about navaz

What is "navaz"?
Navaz is the name given to the collections of music created and produced by William D. Kelley, Jr.

What does "navaz" mean?
"Navaz" is an ancient Persian word that means "gift from a higher power" or "gift from above" as in a spiritual sense.

What type of music does navaz create?
Navaz is difficult to classify, although critics have described the music as electronic new age pop/dance, and that is often fairly accurate. However, navaz creates a wide array of musical soundscapes ranging from relaxation instrumentals and guided meditations to thumping digital dance beats with powerful vocals.

How did navaz begin?
From an early age, William D. Kelley, Jr. was interested in music. He started playing keyboard instruments before the age of 5, composed his first pieces at the age of 8, and began learning other instruments during elementary school through high school, including the saxophone, percussion, clarinet, etc. He began seriously composing at the age of 16, and later used music to document his life and the lives and emotions of those he cared about. Originally the music was electronic new age--medicinal music without lyrics. Over time, the music took on a life of its own and vocals demanded to be part of the process. "It's really hard to explain, but I've always felt compelled to create music. Sometimes when I'm driving, a song will pop into my head. If I try to ignore it, the song gets louder and louder until I write it down or record a quick demo. Often I feel like the music is flowing through me. I know I am physically putting it together, but I usually feel more like the instrument rather than the composer--as if the music is being given to me as a gift--as if something greater than me is using my body to give this music to the world. That's why I use the name 'navaz.' By the time I was 23, it was pretty clear to me that I was supposed to start doing more professional recordings than the horrible quality demos I recorded in my bedroom. Unfortunately I did not have the resources to do that at the time, so I began saving money and finding investors, and then everything fell into place so I could begin recording the music in a real studio." -William D. Kelley, Jr.

What is navaz doing now?
Navaz has most recently been recording relaxation music and guided meditations, as well as a new line of fitness DVDs and wellness products. The entire navaz line is available exclusively at the Pyramid Holistic Wellness Center in Rutland, Vermont.