Astrix (pseudonym of Avi Shmailov)

Astrix (pseudonym of Avi Shmailov; in Hebrew: אבי שמיילוב) is a Psychedelic trance DJ and producer specialising in the sub-genre of Full On Psychedelic Trance.

He was born in USSR in Caucasus on 05/12/1981 and grew up in Tel Aviv, Israel 1992 as a Mountain Jew. 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.

In 2006 Astrix reached #41 (+34 raise) in DJMag's "Top 100 DJs" yearly rank along with raise of several other Israeli musicians (the highest being Infected Mushroom ranked #9) marking significant worldwide popularisation of Israeli electronic music scene.

In 2007 Astrix reached #18 on the list.

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." At the beginning of his career in the late 1990s he produced tracks in the "nitzhonot" style of trance, an uplifting, anthemic off-shoot of Goa trance. His first tracks were "In Peace" and "Eakhis World," which both appeared on the well-known nitzhonot compilation "Ptzatzot 3."[edit]

Early career

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.

[edit]Musical style

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

[edit]Influences

Astrix is 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 mainstream 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."

Astrix has worked with Infected Mushroom, Alien Project, Astral Projection, Atomic Pulse, and G.M.S., among other musicians.

[edit]Discography

• Eye To Eye (CD) ---------------- (HOM-Mega Productions) (2002)
• Coolio (CD) ---------------- (HOM-Mega Productions) (2004)
• Coolio (12) ---------------- (HOM-Mega Productions) (2004)
• Artcore (CD) ---------------- (HOM-Mega Productions) (2004)
• Future Music EP (12) ---------------- (Spiraltrax Label Group) (2007)
• Future Music (CD) ---------------- (HOM-Mega Productions) (2007)
• Closer To Heaven (12) ---------------- (Tokyo Productions) (2007)
• One Step Ahead (CompactStick) ---------------- (HOM-Mega Productions) (2008)
• Acid Rocker (EP) ---------------- (HOM-Mega Productions) (2010)
• Red Means Distortion (CD) ---------------- (HOM-Mega Productions) (2010)

[edit]Discography Other

• Compilation Psychedelic Academy Mixed By Astrix (2CD) ---------------- (Hit Mania) (2005)
• Astrix The Red Sun Psy Man (CD) ---------------- (???) (2005)
• Compilation The History Of Goa Trance Vol.2 Sound Of HOMmega (2CD) ---------------- (Yellow Sunshine Explosion) (2008)
• Compilation Heat Seekers Israeli Trance Allstars (CD) ---------------- (HOM-Mega Productions) (2009)

[edit]Tracks & Remixes Released 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

[edit]Video DVD Vision Quest

• The Gathering Vision Quest 2002 (DVD) ---------------- (Vision Quest Productions) (2002)
• The Gathering Vision Quest 2003 (DVD) ---------------- (Vision Quest Productions) (2003)
• The Gathering Vision Quest 2004 (DVD) ---------------- (Vision Quest Productions) (2004)
• The Gathering Vision Quest 2005 (2DVD) ---------------- (Vision Quest Productions) (2005)
• The Gathering Vision Quest 2006 (2DVD) ---------------- (Vision Quest Productions) (2006)
• The Gathering Vision Quest 2007 (2DVD) ---------------- (Vision Quest Productions) (2007)

[edit]Video DVD Other

• Compilation X-Mode Vol.6 Back To The Future (DVD) ---------------- (Tokyo X-Ray Studios Productions) (2004)
• Compilation Supervision NTSC (DVD) ---------------- (Tip World Productions) (2006)
• Compilation Supervision PAL (DVD) ---------------- (Tip World Productions) (2006)
• Boom Festival 2008 We Are All - PAL (DVD) ---------------- (GoodMode Productions) (2009)
• Boom Festival 2008 We Are All - NTSC (DVD) ---------------- (GoodMode Productions) (2009)
• Compilation The Beach 2009 (DVD) ---------------- (FinePlay Records Productions) (2009)