Gadi Mitrani, a pioneering Turkish electronic music producer and DJ, is leaving indelible marks on the industry. With over twenty years of experience, he has crafted a distinguished global reputation as a skilled producer, DJ, and label owner.
Photo credit: Gadi Mitrani – Official
Gadi’s reputation extends beyond his native Turkey, earning acclaim from influential figures in the electronic music industry, including John Digweed, Sasha, Hernan Cattaneo, Behrouz, Lee Burridge, Nick Warren, and Guy Mantzur.
His breakthrough came in 2015 with his debut on Kompakt KX, ‘Key of Stillness’, marking a pivotal moment that propelled his career. Subsequent releases on various labels have fortified his reputation, earning him spots on top 50 charts and the support of respected industry names.
Beyond producing, the artist has captivated audiences at major global events, such as Burning Man’s Robot Heart and Incendia Dome, as well as in Ibiza and other renowned festivals and clubs worldwide.
His own label, Love and Above, showcases his dedication to the industry. The label’s newest release, ‘Reality’, is the first single from Gadi’s forthcoming album, ‘Perpetual Tale’. ‘Reality’ is an emotional piece that promises to deeply resonate with listeners. The release also features a remix by Hernan Cattaneo, in collaboration with Soundexile.
EG had the opportunity to sit down with Gadi Mitrani to delve deeper into his latest release and future projects. With an exciting lineup of releases and performances, Gadi’s future brims with promise.
EG: Hi, Gadi! Welcome to EG. It’s a pleasure to have you here with us. How have you been? How did you kickstart your year? What have you been up to?
Gadi Mitrani: Thank you for having me here. My year has started off wonderfully. On January 6th, I had the pleasure of hosting my first live show in my hometown, Istanbul, and it was truly magical. Since then, I’ve had the opportunity to perform at various venues in the US, including gigs in DC, NYC, and Miami. Currently, I’m really focused on working on the release of my upcoming EP.
EG: So, congratulations on the forthcoming release of your new ‘Reality’ EP! You must be psyched to finally be able to share this one with everybody. What has the initial reception/promo campaign been like so far? Do you remember the first time you played these live?
Gadi Mitrani: Thank you so much! I’m thrilled that you all enjoy it. This track is particularly special to me because it’s a departure from my usual dance music style—it’s something entirely new that I’ve explored for the first time. When I was creating it, I found inspiration in the music of Radiohead and Thom Yorke’s albums, which led me down this path.
The promotional campaign has just begun, and I’m putting in a lot of effort to make it a success. While I haven’t had the chance to perform the original track live yet because it’s a downtempo piece, I have featured it on a couple of my podcasts.
I’m really excited to see how this new direction resonates with listeners.
EG: What can fans of Gadi Mitrani expect to find on ‘Reality’? Is there a concept to this release? What made you think of Hernán Cattáneo & Soundexile as the perfect remixers for this particular track?
Gadi Mitrani: They’ll discover a style they haven’t heard from me before, which is really exciting. I’m incredibly grateful to Hernan Cattaneo and Soundexile for their fantastic remix work. Our connection with Hernan runs deep—I’ve always shared my music with him and sent positive thoughts on special occasions. After I finished the album, I sent it to him, and he replied saying he loved it, congratulating me, and expressing his interest in doing a remix. So I sent him ‘Reality’. It’s truly a blessing to have the support of such a master in the field. Hernan was one of the main reasons I started making this music, and he was the first major artist to support me back in 2015. Since then, my music production career has really taken off. I couldn’t think of anyone better than Hernan Cattaneo and Soundexile for this remix, and I want to express my gratitude to them once again for their amazing work.
“This track is particularly special to me because it’s a departure from my usual dance music style—it’s something entirely new that I’ve explored for the first time”
EG: ‘Reality’ is just the tip of the iceberg, with your debut studio album ‘Perpetual Tale’ coming later in May. Why did you decide to go with ‘Reality’ as the first single to stem from the record?
Gadi Mitrani: I absolutely love the feel of it the lyrics, the piano and strings, and the beats. It feels like a soundtrack set to downtempo beats with emotionally charged vocals.
Writing it was a total joy. The inspiration for the track came after experiencing an ethereal dream. I woke up in the middle of the night, determined to capture the essence of the dream before it faded away. The next day, I wrote down the lyrics and finished the track within just two weeks.
EG: What’s ‘Perpetual Tale’ all about? Is there a thread running throughout all 10 tracks?
Gadi Mitrani: Well, there’s a lengthy set of liner notes for the album that you’ll find once it’s released, but to summarize, the pandemic marked the beginning of it all. Like so many others, I was deeply affected and found myself in a state of depression, unable to create music. However, after a few months, I made the decision to channel my energy into productivity rather than lingering in sadness. With the dance music scene at a standstill, and my playlists filled with melancholic electronica, I challenged myself to explore a different musical direction than I had before.
I began experimenting with new synths, plugins, and techniques, searching for fresh formulas to create music. After completing the third track, I made the decision to make an entire album with this new sound. While each track is distinct, there’s a common thread that runs through them. They all share a similar vibe, providing a unified experience for listeners. The album’s playlist is designed to take you on an emotional and a few danceable journeys, gradually introducing more unique and experimental elements as it progresses towards the end.
EG: And how long has ‘Perpetual Tale’ been in the works for? Did you have a clear horizon before you got started? What have you learned about yourself throughout the process? Do you have any personal favorites?
Gadi Mitrani: It took me a year and a half to complete it, and another year to polish it. The process wasn’t about reaching a specific goal; it was about exploring new ways to create music. Each track served as an opportunity to experiment with different synths and techniques, resulting in its own unique journey.
These sessions in the studio were purely experimental, with the added challenge of incorporating singing into the tracks. Throughout the process, I gained valuable insights and skills. I discovered that the more I push myself to explore new musical territories, the more I fall in love with the process. While I may not consider myself a singer, I’ve found joy in expressing myself through vocals, and with each attempt, I’ve become more comfortable.
While I love all the tracks on the album, ‘Reality,’ ‘Everything,’ ‘Atticus,’ and ‘Drop’ hold a special place in my heart as my favorites.
EG: One of the most noticeable things about the album is that there aren’t any collaborations, which is something very common that most artists try to do to make the concept of an album more “attractive”. Was this something premeditated in your case?
Gadi Mitrani: The album was mixed and mastered at Virus Studios in Istanbul. Owned by a renowned Turkish music producer who collaborates with top artists in the industry, the studio boasts a reputation for excellence. Umit Kuzer, a close friend and highly skilled producer, provided invaluable input during the mixing process, infusing the tracks with his signature touch. Following this thorough process, Martin Spencer oversaw the mastering phase at Virus Studios.
Throughout the production journey, I collaborated with industry professionals, leaving no stone unturned in my quest for perfection. While I typically prefer working independently, I remain open to potential collaborations for future projects. Erdi Irmak stands as my sole collaborative effort thus far, a partnership that proved to be both rewarding and enlightening. However, for ‘Perpetual Tale,’ I continued to follow my creative path alone.
“The process wasn’t about reaching a specific goal; it was about exploring new ways to create music.”
EG: Now, stepping outside of the studio for a bit…the use of AI in music has become quite common after its initial introduction, which raised many eyebrows. What’s your stance on this? Have you contemplated its possibilities? Have you implemented any form of AI on ‘Perpetual Tale’?
Gadi Mitrani: I’m always excited to try out new technology, especially since we use computers to make music. As a producer, I’m totally fine with using new tech to shake things up. But I do worry about AI. If everyone starts using it to make music with only AI, we might end up with a lot of stuff that’s not very good. So, finding a balance between technology and human input is crucial in creating music. I didn’t use any AI when I made ‘Perpetual Tale,’ but we did use some AI for the video visuals in my live show.
EG: Finally, can you provide some insights into what’s next for Gadi Mitrani? Where can your fans catch you next? Can we expect to see you on tour?
Gadi Mitrani: I’m currently working on arranging a tour for my new live show, where I’ll be presenting more danceable versions of tracks from the album. My goal is to have the tour up and running within the next six months, but we’ll have to see how things unfold.
Additionally, I have some other finished music that I haven’t submitted to any labels yet. I’ll be focusing on releasing more of this music throughout 2024.
EG: Thank you so much for your time, Gadi! We wish you all the best for the future. Take care!
Gadi Mitrani: Thank you for having me. Much appreciated.
Gadi Mitrani’s ‘Reality’ is out now via Love and Above. Stream and download here.
Follow Gadi Mitrani: Spotify | Soundcloud | Instagram
