Joining us for the latest edition of our Prima Lux series is Montreal-based tech maestro Hillel Shabtai. The Canadian producer and DJ seized the spotlight last month with a groove-riddled two track EP ‘Jump Up’ on DIALNINE, garnering support from industry heavyweights like Josh Butler, Hector Couto and Mikey Lion. In addition to delivering an exclusive, new mix for the occasion, he joins us for a little Q&A action as we touch on his early days in music, his distinct stylistic blend and much more. It’s all below!
WWD: Thanks for joining us Hillel. Congrats on the new EP ‘Jump Up!’ How has the reaction been so far?
Thank you.
The love and positive feedback has been overwhelming.
Of course, these tracks are meant for the clubs. Meant for party’s at peak time during live DJ set’s.
Unfortunately, the current world situation isn’t exactly ideal for letting these tracks really spread their wings and do their thing.
But on the flip side, it’s been really amazing to receive all these messages and videos of people getting jiggy to the tracks on the beach, in the snow, in their living rooms, their cars, or even at the gym with face mask and all.
Definitely makes up for it.
WWD: Let’s go back to the beginning. How did you get into the scene?
Stereo Afterhours first and foremost.
I was in uni completing my engineering degree but still unsure about what I wanted to do next.
I remember the moment I stepped into that room.I knew I was home. I remember saying to myself,
“I’m gonna just dance here the rest of my life and I know I’ll be ok.”
The sound, the vibe, the energy.
I fell in love with that place and with underground dance culture as a whole.
It became an unshakeable ritual for me.
Nothing I loved more than spending a good portion of my 24 hours losing myself in rhythm.
I remember during exam period, I’d get to bed early, sleep until 5 am,
shower, coffee and off to Stereo for an early morning dance session
before heading straight to the library.
Hard to describe the feeling you get when the night is peakin’ and you look around at this unified energetic jungle full of souls, all completely joined, connected and lost in themselves, each other and the music.
It was on the dance floor that I first tapped into flow states.
Flow state happens when you’ve completely surrendered to the moment.
It was like suddenly time stopped, and everything aligned.
And it was there on that dance floor, that I began to experience something much greater than myself.
These experiences left me a little more clear and connected every time I stepped out.
I became very aware of how the music, the dancing and the space was impacting who I was.
And most important, it was on that dance floor that I became directly aware of the Infinite, Conscious and Divine.
Haha. Oh man did we have fun!
I realized that God just wants to dance and party too.
It’s the reason we’re all here!
To play, dance and celebrate life.
So ya, that’s kinda how it all started.
Just a kid searchin’ for answers…
I found them on the dance floor I guess…
Took some time to get the whole picture into focus.
Definitely got some help from psychedelics and quite a bit of meditation,
but at a certain point along the journey, I was sure of a few foundational things.
God.
Who I was.
What I’m here to do.
WWD: What inspired the launch of the new project?
I want to change the way we party.
Go back to the roots.
But also evolve and elevate the underground experience. We’ve lost touch with the fundamentals.
Proper underground is all about connection.
Connection to something much bigger than ourselves.
I’m here to lead, guide and remind.
We need to remember who we are and where we come from.
We are pure energetic, divine and holy souls.
But we are also very much in these physical bodies.
Evolutionary descendants from creatures of the jungle.
It’s in our blood.
You don’t have to teach a baby to dance.
He just knows.
Engraved into our DNA.
Dancing can really save us.
Conscious raving is the answer to a lot of our problems.
I want to help people get back into flow states. Back into alignment.
Turn us all back into the holy and divine dancing jungle beings we are meant to be.
WWD: Let’s talk music. Your sound is hard to stylistically pin down. Any inspirations? How would you describe it?
I’m inspired by earth and heaven.
By the jungle and the spirit world’s within us.
Groove and rhythm are king for me.
My sound is catered for the rolling high energy underground dance party’s.
I want the people hanging off the walls in celebration.
Definitely influenced by OG rhythm makers like Derrick Carter, Kerri Chandler, Todd Terry, Larry Heard, Mr.G and the list goes on.
But I also remember my first few years at stereo when I had the pleasure of dancing it out to the big room legends like DJ Vibe, Danny T, D formation, Carl Cox, Victor Calderone.
That’s the stuff I grew up on.
Walk in at 2 am.
Walk out to greet the sun and the lovely (somewhat confused) Sunday brunchers.
That’s real immersion.
Real sonic journey’s.
Real flow state.
I’m all about that.
WWD: You’ve just delivered an exclusive new mix for our Prima Lux series. Can you set the scene? What will one find in there?
Think DC-10 terrace vibes as the sun is comin’ down.
It’s a playful high energy set meant to carry a crowd into a long night of dancing.
I’ve sprinkled in four of my own unreleased tracks into the mix.
Two of which are coming out in the upcoming EP release next month.
WWD: What else have you got in the pipeline over the coming months?
Well I’ve got 2 EP’s scheduled for release in April and May.
The first EP is called Testimony.
These tracks showcase a lot more of my sound and story.
I’m sitting on quite a bit of music right now.
I’ve got a good team behind me with a lot planned for the year ahead.
I’m feeling quite pumped about rolling it all out.
Hopefully once Covid and all these restrictions start to slow down, I’ll be able to drop these tracks in the settings they belong.
I think this summer is going to be a big one.
We’re all ready to get back on the dance floor in full form and these tracks will be the perfect sonic accessory to help get the party started