|
 Triple deck DJ’s are rare and hard to come by in the Hong Kong party scene. What’s even rare is when all three are brothers by blood.
The hottest triple deck sibling outfit from Isreal, Flash Brothers, catch up with www.hkclubbing.com ahead of their set at the SOMA festival on the 14th of July.
Nilly: It’s quite rare to see a trio of DJ’s and producers working under one artist name, let alone them being brothers. Are you three brothers by birth or cousins? Do you have any other siblings and do they have any involvement in music? FB: We are really three brothers, we were born and grew up together at the same house. There are no other brothers and sisters in the family, but still its quit unique. Nilly: Tell us a little about where you grew up. FB: We grew up in the city of Nazareth at the north of Israel. It’s a small city, so not much to do around there if you are an artist or into what we do.
Since we were kids we had passion for electronic music since the 80's, so when it moved on forward later on to more House and Techno music we did not have so much people there who understood this music we were so passionate about. Our friends did, but we always wanted to listen to this music in clubs, while locally was played more commercial stuff. So we started to explore how to make this music, and then things started to roll on. Nilly: What makes the three of you work so well together? What do each one of you bring to maintain the longevity of the partnership? FB: We know each other very well, so each one of us complete the other one, while together it makes a good working team. Weather Shmuel is strong with the software and computers, Ruven is the master of sound, Tech stuff and Studio mixing, and me (Ilan) helps choosing the sounds and direction musically, getting new music for our Dj sets and radio shows etc. Nilly: Does the name Flash Brothers have anything to do with a play on words on your surname, Flaishler? FB: Exactly! Ruven the older brother was making at school a cassettes tapes compilation series called DJ FLASH which got in demand there, and the name was based on our Flaishler surname but with a bit of a 'Remix' to it. Nilly: What or who got you interested in music in the first place? FB: Our father listened at home since we remember ourselves to Disco music records, stuff as ABBA, Rafaela Cara, Boney M etc. He was very much into it, as used to watch with us disco music TV show from Germany which was popular in the beginning of 80's. From there it started. Nilly: What were the early genres that triggered your interest into electronic music? FB: The new wave electro pop of the early 80's, such as Depech Mode, Soft Cell, Visage, Yazoo. This music was all based on Synths and electronic new sounds which were very new and interesting for us. The videos also of those bands were showing a lot the synthisizers they played on, so it was really interesting and cool for us. Nilly: Have you always been interested in and playing electronic music? Like many artists you say that you don’t like to be pigeon holed into any one genre. But if push comes to shove and you had to give one word to describe your sound, what would it be? FB: Yes we always were interested and playing electronic music, its our passion!
Well yes our Electronic sound is varied, but although its hard to describe it in one word, we will say – MELODIC is the key word! The Melodic feel is the key and always inside any of our productions we did.. Nilly: What is the party scene like in Israel? FB: It’s not good as it was a few years back, as clubs closed, open air venues in Tel Aviv as Pacha Tel Aviv closed. Also music policy in many places changed, so its not what we aimed for after so many year Israel had club scene and all the big Djs in the world played here already.
Its new generation, maybe bit of economy as well, but strong scene is small clubs, dance bars etc going on now. Since 2003 we play more outside of the country, but still there are few nice clubs and parties here, only the generation changed here in the last couple of years. Nilly: Is there quite a high level of security within clubs in Israel? FB: There is good security, yes, as in every entrance to club or dance bars there are bouncers checking out persons coming in so will not carry on weapons, drugs etc. It’s quit the same in other countries we travelled to. Nilly: What are the more popular genres within the scene and why (i.e. within psychedelic trance, a genre commonly associated with the Israel dance scene, there seems to be heavy influences from Goa, India)? FB: Yes the Psychedelic Goa Trance is still possibly the most popular here, as most of electronic music producers in Israel still do this style. Its popularity is because a lot of young Israeli's travel to India for a trip, there they go to parties and feel free. So this music was always played there in Goa, and Israeli people brought back with them this influence and vibe in the beginning of 90's, so it’s grew up and became popular. We never were too much into it musically, as were more into melodic club music, and grew up more on House and Techno music, so we did in Israel eventually the first ever Artist album in electronic which was more clubby progressive house and trancy too. In Israel the Trance sound of Paul Van Dyk, Armin and Tiesto is also very big for years now, but u do get to hear electro, techno and House as well. Nilly: Who do you think were the early pioneers of the electronic music scene in Israel? FB: Dj Choopie definitely, who brough to Israel House, Clubby Trance and House music. He pushed House on its geners from the 80's, opened the first club / House music label in Israel (Agnosia) and is our manager since we started. In the Trance / Goa style, Astral Projection duo were the first ones to make this and Acid music here, and became the first Israeli electronic artists that got exposure outside of Israel. We respect these guys!
We were possibly the first producers in Israel to make Progressive house, Progressive trance and Electro house in the late 90's. Nilly: Who are some of the more ground breaking artists in Israel now? Have you collaborated with any of them? FB: These days there are many names around that's big here and outside the country, mostly on the Goa Psy trance. But again we are not related to this scene, as we are doing different styles of Electronic club music. But we can name a good artist called Huge A from Israel, that's doing excellent electro house stuff for the past 2 years. He is a good friend as well, and the only one that collaborated with one of us (Shmuel) on their own projects and remixes, under Shmuel Flash and Huge A. We don’t have time to collaborate with others, and we are very busy with our own non stop productions and world gigs. Nilly: What are your thoughts on touring Asia and specifically coming to Hong Kong. I understand that you have a packed tour schedule. FB: We always enjoyed Asia tours and had great time. The people are very polite and nice, the tradition and lifestyle is interesting, and we always get a very good treatment in Asia. We will be now for the first time in Hong Kong after touring other countries in Asia, but we know it will be great as heard only good stuff on it and know by ourselves already. Nilly: Any plans on releasing new material or albums? FB: Sure – just now we have our new single 'Say yeah' out on the popular UK house record label CR2. This track is being played now by a lot of top world Djs across the world, as well as in Ibiza the party Island capital
that has its big summer season now with the best clubs and Djs in the world.
We also work now a lot on new remixes for record labels in Italy, USA, UK, Canada and France, as there’s a big demand for our music now.
As for Albums, yes there is some new one or even 2 in plan to work on very soon.
Nilly: What is one tune that you think will be the summer anthem? FB: 'SAY YEAH'!!! Interview: Nilly Chaudhuri
|
