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Music

Check Out a New Mix from Israeli Progressive Icon Guy J

The Tel Aviv producer gets on the decks and talks shop.

Immersed in a rich dance music culture from an early age, Israeli producer Guy J has become an intrinsic part of a forward thinking generation of electronic artists. The last decade has seen him climb underground music's ladder, enthralling the minds of music lovers across the globe with his eclectic productions.

With a clear vision and ability to ply his trade in a variety of genres, Guy J is now celebrating the release of his latest album, The Trees, The Sea & The Sun on John Digweed's Bedrock Records. He sat with THUMP recently to talk about the production of the album, as well as drop a new NORTHMIX. Israeli

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THUMP: This is your third album under the Bedrock banner. Do you have a process when approaching an album for them?
Guy J: It wouldn't matter if my album was being released on another label. I write the music that I really feel and believe in, and I produce something that totally reflects me as musician. I create for the sake of creating. It took a while to do this one because I work nonstop on music and I just wanted to pick the right tracks that all worked well together. It has to be a smooth flow so that it'll sound fresh for years.

The style of the album doesn't fit any cookie-cutter molds of music, nor does every track appear intended for the dance floor. How do you apply this ethos to your live performances?
I try to combine ambient elements in my music, which give it more warmth and more space. I believe any music that you play in a club can sound ready for the dancefloor on a big system, but why not try to add to it and give it a bigger and better feel?

Did you draw from any specific experiences while working on The Trees, The Sea & The Sun? Where are you in your mind's eye when you listen back to it?
There are a few tracks on the album that take me back to the moment I was writing them. These have more meaning to me. Others are just memories that I've reflected on and turned into music.

You're often questioned about the highlights of Israel's music scene, but what are some of the downfalls of Tel Aviv in terms of being a DJ and producer?
The biggest issue with the Tel Aviv scene is that it's small. There are a lot of people that want to be part of the nightlife, sometimes regardless of the personal price to take part in it. But, due to the fact that it is such a small place, there is always a lot of competition and sometimes it's hard for people to get the recognition they deserve.

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Your label Lost & Found was launched in the summer of 2012. What were your intentions for the the imprint before the first release?
My Idea with Lost & Found is to be able to release good house music to the industry. Every release is differentand there is no specific genre to the label. Now there are 24 releases, Lost & Found label nights around the world, and four years at ADE—the label's success has been beyond my expectation.

So is it time to rest and reflect now that the album is complete or are you ready to head back into the studio?
I'm always working relentlessly in the studio, just writing music. I play loads of originals in my sets. That is why I have the need to produce. It is part of me. I have to give something special for those who invite me and those who come to see me when I play.

Guy J is on Facebook // Twitter // SoundCloud

Bedrock Records is on Facebook // Twitter // SoundCloud

Lost & Found is on Facebook // SoundCloud