Exclusive Premiere + Interview with Beau Zwart

For the first release of 2022, we have another newcomer to the Lazy Days family.

Beau Zwart, is a young talented producer from Rotterdam. Classically trained from an early age, he discovered Jazz and Electronic Music in his teenage years and started to incorporate his new influences in his compositions and in performances and DJ sets.

On his debut EP on Lazy Days, Beau shows his ability to play with different styles that inspire him. From the Broken Jazzy vibe on Rusty Lewis, through the slower and emotionally driven Safe Shave & Bambino Breaks to the Electro tinged No exit, we are clearly in presence of of burgeoning talent.

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Hi Beau, how are you? You have quite a unique musical path. Can you tell us a bit more about it?

I’m doing great, thanks for having me. Musically, I started out taking classical piano lessons when I was nine years old. After a few years I got the opportunity to write compositions for the orchestra in which I played the piano and became more influenced by jazz and electronica in my playing and writing. After discovering the possibilities of music production I focused more on club driven music, started DJing and performing improvisation based live-sets. In addition to implementing jazz influences electronic music, my classical background is now reflected in my work for film. I always wanted to do diverse work in music and it now feels like everything has come together. 

How did you discover electronic music, coming from a more classical and movie soundtrack background?

There was always music on in my childhood home. In my teenage years, my dad played a lot of Erykah Badu, Underworld and early DJ Kicks compilations. This changed my perspective on music and introduced me to electronic instruments. Firstly, I really liked to dance on this music, but after a while I was so amazed about the concept of producing music and being able to create every layer by yourself, I had to start.

You seem to be influenced and have an easy way with a lot of different styles of music. In the electronic music world, who would you say would be your biggest influences? 

Floating Points. He uses his extensive knowledge in music to make and curate beautiful music and tries to innovate hisself throughout different genres and performance outlets. Flying Lotus: because of his quirky way of combining musical worlds and making his own path with his recordlabel. 

How about in the non-electronic world (classical, jazz, indie…)?

Bill Evans, for his genius arrangements.Bach, for his mathematically driven compositionsD’angelo, for making the most sensual music ever madPrince, for being the most versatile artist ever excited and having the guts to release music not always based on a commercial point of view.

Tell us more about your career writing soundtracks for movies?

During my bachelor in music technology I started writing music for movies. My first feature length score was an assignment during an internship at a production company. This film got a lot of attention and kickstarted my career as a film composer. Last year my soundtrack got nominated for the BUMA music in motion award and my trademark in film scoring is to make analogue synthesizers feel like organic instruments.

You’re from Rotterdam. Historically, we know the city from the hardcore gabber days. How’s the musical scene there now (pre-covid!). Any artist or DJs you particularly like locally?

Rotterdam always liked the more heavier styles of dance music like Techno and Drum and Bass, but there are a lot of small organisation pushing different kinds of underground music like broken beat, house, IDM and Italo. The music is really diverse and people of Rotterdam are really openminded for new music. 
My partner in crime and good friend Sykes, Kofi the Unknown and Carista are my local favs

Lastly, what does the future hold for you? Any projects you want to share with us? Live performance…

I’m working on a visual EP on my own record label Narrative Identity and my first artist album. This summer I hope to play (finger crossed) ot all the postponed festivals and clubs events of the previous lockdown years both solo (DJ and Live), and in a full electronic live band.