Nocturnals lived it up and how! Hands up in the air, they grooved to psytrance and Yahel’s favourite tracks from his own album Super Set 3. The final two words for the spin-master, who feels he has a “natural affinity” for trance? “Come back!”

I know you will ask me my full name. Hi, I am Yahel, Yahel Sherman from Israel.” It was with this warm hello that t2 caught up with one of the prominent names in trance music globally for over a decade. The Israeli DJ took charge of the console at Nocturne on Friday night.

Welcome back to Calcutta after 2010!

Coming back feels like being part of a big family. People here know their music. It is not like some random big party where people walk in without caring much about who is playing or what is being played. I played at Tantra the last time I was here and it was really nice.

Fifteen years into dance music. How does that feel?

There is still so much to do! I started with psytrance in my initial days. Then I started developing as an artiste and working with different genres like European trance, like that of Tiesto and Armin van Buuren. I like to try different genres in the trance spectrum. I like everything that is a little groovy and has the trance vibe. I am now also doing a lot of EDM — not exactly like David Guetta but more commercial stuff.

Who do you look to for inspiration?

Oh, there are many! I like the sound of the new progressive psytrance. There are people like Liquid Soul (Chicago-based jazz, hip-hop, funk and freestyle fusion band), Neelix (progressive trance DJ from Germany) and, of course, Paul Oakenfold (trance DJ) who I really like.

What do you do when you’re not making music?

I love playing Internet chess. Or relaxing by the beach as I live near the sea.

How are you adapting to new-age music technology where anyone can create sound tracks using software?

Through websites like YouTube and Soundcloud, you come across new tracks and get deeper knowledge about the different genres of music, which is a good thing. While people constantly want something new, at the same time they also want the same old flavour intact. That is just what I do. I try to focus on my presentation but every music has the same old feel where you listen to it and you know it is Yahel’s music. I might change the side dishes but always keep the main course the same!

What next?

I have signed up with Paul Oakenfold’s Perfecto Records. I am working on some new tracks with him.

Text: Swati Tewari

Pictures: Rashbehari Das