Born in Tehran, now based in New York City, Armii1n’s journey into electronic music spans continents and transformations.
Photo credit: Armii1n – Official
After growing up surrounded by his father’s disco records and navigating Tehran’s covert party culture, he began DJing in Southeast Asia before making an impact in Miami and eventually settling in NYC.
In 2025, he released a self-titled single via Radickal Records, marking a shift toward a deeper focus on production. From early residencies at Kyo Club and Do Not Sit on the Furniture to founding his own event series, Pregame, Armii1n has consistently carved out space for connection, rhythm, and self-expression. His story reflects not just a personal evolution but the shifting conditions artists face across geographies and scenes.
In this conversation, Armii1n opens up about navigating illegal parties in Iran, starting over in new cities, the inspiration behind Pregame, and his outlook on music, community, and growth.
EG: Hi, Armii1n! Welcome to EG. It’s a pleasure to have you here with us. How have you been doing?
Armii1n: I’m good, thanks for having me! It’s pretty cold here in New York right now, so I’ve been staying home, chilling, digging for new tracks and making music.
EG: First of all, let’s dive into your background…You live in NYC, but you’re originally from Iran. How did you get into electronic dance music? What is the scene like there?
Armii1n: I was born in Tehran and my parents used to throw parties all the time. My dad was really into disco and old-school music—he was born in the 70s—so there was always music playing at home. I basically grew up listening to his records: ABBA, Bee Gees, Kool & The Gang, and all that good stuff.
As I got older, I started going to parties in Tehran with my friends. There isn’t really a club scene in Iran, so we used to go to someone’s villa, rent speakers and DJ equipment, and basically create our own parties. It was illegal, of course—sometimes the police would show up and it would turn into a whole thing. Next day, you’d have parents at the police station paying a small penalty just so everyone could leave. It wasn’t exactly the ideal environment for nightlife, haha.
I heard that these days they do some ticketed events, but it’s still risky. Back then, I wasn’t DJing yet—I was just partying and always curious, watching DJs behind the booth to see what they were doing. I actually became a DJ much later when I moved to Asia. I went to Singapore first, then Malaysia for my Bachelor’s degree, and that’s where my real DJ journey started.
EG: How did the move to NYC come about? Was it motivated by music?
Armii1n: After I moved to Malaysia, I met some Iranian DJs who were residents for a local event brand and record label. That’s actually where I released my first EP, including a remix from a good French friend of mine, a very talented producer named The Mekanism.
I became close with those Persian DJs and used to go to the club early before the night started so I could practice on the CDJs and learn proper beat matching. At home, I was using Traktor, which was mostly sync, so at some point, I really needed to learn to beat match myself. Eventually, promoters started giving me opening slots, and I became part of the scene. I also had the chance to play in Thailand, Vietnam, and Bali while I was based in Asia.
Later, I moved to the U.S. for my MBA. I spent a few months in California and then transferred my school to Miami, where I started working with Do Not Sit On The Furniture as a resident DJ once a month and also helping them as a talent buyer.
After finishing school, I decided to move to NYC. I actually worked as an agent for some big and cool acts when I first arrived, but I realized you can’t really be an artist and an agent at the same time—at some point, you have to choose whether you’re getting gigs for others or focusing on your own path as a DJ. So I decided to follow the artist route.
EG: And, what was it about it that caught your attention and made you wanna dive in and be part of it? Do you remember your early days as an artist?
Armii1n: Yes, so in Miami, I worked with Taimur Agha, who owns T-Bag Records, which is basically the best record shop in Miami. Before moving to New York, I was helping at his shop and met a lot of amazing people from NYC through him, since Taimur used to live here and is very respected in the scene.
Honestly, I always had New York in my mind. I grew up dreaming about living here—not just because of the music, but because NYC has this energy in every aspect of life. I don’t even need to explain that; everyone knows it, haha. I moved here about a year ago, and the progress has been amazing. The energy here feels right, and it really pushes you.
“It’s not just about playing good music—of course, you have to dig and develop your sound—but also things like playing vinyl, looking sharp, networking, showing up, and being part of the community.”
EG: What was that learning process for you like?
Armii1n: Honestly, it was all about going out to every club and festival I could, meeting people, digging for music, and learning along the way. I’m still young, so I feel like I’m constantly learning and evolving. The process never really stops, and that’s what keeps it exciting.
EG: This year, you released a self-titled single following a hiatus in 2024. What did you learn about your music and creation process during that period? What can we expect in terms of releases during 2026?
Armii1n: Production was never really my main focus at first—I always enjoyed performing more. But after moving to New York, I met some really inspiring people and friends who changed the way I think about making music.
I released a self-titled track in 2025, and for 2026, the plan is definitely to work on more music, keep developing my sound, and hopefully land bigger gigs along the way.
EG: By the way, you also run Pregame, your own nights in NYC, right? What’s Pregame all about? How can people learn about incoming events?
Armii1n: When I moved to NYC, I needed to cover my bills and get DJ gigs. I had some cool friends who booked me for their events, but after a while, I didn’t feel good constantly asking promoters for bookings.
So for my birthday, I decided to do my own party, and I called it Pregame, because we were always doing a little pregame at my friends’ place before going out anyway. A lot of people ended up coming, and I remember thinking, “Why don’t I just do this more often?” So I kept going—and now in March 2026 it’s already going to be one year.
We’re four DJs—me and three other friends who are all amazing—, and we’ve already had some strong headliners like Oshana, Cristi Cons, Tomoki Tamura, Sibil, Salar Ansari, and more. Of course, big thanks to venue owners and promoters who supported us.
People can find us on Resident Advisor under Pregame New York or on Instagram. Most of the crowd is our community and friends, but we’ve also had events with around 500 people, mixing friends with music lovers from all over the city.
EG: Now, stepping outside of the studio…Given your experience as an artist, talent booker, and artist manager, what would you say are some of the biggest obstacles artists will face in the near future? What advice would you give to newcomers and rising artists?
Armii1n: I think these days you really need to be the full package. It’s not just about playing good music—of course, you have to dig and develop your sound—but also things like playing vinyl, looking sharp, networking, showing up, and being part of the community.
Social media and content are also a big part of it now. Some people don’t like it, but at the end of the day it’s a powerful tool and you should use it to help yourself grow. And of course, making music is becoming more and more important if you want to move forward.
“The process never really stops, and that’s what keeps it exciting”
EG: What’s next for Armii1n? What milestones are you looking forward to now? Where can your fans catch you next?
Armii1n: Honestly, just to keep playing, making music, digging, and networking—while keeping a good energy and staying consistent. I think consistency is really the key right now.
EG: Thank you so much for your time, Armii1n! We wish you all the best in the future. Take care!
Armii1n: Thank you very much, truly appreciate the opportunity.
Armii1n’s ‘Armii1n’ is out now on Radickal Records. Stream and download here.
Follow Armii1n: Spotify | Soundcloud | Instagram
