Insight Interview: Nare

Following a brief hiatus from music production, Spanish producer Nare dropped an epic comeback single on Monday. Their efforts to focus on a unique style of music has only enhanced their creativity and execution, with their latest single ‘Freedom’ showcasing their new approach and technical prowess.

 

Please tell us about yourself in a few words (who you are, where you’re from, what you do etc.).  

My real name is Dani, but I’m better known as Nare. I was born in 1995 in Madrid (Spain) and I’m a musician: producer, pianist and guitarist.

When I was 12 I started playing the electric guitar and some years later decided to give it a try with my sister’s piano that she actually never played. I could say I am 100% self-taught talking about instruments and about music production. I wanted to record my own music and I started looking for some DAWs, and… here I am!

Meanwhile, I’m also studying Psychology… But that’s my plan B.

What is the story behind the origin of your artist name?  

When I was younger I used to paint graffiti and “Nare” was my graffiti name so… I didn’t need to think too much about it. I still paint and draw, but not on walls anymore.

Please describe your music for us.

If there was a word I’d use to describe not just my music, but also me in terms of music, it would definitely be “versatility”. I get bored surprisingly fast, so I can’t stick it to just one genre or style. I’ve produced several genres and vibes that range from Deep House, Techno, Future Garage, EDM, Trap… to Heavy Metal or Indie music. However, these last years I’ve been growing up as an artist, and I started to try and give a common direction to my music, and that’s embodied in being emotional.

Do you try to express something tangible through your music? A particular mood or feeling perhaps?  

Absolutely. I think music without feelings is nothing. It can sound nice, but without a story, a context or something to tell, it’s empty… I think that’s why I kind of hate this new mainstream music era. Too much empty music, although I believe it’s just because our society evolved to that, rapid and easy consumption, it’s just a reflection of what we are as a society.

I wasn’t looking for a particular feeling as I am doing right now with my upcoming projects, but my main goal is to make you feel something, whatever it could be.

Who are your major musical influences?

Since I create music I can’t listen to it the same way I used to when I didn’t, because I can’t stop analysing it. I’m probably more influenced by the music I don’t produce than by the one I do. For example, Heavy Metal, Punk or Hardstyle, as I can enjoy it better without paying attention to how it’s made. But of course, I also do enjoy emotional music a lot.

As far as my most influential artists, they are really different between them, but I’d say: Haux, Vacant, Bring Me The Horizon, Above & Beyond, Knuckle Puck, Madeon, UMEK, Nicolas Jaar, Lauv, Linkin Park, Blink-182, Maceo Plex, Deadmau5, Tash Sultana, Burial, Normandie, Illenium, Pink Floyd, Nuages, Jayeem, Teflon Sega and last but not least nothing, nowhere.

 

 

How long have you been producing, can you describe the moment when you first realised you wanted to make music?

I think it was in 2013 when I started college. I didn’t like what I was studying, so I began getting more and more into music, and unknowingly also into the worst time of my life, cause I felt really lost…  It was frustrating because I discovered by chance (better say boredom) what I liked the most, but I didn’t know whether or not I could make a living out of it without studying pre-established degrees…

Something deep inside of me always told me that I could do it, and I still think the same, but I feel completely different now, the only thing I needed was really working for it. I think I wanted this in my life from the very first day I opened my first project and realised what I could express without saying anything, and that’s what I love about instrumental music.

Tell us a little about your current studio setup (equipment, software etc..)

I still produce with the same computer I started with. It’s a 2010 iMac 21”, but it’s getting old so I’ll probably need to change it if I want to keep moving forward. My production equipment has always been really humble besides that computer, no monitors, just a 5.1 surround system I rarely use for obvious reasons. I mean, it’s ok if you are getting started, but it’s not for me anymore. I’d rather do car tests!

Music production includes headphones (Sennheiser Amperior), an M-AUDIO KEYSTATION 49, Steinberg UR242, Yamaha Clavinova CVP-301, and FL Studio. I sometimes use Ableton and Logic too, but I work with FL as main DAW because it’s easier for me and I really like the piano roll and workflow.

I’m planning to buy some music gear but I don’t have the money yet.

I was tired of all my excuses and I wanted to feel free again. I think I’m not the only one feeling that way, and with everything that’s happening with our world right now, I decided to recover an old unfinished project I had – Nare

How has your music evolved since you first began producing?  

Well, I started producing Deep House and mainstream music (EDM) and now I’m doing something totally different so… Yeah, I still love doing it and I’m planning to release more stuff like that in the near future, but now I have by far more knowledge about everything, not just as a producer, also as a composer, as I improved my composing abilities and sound quality. I’m open-minded, so I’m not down to doing something concrete my whole life. I’ll do whatever I need I feel at that moment.

What can you tell us about your latest single release ‘Freedom’? What are your thoughts and concept behind your comeback single?

I was late-night talking with a friend and I spotted an IG post reminding that Øfdream passed away last year, which I didn’t know since I’ve been really disconnected… Actually I didn’t know how to feel about that besides from being sad, but when watching and listening to some tribute videos to him I realized the importance of transcending in life. I always wanted to give something to the world and I forgot about it at some point of my career.

I don’t know what happened to me this year but I got my motivation back. I stopped thinking about money and views and I just recovered my main goal in life and music. But you know, you are what you do, not what you say you’ll do…

Actually, I will say that I think I know a part of what has happened to me this year… I’ve never had to sacrifice anything really valuable for me in my life for a greater good, like the majority of European or first world countries, since we are supposed to have the opportunity to live “easy lives” (not all of us, of course). But at some point, something changed in my life, and I started losing myself…

 

 

I just spent time hanging out with my friends, getting wasted and partying, like a lot of people do nowadays, but that was not for me. I wasn’t happy and felt without an identity, so I decided to change and start respecting myself and my body and start working out, eating healthy and discovered weightlifting. That definitely showed me amazing values such as hard work, sacrifice, patience, humbleness… I’ve been able to extrapolate that to my music and my new life.

I was tired of all my excuses and I wanted to feel free again. I’m not the only one feeling that way, and with everything that’s happening with our world right now, I decided to recover an old unfinished project I had. With all that in mind, I wanted to create something bigger than just a track. I wanted to tell a story and put together things that represent freedom best for me and interact with the world, so… What is freedom to you?

 

 

Did you perhaps venture into new techniques or a production style to achieve the sound you did in the single?

Yes, I started reading about mixing and mastering and watching tutorials from other people. In the past few months, I’ve learnt a lot about EQ’ing and compression so I’ve realised the importance of knowledge and good mixing. I read this quote a long time ago, it wasn’t even related to music, I remember it was about some gym stuff I saw on Instagram, and all of a sudden something clicked in my mind.

I don’t know who wrote this but it’s still in my head, and I’m glad took a screenshot of the text just in case. Maybe I’m here now writing these lines because of this post:

I wasn’t creative enough until I learned a ton of information within my field. Before you try to think outside the box, you had better study that box very well. Trying to be creative without lots of established knowledge is not being productive: it’s playing pretend.

What’s on the horizon for you musically?

Can’t tell something tangible right now because they are all ideas, but all I can say is that I’m going for it and I’m ready to make music again, maybe more than ever!

Best advice you were given in regards to having a music career?

It wasn’t given specifically to me but I think is a really good one. It was said by Garabatto, a Spanish music producer, and talking about giving… Don’t give without asking, and don’t ask without giving.

And finally, any advice you can share with those just starting out?  

I will say what I wish I was told back then, and that is: take it easy and be objective to yourself about what you can and can’t do. Do not rush and be humble because there’s a lot you still don’t know and get as much knowledge you can. Look around yourself, people can teach you more than you think.

Do not stop working, that’s the only key to success, not the talent.

You can support Nare on Soundcloud // Spotify // Bandcamp // Instagram // Facebook // Twitter

 

[ethereumads]