A rising star in EDM, Brainheart, delivers an anthemic yet emotive production, “Close to You,” combining edgy synths and soft but soaring vocals over a driving club-ready beat. Rooted in the DJ and producer’s unique ability to infuse dance, electro, and future house with expansive orchestral sounds, the track boasts a hypnotic quality that urges us to play it on a loop. 

Framed by extreme transportive elements that pull us into his sonic world, the track falls smoothly within progressive and deep house soundscapes. Tapping into the genre-hopping tendencies of EDM, Brainheart found his love for classical music morph and blend into his fascination with electronic compositions, giving rise to authentic artistry that he has slowly but steadily honed. 

With soothing touches offset by a powerful party anthem drop, “Close to You” sets this promising talent up for bigger and better things in his career. Brainheart talked to us and answered our 14 unusual questions. Check it out below.

Let’s start by introducing ourselves. You know the basics, like your name, age, and where you’re from; you can share as much or as little as you’re comfortable with.

Brainheart: My name is Roi Zohar, a.k.a. Brainheart. I am an independent music producer, songwriter, and DJ unbound by genres. I produce mainly electronic music and other genres (pop, acoustic, and more). I am a dream chaser and musician who believes artists should be versatile and open-minded to new genres. 

My goal is to leave a legacy and make a lasting impact, and I want to touch people and make them happy and emotional. Music is the best way to connect with people and share messages because it’s a universal language. I want to be an inspiration for many generations to come.

Tell us about “Close to You.” How did it all come about?

Brainheart: “Close to You” is a lush, introspective song about trying to fall in love when no one comes close to the one who got away. First, I produced the track and then searched for a good singer. I found Anica on Spotify and fell in love with her voice immediately.

I sent her a message, and she loved the demo, so we decided to collaborate and create a magical song together. It took me two years to finish the piece because I changed the production many times until I was satisfied.

The production combines pop, rock, and EDM elements with classic chord progressions, distorted guitars, and an incredibly gratifying emotional drop. The dreamy acoustic texture of “Close To You” is twice as dynamic as the sentimental performance of the vocal line and the instrumentation. When I finished the song, I made an acoustic version, too, and Anica loved the idea.

This acoustic version adds a lot of depth and meaning to the song, and it’s just as captivating as the original. The melancholy strings and tender piano melodies perfectly enhance Anica’s moving lyrics. This version has a different vibe and is much deeper and soulful. 

Could you talk me through your creative process?

Brainheart: 99% of the time, I start with the melody. I improvise on the piano until I find a good melody and chord progression. Then I start producing and adding synths, guitars, violins, cellos, rhythms, etc. 

I always collaborate with other singers because, unfortunately, I can’t sing; my voice is terrible. So, I find amazing singers on social media or music platforms.

In the studio, name three things you can’t live without.

Brainheart: Muse, electric guitar, and headphones

How do you solve productivity and scheduling problems and reduce overwhelming situations?

Brainheart: I am still figuring it out.

What do you like to do when you’re not making music?

Brainheart: I spend time with my family, training, and traveling. 

I love nature because it gives me peace of mind and a massive boost of inspiration.

Who are some artists you admire and want to work with in the future?

Brainheart: My wishlist is enormous, so I’ll give you just eight artists. I love them so much; each artist has a piece in my heart. I wish I could work with Coldplay, ILLENIUM, OneRepublic, Ed Sheeran, Adelle, The Script, Avicii, or Dermot Kennedy.

What is still your biggest challenge?

Brainheart: Mixing and mastering are the most complex parts, and it’s challenging to let go and finish a song because I am a perfectionist.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever received concerning music?

Brainheart: Make money to make music, don’t make music to make money. I love this advice (by Russ). Being an artist is like having a business; every artist must invest in his songs and brand as much as possible. So true.

What would you have done differently if you knew then what you know now?

Brainheart: I wish I could change my mindset.

I wish I knew that I come one step closer to success every time I fail.

The world works in mysterious ways.

The prize is the fulfillment of reaching my destiny.

My destiny is the most important thing.

Trusting the process, having faith in the future, and trusting life are the most important things that could help me.

How do you currently feel about the state of “your genre”?

Brainheart: Honestly, I can’t define my music by genre because I always love to experiment with different sounds and styles of music.

The songs’ vibes and messages are more important than the genre.

I mainly produce EDM, but I also love pop, soft rock, and acoustic songs. My goal is to create a versatile and exciting catalog. I don’t want to develop repetitive music with the same sounds and structure. 

I always created EDM in the past, but now I am more open-minded and willing to try different things, techniques, and genres. I develop emotional music and interesting melodies with strong and meaningful lyrics. I want to surprise myself and my listeners by taking them on a mesmerizing musical journey. 

In my opinion, we all experience pain, depression, anxiety, trauma, and many other kinds of pain that might not be visible to anyone else. My songs speak to people, heal them, and can make them feel better and more motivated.

What keeps you going when things get tough in the music industry?

Brainheart: I constantly remind myself that I am lucky because I can make music every day, grow my fanbase, and evoke emotion in people worldwide. 

Every day I get out of bed excited to do those things I’m passionate about, and I have all the time in the world for them. I don’t take this for granted, and I try to stay as positive as possible.

What’s your proudest moment to date as an artist?

Brainheart: The success of my song “Explore the World” on Spotify, with nearly 3 million streams and over 600,000 Instagram views, is entirely independent.

This song holds such a special place in my heart. It means the world because I wrote it with my amazing and talented sister. This is the first song I have ever released, and I never expected it to be huge.

What are you focusing your time on now?

Brainheart: My biggest goal for 2023 is to get an artist visa; I want to move to the US.

I will have many more opportunities there to develop my music career.

Unfortunately, it isn’t straightforward, but I’ll get it one day.

I will keep making music and touching people’s hearts and souls.

I want to continue expanding my social media presence and fan base.

I want to evolve and become a better version of myself—as a musician and person.

Stream “Close to You” on Spotify 

Connect with Brainheart: Instagram | Facebook | YouTube | Spotify