Fortunate to grow up surrounded by New York’s rich club culture, Anthony Cardinale, aka Avision, has steadily carved out a name as a driving force in the new wave of techno and house emerging from the city.
Photo credit: Avision – Official
With early turns behind the decks at just 12 years old and a first residency by 15, his career has taken him from The Brooklyn Mirage to Watergate Berlin, Space Miami, Stereo Montreal, and beyond. Alongside appearances at Time Warp, EDC Las Vegas, and Off Sonar, his discography has landed on labels like Ellum Audio, Drumcode, Hardgroove, and now REK’D — Radio Slave’s Rekids offshoot.
Now, Avision debuts on REK’D with the release of his ‘Get Down’ EP, a two-tracker that captures the essence of NYC groove. As he balances life, business, and his expanding creative output, Avision is doubling down on his house roots — and a deeper sense of longevity.
In this conversation, Avision opens up about channeling raw club energy, making music with family, and navigating the realities of today’s global scene.
EG: Hi, Anthony! Welcome to EG. It’s a pleasure to have you here with us. How have you been doing?
Avision: Hey guys, thank you! The pleasure is mine. I’ve been doing well. It’s been a busy year, so I’ve just been doing my best balancing life, business, and my career.
EG: First of all, congratulations on the release of your ‘Get Down’ EP. What has the initial reception been like so far? What are some of your thoughts now that it’s out for everyone to hear?
Avision: Thank you so much. ‘Get Down’ has been getting amazing support across the board and I really love seeing it. These last two years I’ve been making strides for my audience and peers to start noticing my work in the “House” realm and it’s paying off. I think ‘Get Down’ is to the core of that New York housey feel that I want people to know me for. The reaction has been nothing but positive!
EG: So, what can fans of Avision expect to find on this one? Is there a concept or idea driving these new cuts?
Avision: Like I mentioned previously, they can find that raw, New York feeling of house music. Expect raw groovy basslines, lush vocals, and melody that stays in your head. There’s no concept other than me just being me in the studio and putting out a sound I’m proud of.
EG: ‘Get Down’ also signals your debut on Radio Slave’s Rekids sublabel REK’D. Why did you decide to go with REK’D for this release? What does it mean to you to have music out on this particular label?
Avision: As an artist who cares about the craft and credibility, Radio Slave in my opinion is one of House/Techno’s best producers and his label is nothing but legendary. He’s done an amazing job as a curator staying current with the times, but never getting corny or “selling out”. I value his opinion, his craft, and vision on music. I’m absolutely thrilled to be a part of the label and share my music with Radio Slave. It’s a real treat being part of the brand, especially because I feel like he truly understands my sound and what I’m about as an artist.
“There’s no concept other than me just being me in the studio and putting out a sound I’m proud of”
EG: Just over a month ago, you had the unique chance of putting on a show with family members Victor and Jivan Calderone in NYC. What was that experience like, and what did this event mean to you?
Avision: It was a pinch-me moment for sure. This event was everything to me — three generations of DJs in the same family getting to put on for our home city, what more can you ask for? The experience overall was amazing, from the curation process with Raw Cuts to the execution. It was such a humbling moment to see all the magic that happened that night. I’m truly blessed for it, and I can proudly say it will always be a highlight for me. I hope we do it more.
EG: How would you describe the relationship of NYC with electronic dance music today when compared to one or two decades ago?
Avision: I truly think NYC right now is really on a great run with electronic dance music. There’s so many venues, a lot going on, and there’s also a whole underground culture happening too. I would say the city itself has really nothing now, as things have moved to Brooklyn — and that’s one major difference from today versus two decades ago.
About 25 years ago, you could pick a club out of a hat on the West Side Highway and see an amazing New York DJ play more than 12 hours. It was like picking candy in a candy store. Granted, I was way too young to see that happen, but I’ve spent a lot of time admiring that era. Brooklyn has now taken those reins, and while it’s amazing, I’d still love to see nightlife on a bigger scale back in Manhattan again. I really miss going through that Holland Tunnel at 2am, getting ready to have a great morning.
EG: What would you like to see more and less of these days?
Avision: I would love to see smaller clubs come back — like less than 1000 people. Everything has become a mini-festival now. Let’s bring back some good sound systems and some really good music-based venues.
EG: Given your expertise, what are some of the biggest challenges artists will face in the near future? Is there any piece of advice you have for your colleagues in that sense?
Avision: I think some of the biggest challenges artists are going to face is selling these big venues out. I truly feel the big venues are getting mixed into the “club” market, and they are nowhere near the same. The younger generation isn’t the same as past ones — they aren’t drinking and partying as hard as I’ve noticed in past years. Some artists are getting paid upwards of 200–300k for a show, and I just feel like the bubble will eventually burst. Some tickets go on sale for over $100 and at the door they can get charged up to $350–400. At some point, milking that cow isn’t going to last forever. Some will price themselves out of the market. My advice: always shoot for longevity over the quick rise. I’d rather have a 25+ year long career than a few “hot” years.
“I would love to see smaller clubs come back — like less than 1000 people“
EG: What’s next for Avision? What milestones are you looking forward to now? Where can your fans catch you next?
Avision: My next release is on my own new imprint Ground Rule Records. I’m extremely excited to fire off a bunch of releases this year on my own label. My fans can catch me in the States over the next few months. My next show is in Philadelphia at an amazing club called The Barbary, where I’ll now have a new residency every four months.
Avision’s ‘Get Down’ is out now via REK’D. Stream and download here.
Follow Avision: Spotify | Soundcloud | Instagram
