An Interview with Groundbreaking DJ/Producer Ummet Ozcan
Photo courtesy of Newjam Management
Electronic music maverick Ummet Ozcan blends ancient vocal arts with cutting-edge production in groundbreaking fusion
Ummet Ozcan is not your typical DJ.
He’s spent years producing his own music and mixing electronic melodies with acoustic instrumentation. He brought a twist to techno with a fusion of throat singing and ethnic melodies. He even developed his own audio programs as a contribution to the music industry. Ummet is a talented instrumentalist and producer, and his shows have evolved far past your ordinary EDM scene.
He grew up in the metropolis of dance music, the Netherlands, in the 80s. Ummet's first major breakthrough was in 2011 with the track Reboot, spending seven weeks as a number one hit on Beatport. A year later, he saw top hit success again with The Box, and went on to collaborate with W&W on The Code, becoming one of the most popular tracks at the Ultra Music Festival in 2013.
Today, Ummet has crossed the borders of his genre and added an ancient flavor to his sound. It’s a genius mix, and it works; people have been eating it up since the release of Altay, a collaboration between Ozcan and folk-pop group Otyken. He continues to expand his repertoire with his newest video, a cinematic beauty called The Forest Song.
Interview With Ummet Ozcan
It's becoming increasingly difficult to find an original voice in music production these days, but you've brought something really unique to dj production with the ancient art of throat singing. As soon as you released Xanadu, you blew up. We loved it.
Tell me... what made you focus your energy into such a unique idea- mixing Mongolian throat singing with modern techno? Do you ever get nervous about releasing something totally different like that?
I have always experimented with my voice. In my childhood I used to imitate race car sounds and later even the sounds that were used in Acid House records, that my brother brought home as he was a fan of that particular genre. Until recently I’ve never used it in my productions, but for Xanadu it was just a great match. I have always been very interested in ancient cultures and somehow Mongolian throat singing caught my attention. The time was just right to try and use this elements in a combination with dance music. At first I was a bit reluctant as it was something totally different, but as a producer I feel I have to push the boundaries so I decided to just release it and it worked out very well. It went viral on TikTok and it received great acclaim.
It takes imagination and skill to keep people moving and energized for hours at a time- do you have any special tricks or secrets that keep your shows so tight?
My sets are quite dynamic as it comes to energy. It’s important, at least for me, to have a good balance between the low and high energy moments. You can’t peak all time as it will drain the energy, so I usually apply breaks to take them down and slowly get them ready for the next peak. I have started to use various acoustic instruments to make these moments even more special. For instance when I play the flute it is like enchanting the crowd and leave them mesmerized for a moment. It’s something really new and an enrichment for my shows.
How important do you think it is to collaborate and network with other music artists?
It can be very beneficial as you create a cross connection with the fans of both artists, but above all it is a lot fun to get inspired by others and work together on something great. My collab with the indigenous band from Siberia, Otyken, is a perfect example of that. Teaming up and combining each others unique features creates a fresh and exiting approach. Also this release did exceptionally well.
Aside from just relying on TikTok, what would you suggest aspiring Djs and producers do to really build their audiences in 2024?
Be original, be creative, dare to walk the unpaved roads and explore uncharted musical territories. As a producer and artist you are obliged to always raise the bar and come up with new ideas.. In the end you will get rewarded for it.
For those out there feeling the urge to create something fresh, Ummet’s courageous and autonomous approach to building a sound he loves is a true inspiration. It’s hard to find a unique voice like this in our current climate, with the rise of purchased beat packages, quick AI music generation, and the pressure of pushing out content like a machine. Following his progressive work will prove to be a rewarding kind of motivation that lasts, and leaves an impression on anyone’s musical vocabulary.
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