Along with fellow countrymen Infected Mushroom and John ‘00’ Fleming, Israel’s Astrix is one of a handful on names who are successfully pushing psytrance out to a wider audience. Securing a place Last year in the top 20 of the DJ Mag Top 100 poll, he attributes this to his efforts to push the sound out into new horizons. “Being among the top 20 DJs of the world is a great thing, which I think has much to do with my efforts to blend trance with other genres,” he told ITM.
“I strongly feel my fanbase is increasing every year so I guess the fans are happy to stay with me on my journey into global trance music, and I’m sure they will feel the same once they hear the new album.” As he rips through his first Australian tour in several years, Astrix chats to ITM about expanding horizons.
Congratulations on securing a spot in the DJ Mag top 20 list. Other than Infected Mushroom, can you foresee any other members of the future trance elite joining you any time soon?
Being among the top 20 DJs of the world is a great thing, which I think has much to do with my efforts to blend trance with other genres. I think the same applies for Infected Mushroom who took their trance deep into rock. I don’t think a totally psychedelic trance act will enter so easily into the top 100, but those who dare to explore more with it can. I think the Israeli band Sub6 are best qualified for that as their sound and style always keeps its own unique flavor of originality and quality.
How have fans found your transition from psychedelic trance to club trance?
I never considered myself only a psychedelic trance producer, but i did explore that style heavily while working on my first album Eye to Eye. On my 2nd album Artcore I tried to take my sound into a more full on and uplifting mode, which proved very right for its time and helped me cross over to a bigger and more commercial kind of crowd and events. Now, in my new third album Red Means Distortion, my plan is to try and please both my followers by trying to blend the main elements of both albums in the same productions. I strongly feel my fanbase is increasing every year so I guess the fans are happy to stay with me on my journey into global trance music, and I’m sure they will feel the same once they hear the new album.
Which other trance producers, if any, would you be keen to work with?
I would like to collaborate with various trance producers of all the trance stream, from the psy to the club. Producers like Armin van Burren, Infected Mushroom, Royksoop and Simon Posford just to name a few.
Tell us about the concept behind your new Red Means Distortion album?
As I stated before, my tours take me across many different kinds of events and crowds. As a result, I find myself under different musical influences and inspirations. The album is a showcase of this global experience as I tried to produce various kinds of tracks, going from the psy side to the more euphoric highs in search of new dancefloor anthems, but without loosing my trade mark groove and sound that my followers expect from me.
What can the younger generation of Melbourne clubbers expect from the underage show while you are here?
In Israel trance music is very popular among the younger generations and I get to play to them a lot, but I never player to a young crowd outside Israel so I am very happy to do it and see how it goes. I believe in the younger generation… They are the future and I am here to stay.
What can we expect from HOMmega Records over the next year or so? Are there any new exciting artist additions to the label?
Regarding HOMmega Records, for me it is one of the best decisions I have made in my life and I know that whereever I get, it will mainly be because of the hard work and the right guidance that this label has invested into me and my career. In the near future HOMmega will launch the debut album of Krunch Booster, a new X-noiZe EP Part of the Plan, the second album of Black & White The Sound Pharmacy, my third album Red Means Distortion and I know that they are cooking in the oven the new albums of Chakra and Sub6, which are eagerly awaited. Besides new releases, HOMmega is going to launch a new digital promo portal (www.trance4nation.com), which I’m betting my money that it will will take the promotion and digital distribution of psytrance to a whole new level. Aside from loads of free music, discount tickets for events around the world and the coolest mailing list and news letters in the scene, trance4nation will also launch the official international Astrix ‘Sex Style’ remix competition which will run until the end of September, where the winning remix will be featured on my new album.
As far as new additions to HOMmega, I really love the direction of Krunch; they’re on a roll and also worth mentioning are the new amazing progressive/electro/house tracks from Delirious (new project name will be announced soon).
Catch Astrix rocking at the following shows…
Thursday 3rd July – Channel Nightclub, Adelaide
Friday 4th July – The Palace Theatre, Melbourne
Saturday 5th July – Conquest Recovery @ The Motel, Melbourne
Spiro says...
lol. That last answer is straight from the promoters mouth. Hilarious.........
Unconformed says...
Astirx is one of the best producers in the world. Wish I could catch a show.