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Astrix (Avi Shmailov) is a Psychedelic Trance DJ and producer specialising in the sub-genre of Full On Psychedelic Trance. He was born in Russia in 1981 and grew up in Tel Aviv Israel. He began recording music under the name Astrix (sometimes misconcieved to be taken from the "Asterix" comic books. An interview on UK clubbing website Harderfaster.net revealed the name was chosen for simply sounding good, and not directly influenced by anything in particular) in 1997 and has used the name since.

In 2006 Astrix reached #41 (+34 raise) in DJMag's "Top 100 DJ's" yearly rank along with raise of several other Israeli musicians (the highest being Infected Mushroom ranked #12) marking significant worldwide popularisation of Israeli electronic music scene.

Astrix started as a DJ in 1995 playing alternative and 80's music. It was during this time that he learned about electronic music. In 1997 he began his first in-house studio recordings using a personal computer. He discovered trance in 1997 after being invited to a Trance party. "At first it was a very new and strange experience for me and I couldn't find myself, but I was impressed by the energy and the impact that the music had made on the people at the party."

Astrix's music is known for his solid, driving basslines and ascending melodies. It is very uplifting and, as far as Psychedelic Trance goes, fairly "hard" and is also usually played during sunrise and the morning at outdoor trance parties. Many would consider his style to be a crossover between "full-on" and the "clubbier" end of Trance, exemplfied by his recent Psychedelic Academy Mix.

Astrix is musically influenced by Infected Mushroom. "I look up to them for inspiration and for some kind of spiritual fuel as it were." Other influences include Linkin Park and Tiësto. "I also have a love for mainstream bands like Linkin Park, and for ‘club personality’ I like Tiësto, he inspires me very much to see how well you can mix business with music and how big you can become from something that was so small in the beginning."

Astrix has worked with:

• Infected Mushroom
• Alien Project
• Atomic Pulse
• G.M.S.

and other musicians.

• Eye to Eye (HOMmega Productions) (2002)
• Artcore (HOMmega Productions) (2004)
• Psychedelic Academy (compilation) (Hit Mania UK) (2005)
• Red means distortion (upcoming)

• Official Astrix Website (Under Construction)
• Discogs: Astrix
• Chaishop: Astrix
• 4Clubbers: Interview