40 Questions: Red Axes

By Abbie Hanson on July 19, 2021

Israeli electronic duo Red Axes are a breath of fresh air in 2021, their purist attitude towards music separates them from most artists in the industry, with no concern of trends, or what might sell well, they just make the music they want to make.

Heading up their own Garzen imprint, the pair have played host to works from Fantastic Twins, Xen, and Autarkic over the past five or so years, while their own studio output has seen them appear on labels such as Toy Tonics, Life And Death, Skint Records, and Disco Halal.

Their latest will find them return to Multi Culti for the sixth time in as many years, this time for the release of their new Maztomeret original, which sits alongside tracks from Zillas On Acid, Tyu, and Manfredas on the labels Solstice I VA.

Being long time Red Axes fans, we’re more than delighted to have them on this months edition of our 40 Questions, where they mention Andrew Weatherall, Syd Barret, Hungarian paprika chicken, and childhood nicknames. Get the full piece below!

01. Where are you right now and what are you doing?

I’m now in Los Angeles, waking up, looking at the city, and eating toast.

02. What year were you born?

I was born in the year 1984.

03. Do you have a nickname?

I usually don’t have a nickname but my friends call me ‘Sado’. When I was young I was called ‘The Airplane’, because I was a fast runner, which is very far from me these days.

04. What’s the coolest thing in your house?

I’m really in between houses, so nothing. But I’m moving to my new house that my grandpa used to live in, and we still have his toy gun.

05. How would you describe yourself?

I will say an average looking Ashkenazi hipster.

06. Worst experience as a DJ?

I think when we played in a sloter house and I had a panic attack, maybe the worst 2 hours of my life.

07. Best experience as a DJ?

For real, I have so many, it was my dream to travel the world and play music. One of them is playing DGTL in Tel Aviv, because I can really see the work our friends and we did to make it become a big thing.

08. Favourite record label?

I don’t have a favourite.

09. What’s your biggest weakness?

I think my biggest weakness now is not taking care of my self enough, which makes me tired and less kind to others.

10. First record you ever paid for?

I think the first record I bought was Notorious B.I.G.’s ‘Life After Death’, or maybe The Doors, I’m not sure.

11. What’s your morning routine?

If it’s not after a party I wake up slowly and brush my teeth. I try to do it before I kiss my girlfriend, then I’m thinking about what to eat as I wake up super hungry.

12. Your dream collaboration?

So many people I want to work with. I’ll say Damon Albarn, and Nicki Minaj.

13. Tell us something we shouldn’t know about you?

You shouldn’t know I really like plane food and have never missed a meal in my life. Also I enjoy taking the PCR test.

14. Who’s your biggest inspiration outside of music?

My biggest inspiration is my grandpa, who was a partisan and a very interesting person. I really adore him and when I think of him, it gives me power.

15. And in the industry?

Well I’ve got to say Andrew Weatherall, I’m so happy and glad that we met him. Beside his genius and knowledge of music, he is such a lovely person. I really miss him.

16. Ever smoked?

Did I smoke? Sure. Since I was 14, cigarettes and weed, I loved it but I haven’t done it for years. I stopped enjoying it. Really glad I stopped cigarettes.

17. Ever done drugs?

Did I ever do drugs? hahaha. Next question please!

18. What’s the best gift you’ve ever received?

It’s a nice question. I’ve got a few ideas, my brother bought me one of my first synths. And Niv’s wife brought me a smurf inside a house. It was the smurf with the strong power in a small house, it means a lot to me and I don’t even know why.

19. And the best gift you’ve ever given?

That’s a hard one, maybe a Sex Pistols baby suit I gave to my friend’s baby.

20. What’s the coolest place you’ve ever been to?

The coolest place I’ve been, I think is Tel Aviv, it’s the coolest city I know.

21. And one place you want to visit?

Sinai Island, we used to go there all the time with my family and I thought about it, that it’s been ages since the last time I visited.

22. If you weren’t in the music industry, what would you be doing?

I think I would go and study and work as a therapist. I find it very fascinating lately.

23. Worst job you’ve ever had?

Working at the counter in the gym salad bar. It was a nightmare, the boss was one of the most stupid people I have ever met.

24. Favourite record right now?

Autarikic – Hanitzoz . It’s the last record released on Garzen Records and is a cover version of an Israeli masterpiece, done bravely and cleverly.

25. And the best record ever made?

I don’t have one ‘best record ever’, but to pick one I’ll choose Syd Barret – Domino, best reverse guitar.

26. One thing you couldn’t live without?

Sport and exercise help me a lot to be a bit more present in life.

27. Your favourite food?

Wow so many! I’ll pick two – my mothers Hungarian paprika chicken and my wife’s mothers matbucha (spicy Moroccan salad).

28. What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever eaten?

Jewish-Polish food, gefilte fish. It’s well known yet very very weird. The jelly thing is crazy.

29. Who would you want to play you in a movie?

It’s hard because I can’t imagine any movie where someone needs to play me, but if so, I hope for a random newcomer that is not a big star, I’m a simple guy and hope it won’t be too boring for the actor.

30. What’s something you’re passionate about besides music?

Football, I really like it. I watch many games, my wife calls it the boring green screen but I don’t care, for me it’s a religion.

31. Favourite club you’ve played at?

I love playing for the Smala guys at Opium Club in Lithuania. It’s the best gig I can ask for.

32. Favourite festival you’ve played at?

Garzen festival. Our festival is a family thing, it’s small and emotional and for me it’s a great chance to be with people I really love.

33. Craziest story of being on the road?

We’ve had many, one thing I remember was the first time we played at Sonar Festival. We didn’t get our equipment at the baggage claim and improvised the live show with almost nothing. Actually it was one of our best shows in the end.

34. Weirdest request as a DJ?

A request to play our track ‘Sun My Sweet Sun’ while it’s playing. One time someone asked me to switch shoes with him. Most of the time I don’t really hear anything, just nodding with my head, yes yes.

35. If you had one superpower what would it be?

To swim like a dolphin with all the jumps and everything.

36. Late sleeper or early riser?

I have a baby girl. I wake up very early with the birds.

37. Strangest video you’ve watched on YouTube?

I’m not the guy for this question, I only use YouTube to find records, to watch studio tutorials and to watch old goals from the time I was a kid.

38. The top thing on your bucket list?

A road trip with my family, taking a van and exploring without any background noise.

39. Most memorable moment of your life so far?

The birth of my daughter Amalia.

40. Will you ever be done with music?

I don’t think so and hope not.