Yotam Avni will release a new EP on Stroboscopic Artefacts.

Israeli musician Yotam Avni was picked up by Lucy‘s Stroboscopic Artefacts earlier this year, for an EP on digital-only sub-label Monad. Avni, a techno producer who prides himself on his varied approach, has also made appearances on the likes of Non Series and Ovum in recent years. The forthcoming Tehillim marks his debut on the Stroboscopic Artefacts’ vinyl channel—a release made up of four “tracks that are loaded with emotional nuance and defy easy description.”

Ahead of the December release, XLR8R spoke with Avni.

Being a DJ, producer, promotor, and journalist, you literally pushed (and still are pushing) Tel-Aviv’s local scene. What is the sound of Tel-Aviv?
Tel-Aviv’s scene, just like any other, has its ups and downs. I’ve been very lucky to follow many phases since a very early age. I think besides the great weather and the crowd’s partying-hard mentality, the fact that Israel is equally far away from both Europe and the States makes our crowd much more aware of dance music in its wider sense.

The sound of Tel-Aviv is definitely not just one genre, it’s a mixture of cultures—just like everything else in this country. There was a time when Shlomi Aber, Gel Abril, Guy J and Guy Gerber were all breaking into the center of attention and some labelled it as an “Israeli Techno Movement.” I guess myself, Deep’a & Biri, Yogg & TV.OUT are the next generation to follow a similar musical path. Besides that, there’s a huge amount of new-wave-ish electronic talent from Tel-Aviv right now—Moscoman, Naduve, Autarkic and of course Red Axes which are super huge at the moment.

From Terrence Parker to Lucy and Stroboscopic Artefacts, through Josh Wink‘s Ovum… from Tel-Aviv, to Detroit, US and now Berlin. How did it all happen?
I grew up on DJs like Laurent Garnier, Derrick May or DJ Deep—selectors that I still consider to be my greatest inspirations. The DJs and producers in their circle were all doing a variety of genres. It’s very rare nowadays to have a producer doing such broad musical styles; some might say it can hurt a career. Promotors nowadays are looking for DJs to play short sets, that are easy to market in one speficifc genre. That’s not me.

There are many different genres that I like both as a DJ and a producer, and I’m going to do it all under my own name. In the last two years I’ve managed to finally find my own unique style, mixing both my souful US roots with modern post-Berghain techno.

What’s your relationship with Stroboscopic Artefacts?
I’ve known Lucy for a while, and am a great fan of him—but, I was very surprised when he asked me to send him tracks for the label. From all the music I did so far, nothing was edgy or experimental enough to feel right for this kind of label. But, Lucy probably saw something else in those first tracks that I sent him and now I have the perfect imprint to explore new territories in my production. I feel honored and privileged to be doing it with one of the best techno labels of recent years.

Tehillim will hit stores December 9.

Tracklisting:

A1. Tehillim
A2. Orma
B1. Shtok
B2. Even