| Photography: David Goldstein |
Brainheart, the nickname of independent music producer, songwriter and DJ Roi Zohar aka Brainheart, achieved worldwide success upon his solo debut. Discover the world It was a massive hit, winding up with over 3 million streams on Spotify and over 530,000 reels on Instagram. Exposed to classical music at the age of four, Brainheart was inspired to take up piano at the age of fifteen not knowing that DJing and music production would influence his life from then on. After he struggled in the school system, music began as a way to distract himself from the struggles of school but soon became so much more than that.
His latest single Near You, which features the dreamy vocals of singer-songwriter Annika, finds the talented artist continuing to showcase his production skills by delivering a dreamy piece of electronic dance music perfect as the soundtrack to summer vacation. I was fortunate enough to get the chance to ask him a few questions so we could get to know him a little better. Check it out below!
How did you get started in music production, and what inspired you to pursue it as a career?
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| Photography: David Goldstein |
His first exposure to music was at the age of four. This is because my mom used to listen to classical and orchestral music. She fell in love with all musical instruments, especially the piano, violin, and cello. The great thing about music is that it is a universal language and it connects people from all over the world. Over the years, I’ve fallen in love with more genres, especially electronic dance music. I remember the first time I watched Tomorrowland, and I was hooked. I struggled so hard with the school system and felt like I was wasting my time. I taught myself how to play the piano at the age of 15, and honestly, that was one of the best decisions I ever made. I still have a lot to learn, and I’m getting better every day. Music started as a way to distract myself from the struggles at school and social life, but it quickly became so much more than that. A year later, I started making music and knew I had found my purpose. Everything I have ever done and chose to do with my life has revolved around music and following my dreams. All I want to do is set an example of perseverance and strength. I’m so grateful for everything I’ve been able to achieve and I know this is just the beginning for me so far. I have had the privilege of touching the hearts of millions of people with my music, and I know I will be very successful one day. Nothing makes my heart explode with love and light more than sharing my music with the world and accepting it with open arms.
99% of the time I start with the melody. I improvise on the piano until I find good pitch and chord progressions. Then I start to produce and add sains, guitars, violins, cellos, percussions, etc. I always collaborate with other singers because, unfortunately, I can’t sing; My voice is terrible. Therefore, I find great singers on social media or music platforms. I get inspiration from many things, but I believe the strongest sources of inspiration come from travel, movies, and music festivals/concerts.
Can you describe your signature style, and how you differentiate yourself from other producers/DJs in the industry?
I can’t define my music by genre because I always like to experiment with different sounds and styles of music. I mainly produce electronic dance music, but I love pop, soft rock and acoustic songs. My goal is to create a catalog that is versatile and interesting. I don’t want to create repetitive music with the same sounds and structure. In the past, I always did EDM, but now I’m more open to experimenting with different things, techniques, and genres. These techniques are hard to learn but they are so fun and challenging, I just love them! I want to surprise myself and my listeners by taking them on a fun musical journey. I do my best to create emotional music and interesting melodies with powerful and meaningful lyrics (regardless of genre).
Your song of the year 2019 “Discover the world“It was a massive success. How did it feel to have a viral song, and what was your initial reaction to the sudden attention and recognition that came with it? How did you manage to succeed and get noticed, and what did you learn from that experience?”
This song holds a special place in my heart. It means the world to me, especially because I wrote it with my amazing and talented sister. It was a pleasure to work with her; The process was fun and happened naturally. “Explore The World” was different because my sister traveled to the Philippines 3 years ago, and I told her I wanted to create a travel song and release it when she got home. She wrote the verse and sent it to me, and I fell in love with it and wrote the chorus. When she came home, we literally finished singing in 30 minutes. I produced, mixed and mastered the track and we released it at the end of 2019. This is the first song I’ve ever released, and I never expected it to be huge. The song started to take off just a year after its release. People started using it on their Instagram videos, and it went viral. I never thought my first song would go viral! This song touches so many people, and I am so grateful for that. It was great to see the message in the song have such a profound impact on people. I was in such a strange place in life when this song came out. The success of this song gave me confidence. It made me think I was good enough and that I had to keep going no matter what.
What were some of the biggest challenges you faced in your career, and how did you overcome them?
Mental health is the biggest challenge for me. I mean some days I’m at rock bottom, some days I feel like I’m on top of the world. Many musicians have mental health problems. When I say “I need a break,” it’s not and never will be from the music industry, it’s from all things outside of the creative process. I get transparent about how I feel because I know people need people. And in this world of so many feelings, conditions, and experiences, it’s okay to feel everything at once or nothing at all. Fortunately, the music industry doesn’t drain or distract me from working on my mental health, it guides me. I always remind myself that when you think you’ve hit rock bottom, you probably look up and see that you’ve been falling in the opposite direction all this time. And everything works out, trust your instincts, trust the universe, and the light will come. Today I feel good. I feel strong, motivated, hopeful and grateful. But I also get tired, my body hurts, I have so much stuff on my plate right now, and life seems to go by so fast with no control. I always plan, anticipate, and prepare for the future sometimes I don’t even realize that what I’ve been waiting for is right here in front of me.
How do you manage your time and prioritize your projects as a music producer/DJ?
Unfortunately, I can’t perform yet so I’m focusing on producing new songs.
What advice would you give to aspiring music producers / DJs who are just starting out in the industry?
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| Photography: David Goldstein |
Always remember that life is fragile, and we only live once. We don’t have to obey. We don’t have to adhere to an ideology that is placed upon us just because someone says so. No matter who you are, you can have a voice, and you can have a say. You can break the rules. Dare to dream big and set your goals high. Every time you fail, you get one step closer to success. I know it sounds crazy, but it’s the truth. The world works in mysterious ways. If you have any plans or little ideas in your head about who you want to be, where you want to go, or what you want to do, just make your own rules, take no for an answer, listen to your gut, and have endless faith in yourself. The prize is the achievement of reaching your destiny. And your destiny is the most important thing. Trust the process, trust the future, and trust life.
What are your goals and future plans for your musical career, and how do you hope to develop as an artist over time?
The biggest goal is to get an artist visa. I really want to move to the United States. It’s very complicated, but I think I’ll get it someday. I think I will have many opportunities there to develop my music career. So, the plan is to continue making music and touching people’s hearts and souls. My songs are a testament to my limitless creativity, with each track carefully crafted to explore the depths of my feelings and human experience. I am proud to be a passionate advocate for mental health and self-care, using my platform to promote positive messages and encourage my supporters to prioritize their own well-being. I want to continue to grow my social networking and fan base. I want to develop and become a better version of myself – as a musician and as a human being.
Are you currently working on new music, and if so, what can your fans expect from your upcoming releases? Are there any particular themes or styles that you are exploring in your new work?
I’m working on new music and I can’t wait to share these songs with the world. I am working on electronic, acoustic, pop and electronic rock projects with very talented singers.
If you had the opportunity to choose an artist to collaborate with, which artist would you choose and why?
Honestly, my wish list is huge so I’m just going to give you 7 artists… I wish I could work with Coldplay, Onerepublic, Ed Sheeran, Adelle, The Script, Tori Kelly, or Dermot Kennedy. I love them so much, each artist has a piece of my heart and their songs have changed my life in a big way.
What was the first album you bought?
text – text.
What music are you currently listening to?
I listen to many genres and am always open to new sounds. Many artists and bands inspire me. Artists and bands like Coldplay, ILLENIUM, The Script, Martin Garrix, Labrinth, Ed Sheeran, Bad Omens, Bring Me The Horizon, Hans Zimmer, Said The Sky, Dabin, and more.
If you had the chance to choose a summer festival to headline, which festival would it be and why?
Tomorrowland because this festival made me fall in love with electronic dance music. 5 years ago I went to Tomorrowland as a warrior and it was amazing. It would be crazy for me to top a festival I’ve attended in the past as festivals.
If you could only listen to one album for the rest of your life, which would it be and why?
Coldplay – Mylo Xyloto Because this album saved my life and changed the way I approach music. In my opinion Coldplay isn’t a band, it’s a feeling.
