Iranian DJ: Q&A with Amin Golestan
Spinning on a global scale for over four years, Iranian DJ, Amin Golestan, is a world-class, award-winning DJ whose career began at a young age in Dubai.
Fine-tuning his technique in the competitive DJ scene, while developing international tastes through travel, Amin has played in some of the world’s largest venues located in Moscow, Amsterdam, Miami, Dubai, Tokyo, Kiev, Ibiza, Rotterdam, Yalta, Abu Dhabi, and Kazantip.
After a string of winning awards, most notably the Palme DJ Competition and the Pioneer Asian DJ Competition in 2008, and being voted as the number one DJ in the Middle East and North Africa, Amin landed the much coveted cover of DJ Magazine in February of 2010.
After docking in New York City, Amin has taken the nightlife scene by storm with his patented, and popular, mix of deep techy-house, electro, and progressive melodies.
Amin has also expanded his offerings to music producing; releasing original and remixed music on some of the world’s best dance record labels: Ultra, Spinnin’, Audio Therapy, and Little Mountain.
He currently resides in New York City and entertains crowds internationally through his podcast on Soundcloud, Relocate.
Check out my Q&A with the popular DJ, below:
What’s been the inspiration behind your latest work?
I love big room sound and I wanted to do something that would work on a massive crowd and I think I was able to do that.
What other types of art are you involved in, if at all?
I love Photography as well, I’m not really involved professionally but I do it as a hobby.
What’s a typical day in the life of a DJ like you, like?
I usually like to work on music after breakfast. Depending on how the studio session goes it can take anywhere between 5-10 hours. In between I cook some food and then I head to gym. Every wednesday I go through the promos that I receive and I visit online shops to buy music.
Do you ever get tired of all the travel?
Not at all. Traveling is one of the main part of my job and when you do something that you love and it’s your passion there’s nothing tiring about it and all those tiring moments becomes enjoyment.
What instrument(s) do you play?
I play Piano, not professionally. I just know enough to help me with music production. Having a good ear [for] music production is a lot more important than knowing different instruments.
What’s the best thing about your job?
You get to travel, see the world, meet amazing people, and get paid for it. Every time passport control officer asks me if I’m “here for business or pleasure”, I say for both. I’m blessed to do what I love to do.
How long does it take you to create a song?
I create a two minute idea within a day but then I give it a couple of days and hear the song again and see if it still sounds good or not. Then I spend a day working on the arrangement. Having said that, there are some songs that took me two or three months to finish.
What is your process?
When I start working on a track I don’t really know what I’m going to work on. I just start and then it all comes together, but if I’m outside and I don’t have access to my computer and a melody comes to my mind I just record and sing the melody on my phone’s voice recorder.
What is the longest period of time you’ve spent spinning on stage?
Five hours in clubs but we’ve had a couple of after hours [events] that went on for ten hours.
Your favorite Persian song?
“Ameneh” by Andy. I remember singing this song when I was five years old.
Your favorite top three tracks?
“French Kiss” by Lil Louis
“These Days (Chable’s Those Days Mix)” by Petter
“All I Wanna Say” by Michael Jackson
Any current music obsessions?
When I’m at home I love listening to Hisham Zahran and Dana Bergquist’s live sets. I’m a big fan of their music.
Your top three music idols?
I love Danny Tenaglia and Carl Cox, their energy behind the decks is just brilliant and they’ve been on top for so many years. It’s incredible. Steve Lawler is another DJ that I really look up to. The way he builds up his sets is incredible.
Has your Iranian background influenced your music in any way?
Not really I love Persian music but I feel it doesn’t fit well into the sound that I’m working on. Maybe if I work on a downtempo deep house track I could fit it in.
Any words for our Iranian audience?
I just hope all Persians with any religious background and/or political views unite and support each other and help make our country a place that we truly deserve.
What are some of your favorite venues around the world?
Discoteque (Moscow), Womb (Tokyo) Cielo, (NY), Sanctuary (Dubai)
Do you travel to Iran?
I used to travel to Iran a lot when I was in school during the summer but it’s been six years that I haven’t been there.
Have you ever thought of spinning in Iran when/if possible?
Yes a lot actually and I think in the very near future we will all be able to perform in Iran, sooner than you think. I’d love to play in Tehran and my city Esfahan.
What’s next?
I’m busy with launching Relocate Records and I have so many great releases planned for the next 6 months so I’m gonna be pretty busy with the label at the moment.
