Eliran Osadon, known professionally as Osadon, is a Tel Aviv-based DJ, producer, and soon-to-be label owner making waves in the electronic music scene. With a career spanning over two decades, Osadon has become a prominent figure in Israel’s vibrant music community and is now setting his sights on the international stage.
Photo credit: Osadon – Facebook
In this exclusive interview, EG sits down with Osadon to discuss his journey—from his first turntables to remixing Depeche Mode—his upcoming label launch, and his aspirations for the future. Osadon offers insights into his creative process, including his distinct approach to set preparation, and shares his thoughts on navigating the global music industry as an Israeli artist.
Join us as we explore the world of Osadon, a Tel Aviv DJ making his mark both locally and internationally.
EG: How do you prepare yourself for your sets?
Osadon: I listen to and download new music every day, but also go through folders I haven’t touched for a while. I make a new playlist with the name of the venue in my Rekordbox and start moving tunes over there to get the vibe I want to go for. How many of these do I use during my sets? Sometimes a lot, sometimes not a lot. The ideas and vibes keep changing every second, and my collection always works hand in hand with my mind.
EG: How did it all start for you?
Osadon: My brother introduced me to electronic music back in 2002 with ‘In Search of Sunrise’ by Tiësto. Then my mom bought me two turntables for my 20th birthday, both of which I still use. I started digging and practicing every day until I got my chance later at a place called ‘Clara’ a long, long time ago.
EG: What are your best 3 sets ever?
Osadon: Wow, that’s hard to choose, but I guess: My first all-nighter set (8 hours) at Hellens Keller in 2006, Grounded Festival closing boat party (which was recorded live), Haoman 17 Tel Aviv, and finally the Acid Circus Party after Ivan Smagghe.
EG: In that ocean of music releasing every day, how can a new DJ start to navigate through music?
Osadon: You need to know what you want to look for, then the navigation gets easier. The labels you love, the artists you love, the Shazams you did—all that creates your private world of music. The hours of listening to less-than-great stuff will make you much more trained to find those bombs.
“You need to know what you want to look for, then the navigation gets easier”
EG: What are your plans for the future? Where do you want to be in 3 years from now?
Osadon: I want to be in a place where my music crosses boundaries, to bring my vibe and music to more places and festivals around the world. I also want to make more remixes like I did with Depeche Mode but for timeless classics from our world.
EG: What can we expect you to release now and where?
Osadon: We have Viva Music in November, Maccabi House in January, more vinyls and edits through Bandcamp, and lots more collaborations with amazing local artists from my hometown, as well as international artist collaborations.
EG: When will your label Ducks On Decks be launched?
Osadon: 2025! Can’t wait!
EG: Where did the idea to create D.D.D. come from?
Osadon: My parents’ roots are Moroccan, so I’ve known the original tune ‘Didi’ since I was 6. When I started producing, that was deep in my mind. I just needed to go there and do some version of it. When I first played it in Israel, the place went crazy. Then I realized I had a big tune on my hands.
EG: What are the differences from your point of view between being a DJ from Israel locally versus internationally?
Osadon: It’s not easy, for sure. It’s no secret that Israel gets lots of attention lately. We’ve been through a lot as Israelis in the past year, but still, we can see how DJs from here still take a huge place in the global scene, like Adam, Mita, Gerber, Saraga, not to mention the trance DJs (from Israel) that have kept their hegemony at the top of the world for the last 3 decades. Personally, I don’t feel negativity from people when I go out to play outside of Israel, but yes, it’s a little harder than being in Europe or the US as a DJ from my world.
“I want to be in a place where my music crosses boundaries, to bring my vibe and music to more places and festivals around the world”
EG: What is the craziest thing that happened to you as a DJ?
Osadon: I was the DJ that played the last tune at the legendary TLV club, which was a dream just to be on that DJ booth in the beginning. Seeing so many huge DJs play there, and then being one of the DJs to play at the closing party was a huge milestone—a closure of 2 decades.
EG: Did you think that your remix for ‘Enjoy the Silence’ would get that far? Number 2 on synth pop and 8 overall?
Osadon: Wow, that was insane. Let’s start with being on the same vinyl with them! I knew that I made something special, but after Steve Lawler, the legend and the A&R of Icons, texted me that I created an all-time classic before the vinyl came out, I waited for it to cross over, and it did. You can add that to the craziest things in my career!
EG: Who’s your favorite Israeli artist to play back-to-back with?
Osadon: Saraga, my friend. We’ve had some huge ones.
EG: Which world artists would you love to collaborate with?
Osadon: Rosabel, Harry Romero, Junior Vasquez, Chicane.
EG: What’s your favorite track of your own?
Osadon: ‘Just Say’—It will be out in January 2025 on Adam Ten and Mita Gami’s label, Maccabi House.
Osadon’s ‘My Sensation’ EP is now available on 8Bit. Stream and download here.
Follow Osadon: Spotify | Soundcloud | Instagram | Facebook
