Infected Mushroom @ Ministry of Sound Sessions - 27/01/2006


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Ministry of Sound sick of the same old story


Dave, I have seen lately that Ministry of Sound franchise is changing the same old story based on new influences

Who would of thought that the new Ministry of Sound new radio audience is 75% of PSY-TRANCE and all new articles and 66% of the music is focalized on PSY-TRANCE too this last months

Well, there is the BIG question is Psy-Trance Sell Out To the mainstream?

When Psy-TRANCE started the main thing was NEVER become a Sell Out? Like TIESTO or DIGWEED kind of current music wise!

But Dave, TIESTO and BEDROCK don’t have the same kind of phenomenon that we are experiencing with PSY-TRANCE this 2006

Of course not PSY-TRANCE has the same effect of any forbidden experience since it wanted to be secret, new generations crave it even more

Nowadays PSY-TRANCE is part of every club in Europe and has the biggest European festivals, Before the 2005 I think Dj Magazine never had a Psy-Trance on the top 100 now we have 26 Infected Mushroom, 45 Yahel, 72 John '00' Fleming, 75 Astrix, And also others getting closer like: 133 SKAZI, 211 GMS

All of these guys are playing in the same Venues that djs such as SASHA, Ferry Corsten, Deep Dish, and ATB ,same clubs and for the same people most of these times!

So what is this telling you that PSY-TRANCE is no longer the new secret hippy groove but a powerful force that soon could be on top ten of every list

Ok back to the article



Psy-Trance Sell Out? Pt 1


There’s no denying it anymore. Over the last few years psy-trance has become more popular ever before in the UK. It sells out venues usually reserved for the likes of U2 and Madonna and gathers tens of thousands of people at festivals around the globe. Sara Oscarsson speaks to the world’s biggest psy-trance icons - Infected Mushroom and Astrix - to find out if its recent popularity will put it in danger of selling out…
The best part of the trip…
Psy-trance has been around since the early ‘90s, but the UK mainstream dance scene has only recently picked up on it. So why now? I spoke to Tom Jenkins who hosts the weekly New Wave Radio show on Ministry of Sound Radio. He said: ‘The harder dance music genres have picked up on it because they are getting bored of their own sound and are looking for new and fresh inspiration. The music is interesting, hard and melodic. It’s fresh and inspiring. But I don’t think it will go mainstream, because it is not easy enough for mainstream dancers to listen to. The UK media acknowledged psy-trance in the mid ‘90s, but then moved on to the next big thing. Many artists within the scene then thought ‘fuck them’. Now it’s getting recognised again. It still might be underground in the UK, but not in Brazil and Israel. Acts like Infected Mushroom and Astrix are treated like proper rock stars over there.”


Magic Mushrooms
Israeli act Infected Mushroom have already sold over 250,000 albums world-wide and more than one million people have flocked to see them live. Last year they entered the DJ Magazine top 100 at No. 26, that’s no mean feat for a genre that’s been widely ignored by the UK music press for the last decade.
Erez Eizen, one half of Infected Mushroom says: “Psy-trance will never lose its soul, even if it enters the mainstream. Some people within the scene get so obsessed with keeping it underground but that’s just silly. Psy-trance doesn’t have to stay underground in order to be good. Mainstream doesn’t have to mean ‘bad’, it’s all about getting the music out to a wider audience. Britney Spears is a bad example of mainstream. She’s just doing what she’s told and produces music just for the money.”
Erez and Amit Duvdevany – that’s short for Duvdev- put their popularity down to their constant touring and dedication to live performance. On stage, both of them sing and play synthesizers live, with brilliant electric guitar work from their new team mate Erez Nets. Their live performances pack a powerful punch but Erez thinks it’s the music itself that is the main reason for their success. Both studied classical music from an early age and feel this gives them a rare insight onto the genre. ‘Our mums wanted us to learn all that classical shit – which we appreciate now, but not back then’; smiles Erez. ‘It helped us a lot getting into music production because it helped us construct melodies and understand the concept of notes. Mum tries to listen to our music now and, although she says she likes it, I know she doesn’t really!” I wonder what their parents would make of an actual psy-trance gig…

Homegrown Talent
Israel is a major exporter of psy-trance with numerous acts like Astrix, Astral Projection, Dali, Psy Sex, Psy Craft, Sub6, Black & White, Xerox & Illumination, Skazi, Oforia and DJ Eyal Yankovich. These acts are constantly playing at the biggest festivals and clubs in the UK, Mexico, Brazil, Italy, Japan, Australia, the USA, Spain and of course Israel, poring out influences and helping psy-trance to grow around the globe. I ask why and Erez tires to explain why Israel is always a step forward: “We help each other; we share secrets and borrow each others equipment. There are about 30 Israeli psy-trance artists and DJs and we are all friends.”
In Ministry of Sounds next feature on psy-trance Astrix gives his views on why the Israeli artists are the Kings and Queens in this genre.

When it comes to Infected Mushroom’s popularity and fame in the UK Erez says: “The UK crowd is not an easy crowd to play for. They know their stuff and expect the best from us, so we always have to do top performances to please them. They know what to expect and many of them have seem us several times before. It’s a great place to perform and we love it.”
For all eager fans, Infected Mushroom’s sixth album Vicious Delicious will be out June 6 this year.

Que exito!

Tenia que pasar eventualmente... el psy recibira la atencion que se merece.

Siempre lo supe.

Excelente por el Psy !!! ojala que enverdad lo empiezen a tomar encerio y sea mas reconocido

So Dave, before we get in to the second part, why do you think youngsters here in the UK are filling the venues with psytrance instead of old school club genders

Well I remember if you wanted to pack a venue like Alexandra Palace you had to book DIGWEED vs SASHA and CARL COX at the very least!, nowadays you have PIXEL, ASTRIX and INFECTED MUSHRROM and the lines outside the doors are unbelievable

The UK was getting sick and tired of the same show over and over again, I mean its cool to see Digweed or Oakenfold behind the Turn Tables, but the you see Astrix or any show the speed goes up, the vibe & spirit goes up, is different but young minds are begging for something different, you saw this on the last festival for example They put in the line up INFECTED MUSHROOM impressive live show after # 1) PAUL VAN DYK which is great but the hands went up after him, when the Israelis grab the mic and start a live concert talking and jumping with the crowd.

See what I mean, I don’t think by Infected Mushroom or Astrix playing with PAUL VAN DYK or CARL COX is a sell out, its just that the same crowd wants to see them and pay for them, so who are we to say no to that.

Ok back to the Article

Psy-Trance Sell Out Pt 2


Sara Oscarsson explores the psy-trance scene further with her exclusive interview with Astrix and asks about the future of this underground phenomenon and how the Israeli scene is bringing this genre into the mainstream


Electronic era with a special flavour
Astrix, with his unique style and crystal clear sound, had his break through in 2002 with his debut album Eye to Eye.

The Israeli artist has since then been on a non-stop tour around the globe and is selling out venues like Brixton Academy and Alexandra Palace. He also entered the DJ Magazine top 100 at no 75 last year.

Avi Shmailov aka Astrix, says psy-trance has been growing around the world for almost a decade. “It is a bit different nowadays though. The production with its more vocal themes and the events are much more for the masses than it used to be. We have entered an electronic era, which has taken many people prisoners and the psy-trance genre is a part of this. It has become a bit more commercialised, but I don’t think the genre will sell out.”

Psy-trance has become a blend of underground music and commercial sounds and production methods. “But it must not lose its soul and its special flavour. It is easier to communicate with the music today, with much coverage in TV, on the Internet and in the media. It will never be top commercial, but we want to bring it to more people,” he says

Astrix thinks that hard house opened the door for psy-trance, but says that psy-trance is more complex and challenging. “It takes the listener on a journey. It does not have an obvious formula and it’s going into the unexpected.”

Womanizer who knows which buttons to press
When it comes to Astrix’s success, he explains that there are two different types of trance artists. “There are musicians and there are engineers. The true secret is to be a musician, if you want to go higher. I’m a musician.”

I point out to Astrix that I think his best track ever is Sex Style on his second album Artcore. “It is funny you should say that. Sex Style is most girls’ favourite.

It is very emotional and it really stands out. It is very melodic and not so aggressive”.

“I remember playing it at an outdoor party in Brazil once. All the girls pushed though to the front row and pushed all the guys back.

I saw a lot of tears in those girls’ eyes. I like that I can have that effect on people. This track was released over one and a half years ago, but I still play it in my live sets. It’s a timeless track.”


The storytelling wizard
Astrix says each of his tracks is telling a story and that psy-trance is very intelligent and complex music.

The evolution of a psy-trance track is different from e.g. a hard house track. It has a different structure and the climax is often in the end, not in the middle.

Astrix played in front of 200,000 ravers at the Israeli Love Parade 2004 and says: “It was such an adrenaline rush and an endless sea of people. I had a vision of The Lord of the Rings.

The dance floor was just full of thousands and thousands of heads and it felt like they were moving towards me like an army in a cloud of dust. It was just raw power. It felt like it was a power strong enough to change the world.”

Astrix will soon release a remix of 1200 Mics notorious track Mescaline and he is also collaborating with Sub6. His third album is to be realised by the end of the year.

The UK scene and psy-trance in Israel
Apart from the Israeli scene, Astrix thinks the UK scene is the most important one. “London is the capital of music. It is the door way to all of Europe and then if you can break through there it opens up for opportunities in the US.”

The UK scene is lacking one essential thing though – psy-trance outdoor festivals.

“That would help the genre grow even more, because it is a totally different experience to play and dance at an outdoor party. The music travel through air and space and makes the music grow. Outdoor elements such as the sunrise and a full moon add to the experience,” says Astrix.

Israel produces the greatest psy-trance artists in the world. Astrix tires to explain: “I think it’s in the Israeli character. We are very emotional and strong people.

Also, in Israel psy-trance has been allowed to enter different forums of exposure, for example in TV, radio and in the news papers and they always play psy-trance at youth parties, not only hip hop. Psy-trance is imbedded in the Israeli culture with icons like Infected Mushroom. You have to come here to understand.”

Asi que la franquicia de Boy Geoge expande sus fronteras en la subcultura trans... Ya ERA HORA!