You have developed a very strong catalogue of tunes over the past few years with releases for Soma, Ovum and Be As One – what do you think has been your finest vinyl piece of work?
“My favorite piece of work is defiantly ‘Black Gold’ (BEASONE) – it combined Detroit, House and Techno – my preferred genres, along side with the remixes from SLS and Chymera – it was the perfect package.”
The top 10 tunes you are playing at the moment?
1. Itamar Sagi – Coffie Beans
2. Deetron – Orange
3. Shlomi Aber – Creat Balance
4. Michael Cleis – Pichira
5. Itamar Sagi – Common Sense
6. DJ Madskillz – Surface
7. Dennis Ferrer – Sinfonia Della Notte (Gel Abril Mix)
8. Mike Dehnert – Lautschrfit
9. Sanasol – Tamb Man
10.Joris Voorn – Blank
So a huge new tune coming out, ‘Common Sense’ swinging our way on Sweden’s Adam Beyer’s Drumcode label, a three track EP – talk us through the release…three very different sounds…
“Actually the “Common Sense” EP is a beat different from of my previous productions. In this EP it’s more about the pure Techno – three massive cuts that shows a different side of my taste in music. My favorite one is ‘Common Sense’, a track with big presence that you can’t ignore (the Roland 808 always was my preferred drum machine). ‘Dirty Walker’ is more of a big room track with a massive climax, the track is filled with percussions and vocals. ‘Mr. Bandi’ is a very unique track to my ears, it combines a beat of a minimalist sound but you can feel the Techno vibe all around.”
What superstar DJs from around the world attract the most clubbers to the clubs in Tel Aviv?
“Tel-Aviv’s dance scene had its good years back in 1998-2001, you had the most amazing venues that hosted the biggest name as Derrick May, Kevin Sanderson, Josh Wink, Huan Atkins and many more, back then people were more open minded and you felt the desire for quality music. However these days the local dance scene is more centered around the commercial music, you can find DJ’s such as Armin van Buuren, Above & Beyond and PVD playing here monthly.”
The best clubs and bars to go to in Israel’s big city?
“I think the most interesting place in Tel-Aviv at the moment is the ‘Barzilay’ club that’s the only big venue nowadays that respects pure underground music. In addition, I recommend the “Helens Keller” (owned by Gel Abril) a small and warm place that keeps playing quality music and hosts artists such as Audiofly, Nima Gorji and many more.”
Who are the best DJs from Israel we should be watching out for at the moment?
“Shlomi Aber and Gel Abril are defiantly the most hot DJ’s at the moment.”
Best producers of all time?
“Steve Rachmad and Derrick May. Back when I started producing, the underground music scene in Israel was at its prime. One of the strongest experiences I ever had was at a Derrick May party in 2003 where he rocked 2000 people for 6 hours in the most hypnotic set, he is defiantly one of favorite producers ever.”
Best club you have ever played at?
“The Goa Club, Madrid.”
What is the best and worst thing about living in Tel Aviv?
Tel-Aviv is one the most energetic places I’ve seen, it combines vigorous night life with amazing beaches filled with beautiful girls, you can’t ask for more. The worst? Well if you guys insist, I think it’s the musical taste of the people that prefer more commercial music now.”
What is the most popular music do the people on the dancefloor like the most? What get’s their hands in the air all the time?
“It really deepens witch venue you are talking about, as I said, there some places that keeps quality, but the majority of places at the moment plays more of MTV and Hip Hop”.
Best record label ever?
“It’s a Label I grow up on, Transmat.
Is there one club in the world you have never played at, that you would love to spin at?
“Womb, Tokyo”.
When you were growing up, what musicians/albums/DJs were you looking up to that made you want to DJ/make music?
Okay let’s get personal…
Your favourite actor?
Eddie Murphy
Your favourite book?
“The Lord of the Rings”
Best place you ever been on holiday?
“Thailand”
Best piece of advice you have been given?
“If you won’t try, you will never know…”
The ONE musician you would like to make a record with?
“Hard one, I think Amy Winehouse – she have an amazing voice.”
Your best achievement in life to date?
“I’ve fulfilled my childhood dream, to be a DJ”
What one album would you never sell?
“Metallica – ‘The Black Album'”
You are having a party at your house and you can invite anyone to play – which three DJs do you pick?
“Garnier, Josh Wink and Derrick May, one hell of a party!”
Okay, so DMC come back to your house after a party – what is the cheesiest record in your house?
“Hhhhmmmmmmm, System F – ‘Out Of the Blue'”.
How did the association with the Drumcode label happen – why were you happy working with this label?
Drum code is a well respected label, I’ve been fooling their work for years and I really appreciate the opportunity to work with those guys, when I finished the EP they were my first choice and I glad it all worked out good.
What is coming next from your studio…?
Well I have “Coffee Beans” coming out on March in BEASONE and will include mixes from Steve Lawler and Luca Bacchetti. Track’s coming out on Intacto and Soma and I’m working on an artist album that will be realsed, I hope, around September on BEASONE.
What is your best memory from playing at the legendary Haoman 17 club in Israel – a club DJ Mag cited as one of the ‘Best 10 Clubs In The World’?
“The original ‘Haoman 17’ was founded in Jerusalem, my place of birth and closed at 2007 – this place had the charm and atmosphere of a volcano. It’s hard to explain the source for such madness but I think it’s the people, Israeli people are warm and happy in their nature, take 1500 crazy clubbers add killer sound system you got a winner.”
