Welcome to our new “Artist Spotlight” series, where a diverse range of artists will be interviewed and featured, plus you can find out what their favorite pizza toppings are! The interviews aim to bring compelling people in the music industry into the spotlight and highlight some of the work they are doing.
Today we’ll be talking with Dastan about his journey into music and what he’s working on through the quarantine.
Dastan (Persian: داستان dâstân, meaning “story” or “tale”) is a resident DJ in Washington, D.C. He is accredited as an innovator in the D.C. underground scene, and his fans love him for his captivating presence and music that has a strong middle eastern and tribal flair.
Where are you from? Where did you grow up?
I was born in Los Angeles, CA and grew up between California, and Maryland Bi-Coastal.
How are you doing today?
I’m doing absolutely phenomenal. The birds are chirping, my cat is snoozing above my keyboards, and I have a nice cup of green tea in my hands.
Covid-19 is impacting so many different people and industries right now. How is it impacting you in particular?
It’s forced me to find new ways to share and connect with people in a meaningful way. It made me realize how precious the ecosystem that I chose to live and work in is, and to be creative in figuring out how to make a living pursuing art. The short answer is, all the shows I was booked for for the year are cancelled so I’ve got a lot of time to ponder.
How are you spending your quarantine days?
I worked entirely on my own schedule since I left corporate work years ago, so the timetable and daily schedule hasn’t changed. It’s my weekends that have transformed. I’m waking up, having my jolt of caffeine, and spending time creating music, practicing piano, or working on ways to reach people and bring them experiences in a safe and fun way.
How do you like your pizza?
Big toss up here. Either extremely simple with basil and tomato or, with macaroni and cheese on top.
Any TV show or movie recommendations?
Amadeus from 1984. It’s a great trip into the mind of an artist who was ostracized for his views.
What/who inspired/inspires you?
People honestly expressing themselves. It’s the hardest thing to do.
What is one message you would give to your fans/the community?
Continue dancing, smiling, and doing things that fill your heart with love. It’s important not to lose sight of ourselves during these times.
If it wasn’t for your music career, what would you be doing right now?
I’d be cooking or working with my hands it another way. Any way to bring beautiful experiences to people.
Do you get nervous before your performances?
Every time, almost every show has butterflies and jitters that require a tequila shot!
What genre of music do you listen to when you’re just chillin’?
I almost exclusively have tunnel vision with the genres of music that I consume. I usually listen to deep house, progressive, and techno on repeat all the time. There’s so much to catch up on that it’s never a lack of music.
Has your musical journey had a strategic direction, or did it evolve in whatever direction it went?
It was naturally a bit of both. I started out in a totally different place than I currently am in. Every year I see more and more strategic growth that gets coupled with what you might call natural direction. There’s a great book that was recommended to me called The Surrender Experiment that helped me learn how to decide if opportunities and directions that are presented, will help direction and further the artistic vision.
Thank you Dastan! Follow Dastan’s SoundCloud page for his latest music, and you can follow him on Instagram for more updates.
Stay tuned in the next coming months for more Artist Spotlight posts.
Techno & Pizza 