Ten years in the background: Yan Nay finally arrives center stage [premium]

After a decade in the background, Austrian musician Johannes Holzer, known as Yan Nay, has finally stepped into the spotlight with his debut solo album, "Surface Level Love." Holzer, a 27-year-old musician from Salzburg, describes his singing voice as "charmingly awkward," yet it serves as the perfect vehicle for his light and vibrant songs. Despite the apparent ease of his music, Holzer is a thoughtful artist.

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Suddenly I had a budget and could pay all the people.

The creation of "Surface Level Love" was significantly aided by a grant from the Austrian Music Fund, which provided crucial financial support for production. Holzer had previously applied for funding three times and been rejected. His fourth attempt, made without strong expectations, was successful. With a budget in hand, he quickly assembled his preferred musicians and collaborators, including Nina Schwarzott (Filiah), Lukas Klement, Mario Fartacek, and Ross Stanciu, who contributed to production, mixing, and accompaniment. "We quickly grew into a good team from a casual community," Yan Nay stated. "I just wanted to let it flow. Sometimes two songs were created in a day."

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I've been making music for about ten years. So I have a certain experience that tells me I don't want to tinker with the pieces forever. It was about things happening in the moment.

The resulting album is a collection of summery songs, characterized by a freshness that is rare in contemporary releases. Unfortunately, due to budget constraints, "Surface Level Love" is only available online, a fact Holzer finds regrettable. He approaches the idea of current pop music's lasting impact with a degree of detachment, considering the 1960s, 70s, and 80s to be the "golden era of pop songs." He questions whether today's chart-toppers will hold relevance in twenty years, unlike many songs from those earlier decades.

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They produced, mixed, accompanied.

Holzer, who now lives in Vienna, always knew he needed to leave his rural Salzburg home for the "big city." He describes his relationship with his hometown as "ambivalent." He believes the fundamental function of a good song remains unchanged: it must be able to amplify an inherent feeling, creating a sense of departure and emotional resonance.

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From the casual community, a good team quickly grew. I just wanted to let it flow. Sometimes two songs were created in a day.