play when I programme my drums – I think
percussion has the power to really transform the sound of a track. Plus, I read a lot of drum
sheet music back in the day, so getting a quick, basic pattern down for me to build on is kind
of second nature and helps with speed of production. I think (and hope) that, over time, I will
naturally explore more ways to bring my drumming background into the rhythms I create in
my music.
3) Do you still play the drums?
No, I would love to have a drum kit at home but I don’t have space. I have been known to
nip into a music shop on occasion and have a play around on the display kits when I get a
chance. When I next upgrade my studio, I’m tempted to get an electronic drum kit to see if
there’s any way I can integrate that into some of my productions. But for now, there’s no
place for playing drums… in my music production schedule, or my studio.
4) Your sound is often described as eclectic. Is this a conscious decision?
Yes and no. My overarching desire when I sit down in the studio is to create something a bit
cryptic or enigmatic – something you’re curious about, but you can’t quite put your finger on
why. I love music that sits across multiple sub-genres and pushes the boundaries; where you
wouldn’t know whether it was made yesterday or 20 years ago. I think that’s definitely a
conscious decision I make, to aim for that standard and avoid some of the stereotypical
trademarks of certain genres that are sometimes overused, whilst still creating a piece of
music you want more of. But, at the same time, it’s not something I think about every day or
while I’m producing. It’s in the back of my mind, but it doesn’t influence every creative
decision – that mantra is a feeling that comes when the whole picture comes together,
rather than something I think about when putting each building block in place. Each track is
a unique journey and you’re never sure where it will go as it develops. I try and let this
happen naturally and often finished work comes out slightly differently to how it started.
5) If you could have a record out on any record label, what would it be?
There are so many labels on my wish list, and they span a few different styles so I wouldn’t
want to pick just one. I think the main ones are some of the heavyweights that have
influenced me over the years such as Lost & Found, Sudbeat, The Soundgarden, Anjunadeep
and All Day I Dream.
6) Your “Hypnose de la Lune” release on Musique de Lune Records is fantastic. What track
did you enjoy making the most?
Thank you for the kind words – I’m super excited about this one! I must admit I’m still
learning to love some aspects of the production process, and some tracks can be a battle to
finish. However, Antares really did come together very organically for me (I find the ideas
that come to me quickest are often the ones that work the best). This one was a bit of a blur
over a few days, without too much tweaking and fiddling, and once I started to mixdown I
could tell it was one of my favourites.
7) What equipment did you use to record this E.P?
My Mac Mini, Sennheiser HD 25s (I pretty much exclusively use headphones, so I don’t wake
up the neighbours) and my Native Instruments Maschine MK3. I have a pretty stripped back
setup, which helps me stay focused!
8) What is your favourite bit of gear when you are writing tracks?
Big fan of my Maschine MK3. It’s incredibly versatile and I can be hands-on with it when
pushing sounds at the initial idea stage. This gives me options very early on in the creative
process of how the track could develop, which sparks ideas and sends you down different
paths.
9) You began hosting events under the ‘Right Frequency’ banner to showcase melodic house
music. Could you tell us abit more about this?
I started Right Frequency with my good friend and musical partner Rich Towers. We both
recognised early on in our friendship that we shared a similar taste in music, after mixing
together and sharing music with each other we developed a strong partnership behind the
decks. But, as time passed, we felt there was a genuine gap in Manchester for the more
melodic side of house music. We still think there is. The sound here is more often geared
towards techno and tech house, so we want to serve the people who look for a more
chilled, laid-back experience. We focus on free events and day parties around the north of
England if we can, but we’re still exploring how we could develop this and take it further.
10) Finally, what upcoming DJs/Producers should we be looking out for this year?
Great question! There are so many I could mention. I’ve been enjoying a lot of tracks from
Ric Niels, Beije, Deek That and Ranta recently. Another artist that I have to call out is
Amount. Although the tempo doesn’t always align with my usual style, I really love his
sound and am consistently drawn to his tracks.
Mazayr – Hypnose de la Lune is out now on Musique de Lune Records
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