Empathy Bank Holiday Special this Sunday
Part1 6pm - 10pm The Park
Part2 10pm - 4am Native (Omid16B)

Omid16B Interview


365MAG INTERVIEW: OMID 16B
Special: 365 Interview (2008-02-20)

One of the most persistent producers in todays progressive scene is Omid 16B. The south Londoner with Persian roots has established himself as an anchored producer with an impressive string of deep proggy tunes, as well as being an applauded DJ. Omid started his first labels Aloha and Disclosure back in the early nineties as an outlet for his own tunes, but quickly began releasing other artists such as Mr.C, Charles Webster and Vince Watson as well. His 1998 debut album Sounds From Another Room and its follow-up How To Live A 100 Years caused shockwaves in the progressive scene, labeling him as a far-ahead-of-his-time producer with a sound that holds the middle between progressive, deep house and techno. In 2002, Omid launched the SexOnWax imprint which shot him to the highest regions of the scene. Last month Omid released his third album entitled Like 3 Ears and 1 Eye, which saw major support by Laurent Garnier and Vince Watson among others. More than enough reason for 365Mag to tackle Omid for an in-depth interview about the love of music, his fling with Jean Michel Jarre's synth-work, his dislike of eating meat, and his passion for drumming.

How did you get into DJing initially?
I had a nasty pair of turntables from the age of 12 and played all sorts of 7inchs from pop, gothic to electro. When I turned 16 whilst I was still in a band I found myself more and more on dance-floors yet aware of the DJ in the booth with the tracks, so the performance aspect of being in a band linked with buying loads of tracks every week, then trying to make them myself, and eventually learning how to mix them, lead to my life as a DJ.

Who has influenced your musical career so far?
Jimmi Hendrix, The Cure, Depeche Mode, Jean Michel Jarre (the way he uses electronic instruments is just unbelievable).

With that in mind, who would you make a record with if you had a chance to choose?
I would love to produce the next album of The Cure, but if that isn't possible than I would like to make music with Robert Smith or Laurent Garnier or John Martin...well not 'or' ... would like to do different projects with all of them!

Which DJs have influenced you the most?
I would have to say Desyn Masiello, Mr. C, Danny Howells, Demi, Carl Cox, Craig Richards, Huw Lloyd and Sasha."

You have a new album on the street, curiously entitled Like 3 Ears and 1 Eye on UK label Sexonwax. What can we expect from the LP?
It's an idea ...a gentle suggestion in the art of patient truth and non judgment. It's made to put you through an experience in sounds and texture I have inside my head, which I've put together as harmoniously and naturally as I can for you to enjoy.

The way music is packaged and presented has changed. You gave the first part of your album away with a UK dance publication? Can you explain your reasons for this?
In some ways I feel that the universe guided me and made me take a risk with something that was very close to my heart. I tried to be as positive about it as I could be and hoped the outcome was going to be successful. I made the tracks with 100% love for what I do and I can only hope that people appreciated it being free and allow it to open up their minds and influence their productivity.

As a DJ you perform with Desyn and Demi (as SOS). Can you explain the setup/technical rider you have in the clubs? How is it different from performing alone?
Everything is multiplied by three technically, but the way its actually setup is far more psychic than I can explain, we take everything in our hands for all three of us so its less responsibility sometimes but also more at other times...whenever your on your own its just you and that's that.

You have played all over the world; where is the best club to play currently?
Anywhere in Holland because I just love that country...then it has to be Womb Tokyo.

We at 365Mag heard about you getting back into drumming - is this true?
Well, I got a Roland electronic drum kit for my birthday and I love it! I have been playing on it every day for at least two hours to remind myself of how I used to play when I was 16 and playing in a band (I stopped playing for 10 years). Now I am back on it and I am going to make it my aim to become the world's top drummer in the next year or so watch out for my Youtube clips!"

You have outspoken political views on many things, being particularly outspoken on the subject of eating meat? How and why did you come to this conclusion?
I used too, but as a kid I always hated it and never wanted to eat it and growing ups would try to trick me to eat it, but I used to spit it out. When I got older I started to slowly eat meat, but recently I realized I feel better (physically and karma-wise), if I don't participate in the way animals are being killed and treated. I believe as humans we have evolved enough to find another way to fill our stomachs or to at least treat the animals we want to eat with dignity and give them a life before being eaten.

The scene is more competitive than ever before with the advent of bedroom studios and Mac books. What is your advice to young musicians who are starting out now and want to get noticed in the scene?
Focus as much as u can on what you are doing, and whatever time you get, spent it in the studio working on your music. The more time you spent on things you want, the more chance for something unique to happen to you which will lead to your success.

To conclude, your whole life revolves around music. If you were not a DJ/producer, what else would you have become?
I loved playing football as a kid, I was a huge Liverpool fan and I was crazy about Kenny Dalglish. He was a true gentleman and one of the best players all time. He influenced me so much that I decided to be a football player. But my parents wanted me to learn to speak Farsi (Iranian language) and wanted me to go to school on Saturdays when training was. So I decided to take up playing guitar instead.

Can you tell 365Mag readers any funny on the road stories, either traveling or in the clubs?
I'm really boring these days and so well behaved I couldn't tell you any thing much except I'm always late when I'm being picked up for the gigs ....I'm always burning one more CD or just about to burn one more disc because last minute ideas don't stop rushing in my head. Recently I was playing with Layo and Bushwacka who had turned up with Matthew missing because he had lost his passport and therefore Layo was playing 30minutes into my set because of my burn fetish - he wasn't happy so I was like "cheer up Layo I gave you 30 minutes of my set and your still complaining!"

On behalf of 365Mag, many thanks for your time Omid! Like 3 Ears and 1 Eye is out now on UK label Sexonwax.

had a listen to Like 3 ears and one eye on the way to the airport in car, lookin forward to him playing

had a listen to Like 3 ears and one eye on the way to the airport in car, lookin forward to him playing

its gonna be awesome!!!!

Nice little read :)

I'm really boring these days and so well behaved I couldn't tell you any thing

That's a little lie if I every heard one though! I can't imagine Omid sitting at home with pipe and slippers.