Lebanese Producer Mincer Unveils Brings Back The Euphoria Of Old Prog House With His New Single ‘Mansion’ + Artist Interview

The latest release from Mincer, “Mansion”, captures the emotional essence of finding home in unexpected places. Forced to leave his home country due to an economic crisis, Mincer found solace and inspiration in a new connection that brought comfort and joy. The production of “Mansion” was a six-month journey, pieced together in various locations from coffee shops to airports, reflecting the diverse experiences and emotions behind the song. With its uplifting energy and themes of love and positivity, “Mansion” stands out as one of Mincer’s most essential tracks to date.

Introduce yourself and your project

My name is Mincer and I’m a 27-year-old musician and producer with a Master’s in Software & Multimedia Engineering from Beirut, Lebanon. I’ve always loved electronic music, but I truly fell in love with it after watching the 2012 Tomorrowland aftermovie. Seeing how happy people were and the impact music could have gave me goosebumps. That’s when I knew this was what I wanted to do. I’m also one of the founding engineers at Fundbot, a Lebanese Fintech company.

I began working on ‘Mansion’ in 2023 during a work trip to Istanbul, Turkey. ‘Mansion’ is one of many progressive house tracks I’m currently working on. It talks about finding home in unexpected places which is something I have been experiencing since 2020 after the tragic explosion in Beirut which forced me to leave the country. The goal of this project is to revive the joyful, euphoric sound of classic progressive house while adding a modern twist to appeal to a new audience.

Explain what musical genre fits you best

Good old progressive house from the golden age of EDM back in 2012-2013.

Were you connected with music from a young age and did anyone inspire you?

I began my musical journey at the age of seven at the National Conservatory of Lebanon. Initially, I disliked the instrument my father chose for me, which led to a brief hiatus from music. After a few years, I rediscovered my passion through electronic music, inspired by artists like Hardwell, Swedish House Mafia, Avicii, and Alesso.

What kickstarted your music career?

I never originally thought of music as a career; I was just doing it because I loved it. Then I started getting some local gigs, especially at university events, and people loved it. Seeing how happy it made them was priceless. And now, here we are!

Tell us more about your sound and how it’s evolved over time

When I first started, everything I made sounded like Trance, but it wasn’t great haha. After moving to Germany and learning more about production from different artists, my sound began to shift towards a Deadmau5-inspired style and progressive house, which you can hear in my album ‘SMFONIKA.’ A few years later, after a lot of experimentation, mistakes, and confusion, my sound evolved into what it is today, the sound I had been aiming for since the beginning, inspired by 2012-2013 Progressive House. You can clearly hear this in ‘Paradise,’ ‘Nirvana,’ and my latest single, ‘Mansion.’

Any words you want to share to encourage other artists or producers?

Just keep going and keep adapting. There will be times when you feel like you understand everything, and other times when it feels like you don’t understand anything at all. It’s all part of the learning process. Whenever you feel like giving up, just pull up a track you made a few years ago and listen to it. You’ll notice your progress, and it will motivate you to keep going.

How do you nurture your industry relationships?

I try to place myself in environments where industry professionals are present. For example, DJLAB in Lebanon started as a small DJ store with a relaxed area where artists would frequently hang out. You’d be surprised at the amazing people you can meet there. Another effective way I connect with the industry is by collaborating with local artists.

Is there anyone you’d like to thank that’s been crucial to your journey?

Mostly, I want to thank my sister and friends for their unwavering support since day one, especially Moe. He’s also an artist, and we began this journey together at university, continuing to work on music together to this day. I also want to express my gratitude to DJLAB in Beirut for being like a second home and for providing countless opportunities throughout this journey.

Name 3 songs you love and what they mean to you + Youtube links

My all-time favorite Swedish House Mafia song is ‘Don’t You Worry Child.’ I can’t fully explain why. Maybe it’s the story, maybe it’s because it’s a musical masterpiece, or perhaps it’s just nostalgia and good memories. It gives me goosebumps every time.

“Tom Odell’s ‘Another Love.’ The original is already full of emotion and really hits home, but when I heard the remix in one of Tomorrowland’s aftermovies, it made it ten times better.

Alesso’s ‘Years’ brings back so many great memories from my teenage years. It’s a feel-good song full of hope, and every time I’m feeling down, this is my go-to.

What’s your favourite piece of studio equipment or software?

When it comes to VSTs, Serum is my go-to virtual synthesiser for every project.

For hardware, it’s definitely the MicroFreak by Arturia. That thing is a piece of art, so portable, affordable, and it produces amazing sounds. It’s been a core piece in every performance of mine for the past year.

Name your favourite club or festival and how it makes you feel

Tomorrowland. Even though I’ve never been, watching the after movies always gives me goosebumps. It gives me hope for a better world when I see all those flags and everyone so happy and peaceful, just enjoying the music. Playing there would be a dream come true. It’s definitely on my bucket list.

Name an outlandish rider request?

I haven’t encountered many outlandish requests yet, but I did receive a request for both a flamethrower and a fog cannon from one of the acts at a low-budget festival I organized at university where we barely managed to get an LED screen for the performers. There was a good five seconds of silence before one of the organizers responded with a bewildered, ‘What?’

Favourite clubbing memory and who or what did it involve?

Seeing Monolink in Istanbul was magical. I experienced it with a special someone the night before my flight back to Lebanon, after spending nearly a year and a half in Turkey. I even rescheduled my flight just to make sure we could see Monolink together and it was definitely worth it.

What famous quote represents you best?

“If someone else has done it then I can do it too. If no one has then I can be the first. If I can do it so can you”

If you could play at any venue, where would it be and why?

The Tomorrowland Main Stage is the ultimate dream for every electronic music producer, and it’s mine as well. I can only imagine how incredible it would feel to share my music and message with so many people who share the same passion for electronic music. It would be an honor to offer them a unique experience, taking them on a journey through my music and hopefully forming an emotional connection along the way.

Music is….. (explain more)

Music is like magic, an international language that everyone understands without needing to learn. Its impact on people is truly magical. I firmly believe that music has the power to heal, transform our moods, and uplift our spirits. Even after all these years, the more I explore music, the more curious I become to delve deeper. It has enriched my life in countless ways, and it would be an honor to bring that same joy and healing to others.

One song you really couldn’t live without and why?

You’ve probably guessed it by now… It’s ‘Don’t You Worry Child’ by Swedish House Mafia. It was one of the first tracks that made me realise electronic music was something I wanted to pursue for the rest of my life. Every time I listen to it, I still get goosebumps. The song also holds special significance for me because it was the last release by Swedish House Mafia before they disbanded in March 2013.

Namedrop your favourite 5 artists or DJs (past or present)

Above & Beyond

Swedish House Mafia

Monolink

Deadmau5

Avicii

What was your first music memory and how did it fuel your fire?

As a Lebanese who grew up in the ‘90s, my first music memory is undeniably Fairuz. She’s more than just a singer; she’s a Lebanese icon. If there’s one thing all Lebanese people can agree on, it’s the timelessness of Fairuz. My parents used to play her music every morning when driving me and my sister to school, and those melodies became a core memory for us.

While her style is far from the electronic music I’m passionate about today, Fairuz’s music is deeply ingrained in my cultural roots. Although I didn’t draw direct inspiration from her, I felt a strong connection to her songs and decided to put my own spin on them. That’s why I released a couple of Lo-fi remixes of her classics ‘Ana La Habibi’ and ‘Kifak Enta.’

Tell us more about your plans for the future

I’m definitely planning to stick with Progressive House for a while, and I have a few new originals lined up for release this year and next.

In the long run, I aim to push the boundaries of Progressive House by integrating even more advanced technology into my music and performances, creating immersive experiences that resonate with audiences on a deeper level, especially AI. I’m a bit of a tech geek myself.

I also hope to collaborate with other artists and producers who share my vision to blend our styles and create something truly unique and innovative.

I will definitely continue mentoring young artists, sharing the knowledge and experience I’ve gained over the years to help them navigate the challenges of the music industry and develop their own unique sound.

Beyond the music itself, I aspire to contribute to the evolution of the genre, and hopefully influence the next generation of producers to keep the spirit of Progressive House alive.

Any worldly advice you’d like to share?

Don’t rush art. Nowadays, everyone seems obsessed with becoming famous overnight, and it’s taking the soul out of music. I’ve met so many people searching for shortcuts to ‘make it’ in the industry, and they’re missing out. The feeling you get when you find the perfect melody with the right chords, or when you release a track and people tell you how it makes them feel, that’s priceless.

Mansion Is Out Now

https://ditto.fm/mansion-mincer