Red Axes: Biggest Frustration? “Opinions”

Tel Aviv duo Red Axes step into the iconic fabric presents series with a 16-track mix featuring A Guy Called Gerald and Random Factor, plus their new single “Time To Take It.” So what makes them tick? We find out.

Why music?

Niv: Music grabbed me young, and I never let go.
Dori: It’s what I love and what I want to make.

If you weren’t making or playing music, what would you be doing?

Niv: In a fantasy, I’d coach football, but probably work in a corner shop or a bookie.
Dori: Coaching tennis.

Best advice you’ve ever received?

Niv: Always be generous with others over small money.
Dori: Choose your battles.

Who’s the next name everyone should know?

Niv: Troll2, a new band on my label Garzen Records.
Dori: Yonatan Daskal and his new album OD.

Best moment in a club or studio?

Niv: Making something with others, letting feelings take over thoughts.
Dori: Playing sounds through the Watkins tape delay.

Worst job you’ve ever had?

Niv: The worst is not having a job.
Dori: Tennis coach.

How do you know when a track is finished?

Niv: Right before it feels overworked.
Dori: When I do the export.

How do you like to finish your sets?

Niv: In a way that suits the room’s vibe.

What was your last day job before going full-time in music?

Niv: Cooking in an Italian restaurant.
Dori: Tennis coach.

Which track do you wish you’d made?

Niv: Join in the Chant by Nitzer Ebb.
Dori: I Feel Space by Lindstrøm.

What’s the easiest way to break into music?

Niv: To love it, be curious about it, and work hard.
Dori: Open a TikTok page.

What’s the worst track or set you’ve ever done?

Niv: I don’t have a worst or a favourite. There were a lot.
Dori: Once we lost a 1k crowd in 10 minutes.

How do you organize your music collection for your sets?

Niv: I have my autistic methods.
Dori: I don’t.

Recommend a film.

Niv: Cables.
Dori: Rumble Fish.

Recommend a book.

Niv: Anything by Viktor Frankl.
Dori: Ingram by Louis C.K..

Favourite internet clip of all time, music or otherwise?

Niv: Are U Experienced by Psychic TV.
Dori: Farting Preacher.

Who or what deserves more credit?

Niv: Truth.
Dori: My bank account.

Who or what gets too much hype?

Niv: Most of it.
Dori: Instagram and media.

What can’t you stop doing?

Niv: Loving my kids.
Dori: Dreaming.

What’s your guilty pleasure?

Niv: FPL – Fantasy Premier League. The amount of time is sick.

What’s your biggest regret?

Niv: Every time I wasn’t myself.
Dori: Not talking to my grandpa enough.

What would most improve your life right now?

Niv: Being more calm and patient.
Dori: Sport.

Collaboration: rich creative experience or pain in the arse?

Niv: An important experience.
Dori: Love it.

What’s the key to a great DJ mix?

Niv: Honesty.
Dori: Read the room.

How do you unwind?

Niv: Sport.
Dori: Cooking.

One bit of kit or software you can’t live without – and why?

Niv: I can live without it.
Dori: Ableton.

Art or money?

Niv: Art.
Dori: Depends how much.

Which DJ / producer taught or helped you the most?

Niv: I learned a lot from Ivan Smagghe. Cosmo Vitelli helped us a lot in the first years.
Dori: Danny Bar was one of my best friends. He was a great person and an amazing DJ.

Favourite sportsperson ever?

Niv: Ronaldo Fenomeno.
Dori: Roger Federer.

Vinyl, USBs or laptop?

Niv: Doesn’t matter.
Dori: USB.

Strangest place you made a track or did a set.

Niv: Can’t remember anything worth the answer.

Must-visit record store or studio?

Niv: I like A1 in Manhattan, NYC.
Dori: Don’t have one.

What’s your biggest frustration in the music world?

Niv: Opinions.
Dori: That music comes last.

Favourite label and why?

Niv: I don’t have a favourite label. I like many labels. When there’s a strong agenda and passion, it should be good.
Dori: I’ll say the label – I know it’s a cliché – the first one to give us attention.

What’s the hardest thing about making or playing music?

Niv: I don’t think that’s the hard part. The travelling and the lack of sleep are the hard part.
Dori: Not giving up on making music when you have no inspiration.

What’s your motto?

Niv: Work.
Dori: Choose family and friends.

Name something timeless.

Niv: God.
Dori: Death.

Drop a quick tip – best production or DJ advice in a single sentence.

Niv: It has to be sexy, groovy, and slightly dark.
Dori: Less is more.

Complete this: At heart, I’m just a frustrated…

Niv: 13-year-old kid.
Dori: Adult person looking at humanity.

If someone heard your music or saw your set in a thousand years, what would it say about our time?

Niv: That these were very weird times.
Dori: 1980 was better.

Can music change the world?

Niv: The world of whom?
Dori: The world should change the music.

What are you listening to right now?

Niv: The Endless Sea by Iggy Pop.
Dori: Baby songs.

What should everyone do before they die?

Niv: Learn to make a solid chicken soup.
Dori: Go to Japan.

fabric presents Red Axes is out now. Listen on Spotify. Buy it on Bandcamp.

Full tracklist:

1. 100 Hz – Whisper
2. Red Axes & Man Parrish (feat. Roy Garrett) – Hod Rod To Hell And Back
3. Queen Atom – Tributemaki
4. ID – ID
5. James Infiltrate – Chaos
6. Red Axes – Clear Beats
7. The New Black – Androids Are Sexy
8. Red Axes – Time To Take It
9. DJ Naughty Presents Silver & Gold – Rojo Caliente
10. Red Axes Feat Sal P – Up & Down (Red Axes Remix)
11. A Guy Called Gerald – 202
12. Ivan & Johnny – Balance No Bass (Red Axes Remix)
13. Freak Seven – Nano Kids feat Aniff
14. Red Axes – Everywhere
15. Sluts’n’Strings & 909 – Past The Gates
16. Random Factor – Broken Mirror (Red Axes Remix)

Find Red Axes on Instagram.

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