In fact if you do your reading, you’ll discover that Reshef Harari has achieved more than his fair share over the years – least of which is being credited with being the man behind the genre termed ‘progressive transtep’. If nothing else though, the progressive trance-head – hailing from one of the true spiritual homes of trance Israel – is upbeat about the happenings in his universe.
“Growing up in Israel was great,” chimes Reshef. “I actually lived in the countryside and coming from a farming family, I had an amazing childhood filled with nature and freedom!” Of course though the tenuous relationship between the country and a number of its neighbors meant that finding an escape was a priority for much of the local youth – and with that came the growth in electronic music that has permeated the country for many years now.
“Parties in our country were always a way for us to release tension and break away from things,” he professes with pride. “Once you got onto the dance floor as a kid – and I’ve been going to parties since I was 15 years old – nothing can move you away. For me, it went even further; I went deeper into trance while syncing my mind, body and soul.”
Indeed, he got into music originally from the inspiration provided by his brother, who was producing parties as far back as 1998. “When I had the chance to listen to this music – which at the time felt like a massive alien future sound of trance – I got hooked onto minimal trance. And since then, I’ve been collecting and producing music. But it was really my brother that started me on this evolution.”
Musically, he has had his finger in a number of different pies over the years but admits that right now, Captain Hook is his major focus. “Yes, it is where my energy is going right now – I’m really liking the minimal tribal progressive trance music associated with it. I also produce techno under the name Sheff and have played under this project at a number of different festivals over the times. In the past, I have also had a project called Quantize and had a partner within it – D Addiction. Otherwise, I’m forming a band with Liquid Soul called Liquid Hook; as well as a band with Ace Ventura under the name Blockbusterz.” So with influences ranging from trance, techno, bass music, hip hop, metal, classic rock, swing, jazz – basically what he terms “any good beat” – the Captain is kicking goals.
In the studio, he also recounts some of the work he has on the go: “I’m working on a double remix album for all of my original releases so far,” he says. “This album will contain a wide range of electronic music such as glitch-hop, dubstep and techno-funk in the first CD; with more of a minimal, progressive, goa and psychedelic trance sound in the second. I hope that the album will give the listener an introduction to my musical world – as well as an opportunity to listen to remix works from fresh, new and old-time producers whom I love and respect.” The album is due around October this year on Iboga Records.
Finally, he adds a few words about his forthcoming gigs in Australia. “I will be playing live at the Earthcore 20th Anniversary party which I’m really looking forward to. Right now, my setup is a laptop, a soundcard with multi-channels connecting the analog mixer, Kaoss Pad, Ableton Live with some edits, as well as Pioneer DJM 800/900/2000 for everything from analog FX to echo, reverb, filtering and pitching. The sound this time will be more tribal and less breaks. I would say more flowing, mature and deeper than what I used to play. It will also be my third trip to Australia so I can’t wait!”
BY RK
