An artist blessed with innumerable musical gifts, Eli Nissan, has been at the centre of Tel Aviv’s creative hub for well over two decades, as a DJ, musician, and producer.
Israel is home to some of underground dance music’s most exciting talents, and Eli is the latest artist to emerge from a production line that includes Guy Mantzur, Khen, Guy J, and Stereo Underground.
Eli Nissan’s work in the studio delights, and astounds in equal measure, with his productions having featured on labels such as Lost & Found, Plattenbank, and Guy Gerber’s Rumours…
The pursuit for musical excellence, and striking originality, sees Eli at the brink of a bright, and exciting future, so on this mix for Balance Selections, you know we’re in for a deep, and flowing musical journey…
Balance Selections Q+A
Name: Eli Nissan
Location: Tel Aviv
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DJELINISSAN
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/eli-nissan
Alias/Producer name: Eli Nissan
Labels affiliated with: Lost & Found / Rumors / Plattenbank
My last 3 releases:
Eli Nissan – Arpu / White Voodoo [Lost & Found]
Eli Nissan – Everlast EP [Plattenbank]
Eli Nissan – Old Glory Late Romance EP [Edge]
What music did you listen too as a child?
As a child the music I heard was a crazy mix of everything from Arabic music that my mother love to hear till 60s 70s prog bands like Pink Floyd, Queen, Genesis and Israeli popular music.
My parents didn’t play any instruments it was not a musical house at all. The music just was around me, and my neighbourhood, and at that time I didn’t pay any special attention to music until I was 13 years old. When a friend ask me to start a band with him, since then my life has completely changed, and I become a music junkie.
When was the first time that you realised that you liked electronic music?
During the 90s ( around 1997-8 ) Tel Aviv clubs rose up, and the culture of clubbing to electronic music had become an obsession, and everyone got into it, as did I…. Then for the first time I heard Sasha played at an open air party in a place on the beach called “Octopus”, his set was mind blowing, and his sound was something that I didn’t hear before,
since that moment I realised that electronic music is here to stay, and I wanted to be part of it
When was the first time you saw a DJ in a club?
My first time was at age 13. One of the girls at my school class celebrated a birthday at her father’s night club call “The Place”. The DJ played an amazing disco set with vinyl, and he had perfect technical skills, it was an amazing experience, and his DJ set was a huge inspiration for me.
Which producers/artists/acts inspire you?
My biggest inspiration these days is for sure from the amazing artists, and friends of the Lost & Found label, such like Guy J, Khen, Roy Rosenfeld, Chicola, and Sébastien Léger. I also have a deep inspiration from Guy Gerber, Nils Frahm, Roman Flügel. Other things that inspire me are pure nature, especially quiet places like deserts, and mountains.
What was the last album that you downloaded/bought?
The album that inspire me the most this year was “Stereo Underground – The Art Of Silence”. I think its one of the best albums that released in recent years. I’m feeling lucky that I was there to see, and hear it from the start, until the final result. Yariv is a unique artist, and I think he did a master piece
What is your current production and DJ set up like?
My studio set is pretty simple. I have a very small area for my studio in my house, so I can’t use too much equipment. I use a Deepmind 12 synth, plus two Roland boutique Juno + Jx, & Machine. I have a also a few guitar pedals, effects, and many plug-ins (Cubase 10). For the DJ sets I’m using Traktor (4 channel) + Laptop, or USB and 4 CDJ’s (Pioneer 2000 nexus2).
What releases do you have on the horizon?
I have a few things coming up, one of them is a remix I did to the talented Australian artist Luka Sambe that will release here on Balance Music. Also on Balance Music, I will release an original track on the forthcoming Nick Warren compilation. And there is a special EP that will be announced soon.
Where can we hear you perform?
If you around Tel Aviv I have a residency here at amazing place called“ARIA”. I have a debut shows in India Hyderabad & Bangalore on July 26/27. A boat Party with Guy J in New York on 10th August, and the We Are Lost Festival in Toronto 11th August. And, many more to be announced soon.
Tell us more about the podcast you made for Balance?
The podcast I’ve made for balance includes tunes from my latest release Found 05, and a special intro for “White Voodoo” that I’ve made for this podcast. Also, a huge track from my friend Roy Rosenfeld “Halomot”, and pay attention to the last track, it’s my secret weapon from my sets of the last year, a bootleg remix I’ve made of Goran Bregovitch – Ederlezi (from “Time Of The Gypsies”). Many people ask, and write to me about this one. So… Finally, here it is.
Tracklisting:
01. Eli Nissan – White Voodoo (intro), 02. Eli Nissan – White Voodoo [Lost & Found], 03. Roy Rosenfeld – Halomot [TRYBESof], 04. Luka Sambe – People Be Nice (Eli Nissan Everlast Remix) [Balance Music], 05. After Burn – Wedding Day [Balkan Connection], 06. Eli Nissan – Arpu [Lost & Found], 07. B-Vision – Twelve Hundred (Original Mix) [Radiant], 08. Knowkontrol, Rowee – Your Eyes feat. KnowKontrol (Original Mix) [TRYBESof], 09. Clarian – Ancient Cave (Original Mix) [Kompakt]
