Astrix

Not to be confused with asterix.
This article is about a person named Astrix. For "asterisk", see Asterisk (disambiguation). For other uses, see Asterix (disambiguation).
Astrix

Astrix performing in Moscow in 2013
Background information
Birth name Avi Shmailov
Born (1976-12-06) 6 December 1976
USSR, Caucasus
Genres Psychedelic trance
Occupation(s) Musician, DJ, record producer
Years active 1995–present
Labels HOM-Mega Productions, Spiraltrax Label Group, Tokyo Productions, Plastik Park
Associated acts Infected Mushroom, Alien Project, Astral Projection, Atomic Pulse, G.M.S.

Avi Shmailov (Hebrew: אבי שמיילוב) under his stage name Astrix, is an international trance music dj and producer specializing in the subgenre of Full On psychedelic trance.

In 2006 Astrix reached #41 (+34 rise) in DJMag's "Top 100 DJs" yearly rank along with a rise of several other Israeli musicians (the highest being Infected Mushroom ranked #9)[1] marking a significant worldwide popularisation of the Israeli electronic music scene. In 2007 Astrix reached #18 on the list.[2]

Early career

Astrix was born in USSR, to a Mountain Jewish family in the Caucasus and grew up in Tel Aviv, Israel. He began recording music under the name Astrix in 1997, sometimes misconceived to be taken from the Asterix comic books. An interview on UK clubbing website Harderfaster.net revealed the name was chosen for simply sounding good, and not directly influenced by anything in particular.

1995–2002

Astrix started as a DJ in 1995 playing alternative and 1980s music. It was during this time that he learned about electronic music. In 1997 he began his first in-house studio recordings using a personal computer. He discovered trance in 1997 after being invited to a trance party. "At first it was a very new and strange experience for me and I couldn't find myself, but I was impressed by the energy and the impact that the music had made on the people at the party."[3] At the beginning of his career in the late 1990s he produced tracks in the "nitzhonot" style of trance, an uplifting, anthemic offshoot of Goa trance. His first tracks were "In Peace" and "Eakhis World," which both appeared on the well-known nitzhonot compilation "Ptzatzot 3."

2002–2005

In 2002, Astrix signed to leading EDM label HOMmega and was introduced to the world with his debut album "Eye To Eye". Things started to roll for Astrix from that point on, the worldwide scene fell captivated with his unique, smart melodic style. From that point, Astrix started working on several other projects. In a 2003 interview Astrix said that in fact he worked on 3 albums by Alien Project, but its maintainer Ari Linker did not give him credit.[4] Touring massively after the "Eye To Eye" album release and working on other projects didn't leave much studio time for Avi and it took two years to write & perfect his second album, "Artcore" which came out in 2004. "Artcore" was a lauded album for its sonic picture and it showcased the musical evolution of Astrix. Tracks from the album were used in movies, video games and TV commercials.

2005–2010

Once Astrix's musical sound got familiarized as his trademark, he turned to invest the years after to developing his DJ persona. Compiling & producing for leading brands such as: "Nu-clear Visions of Israel" (Tip/2003), "Psychedelic Academy" (Hit Mania/2005) and "Astrix & Friends" (DJ mag/2007).[5] In 2009 Astrix's label, HOMmega productions, was the first to release an Astrix digital artist album, on a compact stick flash drive format, "One Step Ahead" (HOMmega/2009) Evolving into one the world known DJ MAG TOP 100 DJs placed Astrix on the roads for an almost nonstop worldwide tour.[6]

He rocked festivals across the globe including Dance Valley, SW4, Creamfileds, Love Parade, UAF, Planeta Atlantida and headlined nights in the best clubs and venues such as Alexandra Palace, Brixton Academy, Pacha, Ministry of Sound, The City, Volume, Nox, amongst others.

2010–present

Over the last couple of years, studio time was a rare commodity for Astrix, but nevertheless he managed to find the extra hours to work on his 3rd studio album for HOMmega. "Red Means Distortion" is the result of some very late night sessions, everything to reach the perfection he needed to meet the expectations of those who were waiting patiently for his 3rd studio album.

The "Acid Rocker" EP, which was released in August 2010,[7] was the first appetizer from Astrix's long awaited new studio album, "Red Means Distortion". As bonus material, it included a remix by well-known trance artist Pixel of the huge international hit "Closer To Heaven" featured vocalist Michele Adamson, and a fresh new GMS 2010 remix to Astrix's classic all-time-hit "Eye To Eye". In September, a month after the EP "Acid rocker" was released, the long anticipated 3rd album "Red means distortion" was released.[8] Starting in August 2010, Astrix has been creating mix sessions titled "Trance for Nations".

Musical style

Astrix's music is known for his solid, driving basslines and ascending melodies. It is very uplifting and, as far as psychedelic trance goes, fairly "hard" and is also usually played during sunrise and the morning at outdoor trance parties.[9] Many would consider his style to be a crossover between "full-on" and the "clubbier" end of Trance, exemplfied by his Psychedelic Academy Mix.[10]

Author Graham St John, of the book The Local Scenes and Global Culture of Psytrance, noted about Astrix's sound, "crisp spacious acoustics".[11]

Influences

Astrix has been cited as being musically influenced by Infected Mushroom. "I look up to them for inspiration and for some kind of spiritual fuel as it were." Other influences include Linkin Park and Tiësto. "I also have a love for alternative bands like Linkin Park, and for ‘club personality’ I like Tiësto, he inspires me very much to see how well you can mix business with music and how big you can become from something that was so small in the beginning."[12]

Discography

Albums

Astrix released 4 full length studio albums at the leading record label Hom-Mega production based in Israel, the first album Eye to Eye was a great breakthrough to the artist and considered as an important milestone in Astrix career.

In his albums Astrix collaborated with artists which crafted and designed the psytrance scene, between those artists you can find Infected Mushroom, Atomic Pulse, Domestic, Sub6, Psycraft, Xerox & Illumination and many others...

Eye to Eye

Eye to Eye, 2002, HOM-Mega Productions,[13][14]
Track Number Title Length
#1 Life System 07:29
#2 Crystal Sequence (feat. Atomic Pulse) 08:13
#3 Infected Mushroom - Wider (Remix) 07:23
#4 Massive Activity (feat. Domestic) 08:23
#5 Eye To Eye 06:38
#6 Side Effect (feat. Atomic Pulse) 07:04
#7 Scientific Reality (feat. Atomic Pulse) 08:51
#8 FeeL.S.D 07:05
#9 Valirus (feat. Atomic Pulse) 07:38
#10 Freestyle Cafe 07:49

Artcore

Artcore, 2004, HOM-Mega Productions / Vision Quest,[15]
Track Number Title Length
#1 Poison 07:32
#2 Monster Remix (feat Infected Mushroom 07:40
#3 Tweaky 06:54
#4 Techno Widows 07:33
#5 Artcore 07:05
#6 On Fire 06:24
#7 Underbeat 06:47
#8 Sex Style 06:50
#9 Beyond The Senses 07:45

One Step Ahead

One Step Ahead, 2008, HOM-Mega Productions
Track Number Title Length
#1 I Screan 07:00
#2 Lost Inside 08:06
#3 Control Me (XI Remix) 07:18
#4 Future Music & 3rd Time Lucky (Live Mix) 08:14
#5 Just in Time 09:54
#6 Touched 06:04
#7 Sex Style (Krunch Remix) 07:53
#8 Sex Style (XSI Remix) 08:30
#9 Sex Style (Analyser Remix) 08:03
#10 Sex Style (Rewind Evolution Remix) 06:17
#11 Sex Style (4-Play Remix) 08:37
#12 Sex Style (Vogue Remix) 07:56

Red Means Distortion

Red Means Distortion, 2010, HOM-Mega Productions / Vision Quest
Track Number Title Length
#1 Acid Rocker 07:40
#2 Mir (written by Guy Salama) 08:17
#3 Take A Shot 07:59
#4 Shakta - Lepton Head (Remix) 07:07
#5 Antiwar 07:37
#6 Dharma 08:55
#7 Sparks 08:31
#8 Delirious - Silver Sky (Remix) 07:28
#9 Emok & NDSA - Harbour Candy (Remix) 07:45
#10 Infected Mushroom feat. Perry Farrell - Killing Time (Remix) 07:13

EPs / Singles

Compilation & Mixes by Astrix

Nu-Clear Visions Of Israel

Nu-Clear Visions Of Israel, 2003, TIP.World,[16]
Track Number Title Length
#1 Sub6 - Pounding 07:04
#2 Astrix - Disco Valley 08:07
#3 Psy Sex - Alien Cop (Goblin Remix) 08:38
#4 Hujaboy - Flake 07:23
#5 Cosma - Nonstop 07:25
#6 Xerox & Illumination - Temporary Insanity 07:05
#7 Delirious - Dynamic Force 07:40
#8 Psy Craft - Top Gun 07:38
#9 Astrix & Atomic Pulse - Valirus (Sub6 Remix) 05:56

Psychedelic Academy

Psychedelic Academy CD 1, 2005, Hit Mania
Track Number Title Length
#1-01 Astrix - Follow Me 08:37
#1-02 Delirious - Dance Flow 07:25
#1-03 Black & White - Geronimo 05:30
#1-04 Domestic - Limited Addiction 05:35
#1-05 Chakra - Atomic Base 06:07
#1-06 Sub6 - Buttersonic (GMS Remix) 06:04
#1-07 PsyCraft - Computech 05:29
#1-08 Xerox & Illumination - The Vision 05:37
#1-09 Psysex - New Wave Hooker (Domestic & Pixel Remix) 06:56
#1-10 X-Noize - The Sperminator 06:40
#1-11 Psysex & DJ Slider - Tribal Dance 05:55
#1-12 Dali - Colors Band (Astrix Remix) 06:09
Academy Anthems CD 2, 2005, Hit Mania
Track Number Title Length
#2-01 Astrix & DJ Highguy - Chaos 07:52
#2-02 Delirious - Silver Sky 08:02
#2-03 Cosma - Nonstop 07:22
#2-04 PsyCraft - Memory Flash 08:49
#2-05 Xerox & Illumination - Tribal Metal 07:17
#2-06 Astrix - Coolio (Infected Mushroom Remix) 08:17
#2-07 Dali - Colors Band 06:53
#2-08 Sub6 - Ra He'ya (feat. Michele Adamson) 07:16
#2-09 Psysex - New Wave Hooker 07:22

DJ Magazine Presents Astrix & Friends

DJ Magazine Presents Astrix & Friends, 2007, DJ Magazine,[17]
Track Number Title Length
#1 Astrix - Future Music & 3rd Time Lucky (Live Mix) 08:01
#2 Sub6 - Saved 05:21
#3 Domestic & Wrecked Machines - Bloom On Day 03:09
#4 Xerox & Illumination - No Way Out 03:36
#5 Delirious - Dance Electric 04:57
#6 Intelabeam Feat. MC Jah-Natan & Efrat Dahan - One Minute 03:29
#7 PsyCraft Feat. Michele Adamson - Follow The Line 03:09
#8 Pixel & Wrecked Machines - Mother Funker 05:50
#9 Astrix - Adventure Mode 05:11
#10 Black & White - Dirty Herring 03:22
#11 Krunch - Syncopat 03:43
#12 Chakra - Montezuma's Revenge 02:42
#13 Astrix & Sub6 - Control Me 05:24
#14 X-Noize Feat. Tom C. - Voice Tweaker 06:50
#15 Dali - Unconditional Love 06:26

Releases on compilations

Track Name: Artist - Album/Compilation

Appearances

DVD Videos

Touring

Astrix has become one of the leading and favorite act by many Psytrance festival as-well as EDM festival around the globe. Astrix has been touring in USA,[18] Europe,[19] Australia, India,[20][21] Japan and more... This is just a very short list of the festivals Astrix has been playing during the past year:

And to the world's top dance clubs such as Brixton Academy, Ministry of Sound, O2 Arena, Pacha, Privilege, Exchange, Avalon, AgeHa and many more.[28]

References

  1. ↑ DJmag.com: Top 100 DJs - Results & History
  2. ↑ http://djmag.com/top100dj?year=2007
  3. ↑ Chaishop: Astrix — interview and biographical info
  4. ↑ Interview with Astrix at IsraTrance.com, 01/2003
  5. ↑ http://www.harderfaster.net/text/features/11536
  6. ↑ http://www.mushroom-magazine.com/astrix/
  7. ↑ EP information
  8. ↑ Red Means Distortion information
  9. ↑ "Interview with Astrix: Psychedelic Academy 2 preview". 2005.
  10. ↑ "Interview with Astrix". IsraTrance Forum.
  11. ↑ Graham St John (2010). The Local Scenes and Global Culture of Psytrance. ISBN 1136944346.
  12. ↑ 4Clubbers: Interview with Astrix written by Caroline Banx
  13. ↑ http://www.ivibes.nu/index.php?article=1615 ivibes.nu: Albums reviews
  14. ↑ http://www.isratrance.com/cd-reviews/astrix-eye-to-eye-d438.html isratrance.com: Cd-Reviews
  15. ↑ http://forum.isratrance.com/astrix-artcore-hom-mega-productions/
  16. ↑ http://www.trance.net:8080/article/articleview/316/1/28/index.html
  17. ↑ http://www.harderfaster.net/text/features/11797
  18. ↑ http://usatrancemovement.com/home/2012/08/19/interview-with-astrix/
  19. ↑ http://www.exposedmagazine.co.uk/music/astrix-interview/
  20. ↑ http://rollingstoneindia.com/dj-astrix/
  21. ↑ http://www.bluefrog.co.in/events/astrix-india-tour
  22. ↑ https://www.insomniac.com/media/astrix-drives-his-fans-insane
  23. ↑ https://www.eventshigh.com/detail/Delhi/8bbe7af2ea1f1d7524749c8e529d9164--astrix-summer-stomp-festival
  24. ↑ http://www.aaabackstage.com.au/interviews/6336-interview-astrix.html
  25. ↑ http://www.triskelemanagement.com/promotion/vuuv/astrix/astrixpress.html
  26. ↑ http://www.tomorrowlandbrasil.com/en/artist/astrix
  27. ↑ https://soundcloud.com/radiozora/astrixinterview
  28. ↑ http://gigs.gigatools.com/u/Avi

External links

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