One of the newest and biggest artist on the Full On trance scene is Avi Shmailov aka Astrix. He is an Israeli artist and has become an almost legendary to sound and production as a lot of artist are imitating his music today. His debut album “Eye to Eye” was in great demand because of his successful tracks made with Atomic Pulse, Domestic, Alien Project etc. and when it finally got released in the end of 2002; it was a major bomb world wide. Clubbing had a talk with this younger talent.

Why the name, Astrix?

- It was suggested by a good friend of mine who was very much into comics. She was very much in love with the Astrix character and she said he was 'A leader of a revolution' so I decided to adopt this name.


How is it to be one of the youngest musicians on this scene? Does it affect your abilities?

- I think being young is good. First of all I have a lot of energy and a lot of time to experience new things and there is always the feeling that you started early enough to really get somewhere in a few years from now.


What's your opinion about the claims that the Israeli sounds of today are much the same?

- In my opinion, Israelis are the best trance producers around. Crystal clear sound, high quality production and a really good story-telling plot.Bands like Infected Mushroom & Sub6 have created their own signature of sound and this is really a scarce thing now a days. I will admit there are a lot of kids going into 'trance making' and this results in a feeling of too much of the same, but this is because they are only at a beginning stage and need to mold their own style (given time).


Copying is  killing the global music sale, but your tracks like "Kali" and "Scientific Reality" were a bomb over the Internet through downloads, even long time before it was released. What are your thoughts on that?

I think the Internet has played a major roll in our life in the last few years. I think it can be used as a tool in order to expose yourself but only to a certain point! As soon as you become known, it becomes very important to keep your music until close to its release date because it will affect the sales of your albums.


How is it to live in Israel and making music while the political conflicts are making disaster on the streets?

- I try not to think about it too much. I hope there will be peace soon and until then I’m concentrating on making music and travelling the world.


Any personally bad experience with that?

- No. I am happy to say that I spend most of my time in the studio or outside Israel so I am not exposed to the bad experiences that might happen in our reality.


What's your believes music wise?

- I love trance music (when it's good). I am inspired by the likes of Infected Mushroom, G.M.S, Hallucinogen, Sub6 and Delirious. Also, the good vibe of a good party will always send me smiling back to my studio to "give trance another chance".

And what makes you different from any other artist?

I tried to create my own unique style & sound but today many young artists are following my footsteps and are managing to create similar kinds of vibe & drive. This only encourages me to move forward and explore different kinds of music and genres but I will always keep making 'trance-floor anthems'!


To end this interview, what Astrix releases will soon be available and in collaboration with whom?

DJ John "00" Fleming licensed one of my tracks for a compilation that he made for one of the biggest companies in the UK – Telstar (BMG). The compilation's name is "White Label Euphoria – Level 2".

In addition, I just finished compiling an Israeli trance compilation for the UK label – TIP World. Its name is 'Nu-Clear Visions of Israel'. It features new & unreleased tracks from the Israeli best like: Cosma, Sub6, Psy Sex, Xerox & Illumination, Psy Craft, Hujaboy, Delirious and more… (On this compilation there is also a new track of mine which is called 'Disco Valley' which sounds different then my usual style).

I think there will be an Infected Astrix stormer soon. I have waited for this for a very long time and now it seems that it's going to happen. After the collaboration with them, I intend to remix one of their greatest hits – 'Symphonatic'.

I will be releasing new tracks on forthcoming compilations from TIP, Spirit Zone, HOMmega and more… I aim to release my second album towards the end of 2003
+ I am working on a 'secret project' which is not psychedelic (details will follow).


Interview : Janus Skov

Astrix discography

Astrix's tracks were released on international labels such as:
Telstar (UK), T.I.P World (UK), Transient (UK), Millennium (UK)
EMI (Japan), Solstice (Japan), New Funk (Japan),
Universal (Mexico), Sound Sorcery (Mexico), Spun (U.S.A),
Cyber (Holland), TBA (Switzerland), Avalanche (Germany),
HOMmega (Israel), BNE (Israel), Phonokol (Israel) and more...