Astrix

Astrix
Astrix performing in Moscow in 2013
Background information
Birth name	Avi Shmailov
Born	(1981-05-12) May 12, 1981 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

Artcore

One Step Ahead

Red Means Distortion

He.art

EPs / Singles

• Coolio, 2004, HOM-Mega Productions
• Coolio (12"), 2004, Tokyo Dance
• Closer To Heaven (12"), 2005, Tokyo Dance
• Future Music EP, 2007, Spiral Trax
• Acid Rocker EP, 2010, HOMmega HD
• Reunion, 2011, Plastik Park
• Type 1, 2012, HOMmega HD
• Stars On 35, 2012, HOMmega HD
• High On Mel, 2013, HOMmega HD

Compilation & Mixes by Astrix

Nu-Clear Visions Of Israel

Psychedelic Academy

DJ Magazine Presents Astrix & Friends

Releases on compilations

Track Name: Artist - Album/Compilation

• Chaos: Digital Oracle
• Poison (Wrecked Machines rmx): Map Of Goa Vol.3
• Future Music: Goa Neo Full On Vol.4
• Closer To heaven: Compilation Neo Full ON

Appearances

DVD Videos

• The Gathering, 2002 - 2007, Vision Quest Productions
• X-Mode Vol.6 Back To The Future, 2004, Tokyo X-Ray Studios Productions
• Supervision - NTSC/PAL, 2006, Tip.World Productions
• Boom Festival 2008 We Are All - NTSC/PAL, 2009, GoodMood Productions
• The Beach, 2009, FinePlay Records Productions

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:

• EDC Vegas,^[22]
• Burning man,
• Beyond Wonderland and Summer Music Festival (USA),
• Summer Stomp Festival,^[23]
• SW4 and BoomTown Fair (UK),
• Earthcore (Australia),^[24]
• VuuV Festival(Germany),^[25]
• [Tomorrowland_(festival)|Tomorrowland] (Belgium),
• [Tomorrowland_(festival)|Tomorrowland] (Brazil),^[26]
• OZORA (Hungary),^[27]
• Psy Fi and Dance Valley (Netherlands),
• Weekend Festival (Finland & Estonia),
• Airbeat One (Germany),
• Tribe
• XXXperience (Brazil),
• Emmaboda (Sweden),
• Inox (France),
• BAT (Argentina)

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

External links

• Astrix Facebook
• Astrix Twitter
• Astrix YouTube
• Astrix SoundCloud
• Astrix Label
• Astrix RA
• Astrix Discogs
• Astrix iTunes
• Astrix beatport
• Astrix performing Scientific Reality (Japan, 2009)