This post is also available in: Nederlands (Dutch)
We met in 2014. In 2015 we spoke about his first gig in 2016 we did a feature interview. When two curly heads meet… Oded Nir about his first gig: "I was extremely nervous and had been practicing for weeks."
“My first gig was in 1990. I was only fifteen, lived in Tel Aviv and was asked to play at a school party. I had to work with a double taperecorder, a single turntable and a CD-player. It was an amazing experience! I still remember what tracks I played that evening Ride on Time, Pump Up The Volume and for the slow dances Sinaed O’Connor with Nothing Compares To You.”
“When I was seventeen, I completely switched to instrumental music. I specialized in the bass guitar. Soon I was playing in rock, metal and rhythm & soul bands. My first gig as a bass guitarist was in the spring of 1994 in Tel Aviv with a rhythm & soul singer/songwriter type of band. I was so nervous that I couldn’t sleep the night before. As a consequence, I did make a few mistakes on stage and nobody was amused.” (laughs)
DJ roots
“When I was thirty I returned to my DJ roots. I started producing my own tracks. My style is chillout and downtempo. This meant that I had to adapt my way of performing to the music. I had to depend on the skills that I had developed when I was a fifteen-year-old boy.”
Extremely nervous
“My first gig new style was in 2005, once more in Tel Aviv. The location was a beach club called Sakaya. I was extremely nervous and had been practicing for weeks. I prepared my set at home and I spent hours playing in my gym. They had DJ gear that I was allowed to use.”
Mother
“The crowd at Sakaya were mostly people in their twenties and thirties. I was so happy that my family were present in 1994 and now once more. It was nice to feel supported. My scariest supporter is my mother though. Whenever she will attend one of my performances, I’m extra nervous. Last time she saw and heard me play was in Kitchen & Bar van Rijn in Amsterdam (NL).”
Production error
“Although also this time my set wasn’t flawless, in hindsight I was pretty happy with it. It directly led to a residency in Club Sakaya. I stayed a resident there until I moved to Amsterdam in 2006. By now, I have learned that there’s nothing wrong with making mistakes. Just don’t dwell on them and learn from them, so you won’t make them again. In the end, it’s the experience that counts. A DJ or really any other artist wins most by performing as many times as possible for all types of crowds. It’s important to learn to correct your mistakes. Some of my own tracks actually are the result of a production error.” (laughs)
“I wanted to highlight these three gigs because they are the fundament for my present experience. I use everything I have ever learned in the past. I perform with Ableton, bass guitar and synthesizer. I combine my youth with my adulthood. This way the circle is complete.”
Last picture: credit Juliana Bruel
This interview with Oded Nir is originally published in Dutch on Thursday April 30th 2015 on DJMag.nl.
Who is Oded Nir?
Oded Nir is an Amsterdam-based chill out/ lounge producer / DJ with a driving beat as also the main man behind Suntree Records. For many years he has brought his unique style and enthusiastic stage presence to events throughout Europe. Participating in world famous events as the Cannes Midem festival in 2006 – 2011, performing live at the Amsterdam Dance Event 2008 – 2013, in 2012 visiting China for a show at Ibiza Club and a Sunday talk show on Dong-Guan TV, Oded Nir is no stranger to the International music scene.
Born in Tel-Aviv, Israel, his music productions stem from the early 90’s. After years of studio and stage performance as a much sought after bass player Oded Nir moved exclusively into producing/composing music. His early influences were Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Sade, The Police and many more. However, after rapidly developing his skills into the down-tempo electronic world he found himself influenced by the likes of Kruder & Dorfmeister, Massive Attack, Tosca, Timewriter and Jazzanova.
With his background as a musician, Oded Nir is able to create original sounds and blends which can be found on his release of ‘Midnight Snacker’, his first full length record brought to you by Suntree Records(NL). Ever since things have gone a warp speed for Oded Nir. His debut album that followed by the EP’s: ‘Moon Light’, ‘Jack Attack’ & ‘Midnight Snacker The Remixes’ also includes remixes from worldwide leading producers of the genre, such as: Richard Earnshaw, Dutchican Soul, The Timewriter, JT Donaldson & many more. These releases literally shot up to the top sale charts of the biggest online shops such as I-Tunes(NL), Traxsource (USA), Beatport (USA) and Wasabeat (JP)
To keep closely in touch with the live feeling of the international dance crowd, as a live musician and as a seasoned bass player, Oded Nir continuous to perform around the globe successfully with his band that includes Amsterdam’s King Dread James (Lead singer from the ‘Midnight Snacker’ Album) and classically trained female singers. The album ‘Midnight Snacker’ contains these live-elements which has become one of Oded Nir’s trademark sounds over the years. As a DJ, he performs all over especially in Spain, Belgium, Germany, Portugal, and of course the Netherlands, thrilling the audience repeatedly with an eclectic and sensual mix of trip-hop, lounge, soulful beats and cool chill-out.
Many weekends are filled for Oded Nir with residencies at Amsterdam’s finest high–end lounge locations. Last but not least, it should be noted that more original tracks and remixes are coming to you from Oded on labels such as Soul Kendi, Arrecha Records, Soul Deluxe & Suntree Records, so stay tuned!