Huge new techno alert from the Tel Aviv vodka guzzling superstar
Words by Rob Chadwick
How are you, how has your year been so far? What’s been good, what has been bad?
Hi guys, great start for the new year indeed, a lot of new projects coming up, new mix CD, new brand and some other exciting things to be announced very soon, it’s a year of changes for me, new breeze after so many years in the music industry, so lots of good in this case. What’s bad? The very long travels every weekend from Tel Aviv, I got used to living in Ibiza for the summer and going back to travel from Tel Aviv to Europe is very hard, I love it here though.
Tell us about your new EP – when and when was it written and does that matter?
The EP has been produced last summer in my Ibiza studio, I was waiting to go back home to Tel Aviv to be able to mix and master it properly in my old studio where I have my comfort zone, I don’t really think it matters where you producing, it’s more about the mood you are into at the time.
What kit did you use and do you care about the how – analogue gear is all the rage right now…
I’m a big analogue fan…using a great verity of synth and drum machines, I’m trying not to repeat myself and explore new machines in every new project, it making the process much more creative, I like to touch and use my hands on the knobs, I can’t really get that feeling with plugins.
How do you start a track – do you have a sound or idea in your head or do you just randomly doodle?
It usually starts from a kick, as it defines the whole track, but from there and on is a “going with a flow” thing, I’m just playing around with sounds till something really surprising me to catching my attention, the only way to surprise yourself is to avoid knowing what you looking for, otherwise it reflect on the music.
Do you have a club or space or time in mind when you start writing?
Sometimes clubs can be a big influence on me in the studio, coming from a specific show with a specific sound system can really get me into a certain mood in the studio, influences are all over and we just need to pay enough attention to realise it, sometimes even a movie or TV commercial can hit me in a way with a specific sound or arrangement that make me wanna run into the studio.
Who do you make your art for, do you think? For you or the dancers?
I would love to say it’s only for me, but that won’t be true, it’s an ongoing dialog between the inside and the outside influences in life, it is a real battle, I think I’m finding the right compromise between the two, especially as I’m coming into things also from the dancers side. I used to go out clubbing very often when I was younger and I think you must be a dancer to be a DJ, it’s like be a mechanic without driving license, you can do it, but you will never understand fully the car unless you can test-drive it.
How important is Miami – do you get any work do?
Miami is still out there, but not as much as it used to be unfortunately, it was the gathering spot for the music industry for many years but lately less and less artists and brands attending the Miami music weekend , the prices are going up and hotels are taking advantage the high attendants to triple prices, it’s a shame as it’s loosing the soul that define that special Miami WMC week for many years.
What parties are you playing and will you prep differently for each one or…?
I’m going to do 2 showcases, one on the Sunday for my Be As One label @ Tree House , one of my favourite clubs in town with great line up of guests and friends of the label, then on the Tuesday it’s the “Shlomi & friends party“ which is pretty strong these days, this time at “Do Not Sit on the Furniture“ like last year, I’m very much looking forward.
Does the hot sun make you play differently than you would in winter?
Don’t forget I’m coming from Tel Aviv, we’re used to the hot sun in here, but I guess that for a day time it definitely changes.
And do you prefer clubs or festival or pool parties or what? Have you a favourite setting, and why if so?
Definitely clubs, dark raw clubs. Pool and festival are nice indeed, but musically I’m feeling more comfortable in those clubs when you can play long and travel with the crowd, it’s something you cannot do at festivals usually.
And finally, if you could own one record no other DJ was allowed to play, what would it be and why?
It would be my old track “Freakside”…this track always sets things into the right mood.
