Damien K. Sahri is a young artist from NYC. Producer, dj and engineer, music has been his passion for a long time. Living in Paris, Los Angeles, Brooklyn, Buenos Aires and Berlin, he plays, organizes and takes part of the major underground events of the world. Through his travels, Damien K. Sahri is always offering a unique vision of electronic music to experienced crowds around the world. His minimal grooves are based on a modern blend of very different types of sound. He gets his influence from various cultural backgrounds and always manages to blend heavy, bassy hypnotic techno music to a wide diversity of sonic references from the four corners of the world. Damien K. Sahri gets his inspiration from the dance floor and countless hours of partying in the best clubs of the world but also from his trips and all the different kinds of cultural experiences he has gone through. In collaboration with a lot of upcoming artists, Damien K. Sahri is undeniably someone you should follow from up close. He will continue his progression towards the peeks of musical evolution and his passion for music and partying promises you many more nights of mayhem and other mental getaways.
Music is one of these things that everyone can emotionally and / or physically relate to at one point or another. It’s within each and everyone on us and is therefore absolute and universal.
Tzinah Records: So how did all begin for you?
Damien K. Sahri: It all began gradually. Got my first technics at 15 and never stopped after that.
Tzinah Records: Where did your name came from?
Damien K. Sahri: My name is the one my mother gave me.
Tzinah Records: What role does the artist have in society in your opinion? Why do you do what you do?
Damien K. Sahri: I do what I do because I love it but also because music is one of these things that everyone can emotionally and / or physically relate to at one point or another. It’s within each and everyone on us and is therefore absolute and universal.
Tzinah Records: Why did you chose to play this music?
Damien K. Sahri: I didn’t choose it. I just listened and got carried away…
Tzinah Records: Describe a real-life situation that inspired you.
Damien K. Sahri: Loosing everything and building it back up.
Tzinah Records: What is your point of view on labeling genres? Music is so complex and genres get intermingled so often these days. What is your opinion regarding this blend and you think we should find names for them or just let them be?
Damien K. Sahri: Labeling genres is just helping us to communicate. While you cannot show music as it is intangible, names for different genres are just tools to narrow down the style of the music you are talking about. The more you know what you influences are the better you can describe (with words) your music. I find it helpful to describe music not only with associated genres but also with similar artists.
Tzinah Records: What do you think about the music scene in your country? What is your opinion about European underground music scene, new talents, old producers, what do you think about Romanian artists?
Damien K. Sahri: I live in Berlin and i think it’s the capital for this music but i have to say that Bucharest is getting strong right behind us ! Europe is amazing for for new talents and spreading this beautiful movement toward different cultures and horizons but the good old guys are from where it all started: US of A
Tzinah Records: If you could pick one place you would like to play where would it be and why?
Damien K. Sahri: Carnegie Hall, the Bolchoi or the Garnier Palace.
Tzinah Records: If you had the opportunity to change something about the music industry what would it be?
Damien K. Sahri: My Salary.
Tzinah Records: Out of all tunes you have made, which one you think ‘never fails’?
Damien K. Sahri: “Rock on the Moon” VELVET records
Tzinah Records: How do you see yourself changed over the years, both personal and music-wise and what did you learn?
Damien K. Sahri: My learning is constant and so is my evolution. I have changed in many ways and will continue to do so.
Tzinah Records: What inspires you to keep going and how do you keep yourself motivated?
Damien K. Sahri: Getting better at what I do and bring more people together on my music.
Tzinah Records: What else do you do besides playing music?
Damien K. Sahri: I’m a break dancer, astro-physicist and a pickle jar collector.
Tzinah Records: What makes you angry?
Damien K. Sahri: Idiocy
Tzinah Records: What is your favorite food?
Damien K. Sahri: Couscous and pata-negra (not together of course)
Tzinah Records: What computer/gear do you use?
Damien K. Sahri: Thats a secret.
Tzinah Records: It sounds quite easy to make music today, with the amount of software programs/synths being readily available for everyone. What do you think about this evolution?
Damien K. Sahri: It’s not what you have, it’s what you do with what you have.
Tzinah Records: Dark electronic music has been never as “popular” throughout the scene as it has been in the past few years. Why do you think there is this newfound fascination for darker music?
Damien K. Sahri: Dark music has always existed, shamanists and tribes have been singing satanist songs for millenniums. Why has it recently become popular ? I don’t know, maybe because dark heavy bass is just fcking sexy…
Tzinah Records: Do you have the fondness for playing vinyl or have you developed a preference for new media, such as CDs or a purely digital format?
Damien K. Sahri: I play with everything.
Tzinah Records: What are you working on at the moment? Any present and future projects that you want to share with us? Damien K. Sahri: Working on an album ! It will include perceptual references to different colors in order to ally sound and imagery. More info TBA.