After producing seven artist albums, mixing three compilations, and releasing dozens of vinyls. Yahel has established himself as one of the most popular and talented producers/Dj's to have come from the Israeli Electronic scene. The same scene that gave the world groups like Astral Projection, and Infected Mushroom. Yahel has bridged all these groups with his music bringing ravers and clubbers together.

We interviewed Yahel to find out more about his past, present and future.

You started your DJ career at the very young age of 14, when did you first get behind the ones and twos and start playing around on them? What motivated you to begin in the first place?

Well at first I started to DJ because that was easier than learning how to produce. I loved the electronic sound of many 80s bands like Depeche Mode, and The Pet Shop Boys, and in those times production equipment was not what it is now. Now you can produce with a synthesizer and a laptop, in those days you needed a lot more equipment. To DJ all I needed were turntables, so I started to spin.


What inspired you to take the Trance route with spinning Electronic Dance Music?

That's the music that was getting popular here. Once Goa came to Israel in the early 90s everyone who was a fan of dance music immediately started to take a step back and say, "Wow what is this music?" As time progressed we took that music and began to develop our own sound. I was not the first of course but I like to think that I have had some hand in the development of the form.


One of my personal favourite tracks you've produced is "Electro Panic" with Infected Mushrooms. How did you and Infected Mushrooms meet?

It is more Erez Aizen from Infected that is my real connection. He is younger than me, kind of a prodigy in Electronic music. I have known him since the 90s, when someone introduced us to each other. I wish we would talk more but he is in LA and I am in Israel and we both travel a lot. But when we are in the same place we always talk about our current projects.


I've noticed that the genre you've mastered (Psychedelic Trance) has quite a few recognized Artists/DJs/Producers who also are friendly with it that come from Israel. What elements do you find in Israel that contribute to this sound?

That is a good question. It is hard to answer because each artist has their own style so it is difficult to speak about the scene at large in that sense but I will try. The Israeli Psy scene has the usual elements that you look for. The development of the track, the throbbing techy beat, but many of our artists are very focused on melody. Not all Psy producers are interested in weaving a melody through a track and that is ok, but many of the Israeli artists are interested in that. In addition many Israeli artists consider their music to have elements of Ambient sounds in it. In other words the flow and the breakdown of tracks really have the quiet elements of Ambient music at their core.


You have been involved with the label "Black Hole" with various projects, how did your relationship with them begin?

I haven’t been involved with them for a long time. But it started with my tracks Going Up and Skywalker, Voyage of course on In Trance We Trust which is a sub-label. Tiesto heard my early tracks and liked them. It really helped get my career off the ground, but I have not been in contact with them for years.


Where was your first gig and do you remember the first track that you played at that gig?

It was a gig with Erez Aizen in Japan in 1999. The first track we played was my track "For the People." Wow that was ten years ago. Strange to look back on it.


Do you have any upcoming projects and/or collaborations that you wish to divulge?

I actually have a few new tracks. One is with a great young singer named Sivan Talmor. We just sent out some promos so we will see how those tracks are received.


If you didn't end up becoming a Producer/DJ, what would you see yourself doing with your life outside of the Electronic Dance Music community?

I love the Sea so I would probably work somewhere with the water. Maybe I would be a fisherman.

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