Part 1

Name: Daao
Occupation: Composer, producer
Nationality: Armenian
Current release: Daao's Home is out now.
Recommendations: So recently I’ve read Siddhartha by Herman Hesse which is a great book to read. Also recently I listen a lot to Nik Bartsch and his band performances and it is really interesting music to hear.

[Read our Nik Bärtsch interview]

If you enjoyed this Daao interview and would like to stay up to date with his music, visit him on Instagram, Facebook, and Soundcloud.



When I listen to music, I see shapes, objects and colours. What happens in your body when you're listening? Do you listen with your eyes open or closed?

For many years, I didn't really feel much when listening to music. I guess it was because I was closed off to the world, not open to it. It wasn't just with music; I wasn't allowing myself to be vulnerable and truly feel the emotions in those moments. So, for all those years, I suppose only my subconscious mind held onto that information, waiting for the day when I would be mature enough to experience what I had missed before.

Over time, it naturally unfolded, but the significant contribution to this transformation was my growth as daao, reaching a point where I could genuinely appreciate art in any form, whether it's music, film, or architecture. Now, as someone who is obsessed with movies and visual communication, the combination of music and videos sparks my imagination. When I listen to music, my mind creates vivid movie-like worlds that I can see in my head. It often provides valuable material to develop ideas or simply draws inspiration from.

So, I guess you could say I see movies when I listen to music. Sometimes, when the music is exceptionally good, I even close my eyes, and in those moments, I see nothing; I just hear the sounds.

What were your very first steps in music like - and how do you rate gains made through experience versus the naiveté of those first steps?

From as far back as I can remember, music has always been a part of my life, even until calling myself daao.  It was just around the corner or I was on the corner of music. I can't exactly pinpoint how it all happened, but I believe it was a combination of various events. Even as a young child, I found myself singing along to complex tunes, even though they were challenging. Surprisingly, I could catch onto them easily, and my parents and grandparents would express their amazement and joy. I absolutely loved it.

I have vivid memories of my grandfather's small tape player. We would spend sunny days at his place, where he would frequently play his collection of jazz and blues mixtapes. As he listened, he would tap along with the music, demonstrating his admiration for these compositions. He would often tell me that jazz is a genre that cannot be replicated, as each performance by a band is a unique and fresh experience.

These early experiences, combined with moments like watching the movie "The Legend of 1900" and falling in love with Ennio Morricone's compositions like "Playing Love" and "The Crave," greatly influenced me. I was around 13 years old at the time, and it left a profound impact on me.



During this period, I was attending a music school, and I vividly recall my strong desire to learn and play these compositions. I tried convincing my teacher to incorporate them into the school curriculum, but unfortunately, she wasn't interested. Instead, I took it upon myself to learn them independently, albeit many years later. To be honest, I didn't enjoy my time at the music school. It was a strict post-Soviet institution that slowly stifled my passion for music. This led me to make a pivotal decision to leave the school.

Afterward, I didn't touch my piano or think about pursuing music for a period of four years. Looking back, I see it as a turning point in my life. Life presented me with challenges, and I made a choice that set me on this journey. Through this journey, I discovered the compositions of Claude Debussy, Aram Khachatryan, Erik Satie, Arno Babajanyan, and others when I was around 14 or 15 years old.

Quitting music school was one of the best decisions I made because it allowed me to break free from the restrictive environment and reignite my admiration for music. To be honest, now thinking about all this stuff I feel like life gave me the impulse and gave me the first struggle after living through that I’ve made a choice and so the journey began.

According to scientific studies, we make our deepest and most incisive musical experiences between the ages of 13-16. What did music meant to you at that age and what’s changed since then?

Of course, I fell in love for the first time at 13 I think, and then one more time at 14 and, so for sure my first heartbreak and things like that which of course were accompanied by music.

It’s a specific time period in my life because I remember I was enjoying putting on heavy emotional music and crying to that. That is super weird for me now but I was enjoying it. And it was I think the first process of putting the seed which later will become daao.

By that time I was listening to a lot to this composition by Ennio Morricone “Playing Love”



So one thing changed for sure: I was consuming music back then. Now, music consumes me. But it guided me, too, and taught me things that later became part of daao.

Over the course of your development, what have been your most important instruments and tools and how have they shaped your perspective on music?

Throughout my journey of musical development, the piano has played a crucial role as my primary instrument. It was my initial point of interaction with music and its various forms.

However, as I delved into music production, my perspective shifted significantly. I became immersed in the world of computers, which became my second most important tool. Working with digital audio workstations and exploring the realm of electronic music allowed me to adapt to screens and electronics, shaping my understanding of crafting sounds in a digital landscape.

Interestingly, after a period of focusing solely on computers, the piano made a comeback in my musical arsenal. Drawing from my classical piano background, exposure to jazz, and even experimentation with hip-hop, I found a way to merge these diverse influences. Discovering genres like house, techno, and funk further expanded my musical horizons. I began to view the piano not only as a melodic instrument but also as a percussive tool, adding rhythmic elements and serving as a foundation for my compositions.

While the specific tools I've used have played a role in shaping my music, I believe it's the combination of these tools with the vast amount of musical knowledge and experiences I've absorbed over the years that truly shapes the sound which now my friends call the way daao sounds.

I don’t know yet what they actually mean but I think I will understand soon.

What, would you say, are the key ideas behind your approach to music and what motivates you to create?

The key ideas that drive my approach to music revolve around communication, connection, and personal growth. Music is my language to express emotions, connect with others, and explore the depths of life, love, and human experiences. I find motivation in intense moments, discomfort, and the ever-changing nature of life. It is during these transformative processes that I draw inspiration and translate them into my music.

Interestingly, both of my albums were written and produced while I was traveling. This nomadic lifestyle and exposure to diverse environments have played a significant role in shaping my creative process. The experiences and encounters during my journeys fuel my motivation and provide a constant stream of inspiration.

Ultimately, the driving force behind my music is the desire to communicate, connect, and grow both as an artist and as an individual. It is through my music, as daao, that I strive to create meaningful connections and share my perspective with the world.

Paul Simon said “the way that I listen to my own records is not for the chords or the lyrics - my first impression is of the overall sound.” What's your own take on that and how would you define your personal sound?

Until the age of 20, my focus in music was primarily on melodies, grooves, and the overall mood of the compositions. Lyrics didn't play a significant role for me during that time.

However, as I entered my twenties, I adopted a more professional approach to listening. I began diving into my favorite artists' albums, aiming to grasp the deeper meaning and understand the bigger picture behind their music. It was during this period that I also learned to appreciate and pay attention to lyrics.

Nevertheless, despite my increased appreciation for lyrics, my fundamental way of listening to music remained unchanged. Even now, when I listen to a song, I immerse myself in the entire sonic experience, focusing on various elements that capture my attention. It could be the bassline groove, the interplay of percussion, or the combination of lyrics and rhythm. As daao sound is primarily driven by grooves and unconventional melodies rather than lyrics, the overall feeling and sonic landscape are what I envision and emphasize.

Even after completing a composition, I continue to listen to it as a holistic sonic experience.

Sound, song, and rhythm are all around us, from animal noises to the waves of the ocean. What, if any, are some of the most moving experiences you've had with these non-human-made sounds? In how far would you describe them as “musical”?

I remember the joy I experienced when thinking about sleeping with the window open during summer.

Even now, I love urban sounds, such as car horns and people talking outside, especially at night. It feels safe to me, and when these urban sounds blend with the chirping of birds in the morning, it creates a magical experience that is definitely musical.