Astrix: Za mene je muzika spiritualna!

(scroll down for the English version)

Astrix je jedan od pionira psy trance muzičkog žanra, a sa više od 20 godina na sceni možemo da kažemo i da je jedan od vodećih DJ-eva i producenata kada govorimo o toj vrsti muzike. Od najvećih svetskih klubova i plaža, do velikih festivala i underground događaja, gotovo da ne postoji kutak na planeti gde nije nastupao i publici preneo svoj zarazni i hipnotišući trance vajb kroz svoje setove. 

Uvek je rado viđen gost srpske prestonice, a u nju se ponovo vraća 25. Avgusta kada će nastupiti u Barutani. Uprkos veoma gustom rasporedu, Astrix je našao malo vremena da proćaska sa nama o svom novom albumu, muzici, planovima, srpskoj publici…

Astrix na nasutpu u Brazilu

Reci nam nešto o poslednjem album He.Art – koliko dugo si ga pripremao, šta ti je poslužilo kao inpsiracija i kako je tekao kreativni proces?

Pravljenje albuma je trajalo dugo, a kreativni process se razlikovao u odnosu na sve moje prethodne albume. Pokušao sam da u njega unesem istu onu energiju koja je bila prisutna kada sam počeo da pravim muziku. To nije baš lako s obzirom da je prošlo mnogo godina i sada sam mnogo iskusniji, nisam više naivan. Tako da sam dao sebi mnogo više prostora kako bih pravio muziku – pravio sam male ceremonije u studiju pred svaki muzički sešn, kombinovao sam produkciju sa drugim umetnostima kao što su slikanje, crtanje, vajanje. Celo iskustvo je za mene bilo veoma duboko i mislim da se to oseti u muzici. Reakcije su bile snažne naročito na podijumu za igru, tako da mislim da sam izabrao pravi put.

Album je objavljen na etiketi Hom-mega. To je isti lejbl koji je objavio i tvoj prvi album. Inače, HOM-mega slavi 20. godišnjicu upravo na žurci u Barutni. Reci nam nešto više o tvom dugogodišnjem partnerstvu sa njima.

Moje putovanje sa HOM-mega etiketom je dugo. Želim im da im narednih 20 godina budu još produktivnije i kreativnije.

Gde pronalaziš inspiraciju za svoje trake i kakvu poruku šalješ svojom muzikom?

Za mene je muzika spiritualna. Sam process stvaranja mora biti spiritualan ako želiš da muzika ima dubinu i smisao. Inspiraciju crpim iz svih ostalih formi umetnosti: crtanje, vajanje, muzika. Takođe, inspiriše me gledanje dokumentaraca i filmova i naravno svi oni rituali na podijumima za ples.

Avi Shmailov a.k.a Astrix

Reci nam nešto o Astrixu što ne znamo, možda imaš neki hobi?

Veoma sam povučena osoba i pomalo sam stidljiv. Volim moj studio i mogu da provedem danima u njemu. To sve govori koliko volim Psy-Trance i žurke i koliko je važna moja povezanost sa ljudima koji vole moju muziku i da zbog toga provodim toliko vremena na putu.

Vraćaš se u Beograd. Šta pamtiš sa prethodnih nastupa u Beogradu?

Volim srpsko Psy-Trance pleme. Uvek sam imao odličnu povezanost sa ljudima u Srbiji i konstantno me zovu da se vratim – tako da sam srećan i jedva čekam da nastupim opet.

Kakvi su ti planovi za budućnost?

Pa, mnogo toga se kuva. Moja zajednička traka sa Shpongle je već izašla na njihovom novom albumu. Veoma sam uzbuđen zbog toga, s ozbirom da sam veliki fan Simona i Raja. Tu je takođe Alpha Portal, moj projekat sa Ace Venturom. Još puno drugih projekata na kojima radim u studiju i naravno mnogo žurki i festivala.

Sa nastupa u Argentini

Podsećamo vas još jednom, HOM-mega Anivercary žurka u organizaciji Goasapiens ekipe održaće se 25. avgusta u Barutanu, a ko još nastupa pored Astrixa, pogledajte na Facebook eventu.

English version: 

ASTRIX: FOR ME MUSIC IS SPIRITUAL!

Astrix is one of the pioneers of Psy-trance and with more than 20 years on the scene, he is one of the leading DJs and producers out there. From big nightclubs around the globe and beach parties to big festivals and underground events, he has shared his infectious and hypnotizing trance vibe through his sets with the audience all over the world.

He is one of the favorites of the Serbian trance audience, and he will return to Belgrade on August 25th. Although his schedule is very busy, Astrix found a little time to chat with us about his new album, music, plans, Serbian audience…

Tell us something about your latest album He.Art – how long have you been working on it, what was the inspiration, how the creative process was going on?

It was a long process and the creative process was very different than my previous album. I tried to bring into it the same energy that was present when I only started to make music. That’s not easy as many years have gone by and I’m much more experienced and not as naive. So I gave much more space to creating the music - I made small ceremonies in the studio before every music session, combined my work on music with other arts I like such as painting, drawing & sculpting. The whole experience for me was very profound, and I feel it is felt in the music. The responses for the album were humbling and overwhelming, especially on the dancefloors, so I feel I chose a right path there.

It’s released on HOM-mega. It’s the same label that published your first album. HOM-mega is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. Tell us something about your long term partnership with them?

My journey with HOM-mega has been a long one. I wish the label that the next 20 years would be even more productive and creative.

Where do you find inspiration for your tracks and what message do you want to send through your music?

For me music is spiritual. The creation process has to be spiritual if you want the music to have depth and a meaning. I get my inspiration mainly from all forms of art: Drawing, sculpting, music. Also from watching documentaries and movies, and of course from the dacefloor rituals I take part in.

Tell us something about Astrix that we don’t know, do you have some kind of hobby?

I’m a very private person and a bit shy. I love my studio and can spend full days in it. So this tells you how much I love Psytrance and parties and the importance of my connection with the people who like my music for me, that I spend so much time on the road.

You are coming back to Belgrade to Barutana where you have already played in recent years. What are your impressions from Belgrade gigs? Anything to say to your fans here in Belgrade?

I love the Serbian Psytrance tribe. I always had a very good connection with people in Serbia and have a lot Serbian psytrancers constantly asking me to come back - so I’m happy and really looking forward to it.

What are your plans for the future?

Well, there is a lot cooking. My collaboration track with Shpongle is coming out on the new Shpongle album that is already out for pre-sale. I’m very excited about that, as I’m a huge fan of Simon and Raja. There’s Alpha Portal, my collaboration project with Ace Ventura. A lot of other projects in process in the studio, and of course a lot of parties and festivals.