Shai T is a Tel Aviv-born producer who began making music at age 9. A talented multi-instrumentalist, he evolved from local performances to worldwide recognition by focusing on quality music production in today’s digital landscape.
Photo credit: Shai T – Official
His career took off with his 2018 track ‘Believe’ on Sol Selectas, which helped him secure deals with major labels like All Day I Dream, Anjunadeep, and Lost Miracle. By the end of 2020, he ranked among Beatport’s top 10 organic house artists, with his track ‘Illusions’ reaching #1. Now he’s releasing an official remix of Deep Dish’s ‘Flashdance,’ balancing respect for the original sound with his own distinct style.
EG had the opportunity to speak with Shai T to explore his creative process, his unexpected collaboration with Deep Dish, and his thoughtful perspective on the evolving music industry.
EG: Hi, Shai! Welcome to EG. It’s a pleasure to have you here with us. How have you been? Where are you right now? How did you kickstart the year?
Shai T: Hi there, pleasure to be here and thank you for having me. I’m good thanks, spending some time at home with family and friends, and working on some new music to come during 2025.
EG: First of all, congratulations on the incoming drop of your official remix of Deep Dish’s iconic ‘Flashdance’! You must be over the moon with this one! What has the initial reception been like so far?
Shai T: Thank you so much. I am feeling very good with this one as it wasn’t in my plans, but as it is here now, I’m feeling happy and satisfied about it. So far only a few DJs and friends have this remix, and they all really like it and are playing it all the time in all their shows with a very good response, and I do see many people on social media trying to figure out where this remix came from and by whom.
EG: So, how did this opportunity come about? What’s your relationship with Deep Dish like?
Shai T: The truth is that I never planned to release this remix. I am very attached to some “old school” house music classics, and ‘Flashdance’ is one of these tracks. So, I decided to make my own remix and version of this track as I really like it, just to have my own tool for my DJ sets. Once I finished it, I sent it to one of my good friends in Miami who is a good friend with Ali & Sharam (Deep Dish) as I thought it would be nice if they played it in case they liked it. Then, after a few weeks, I received a message on my phone from Sharam who told me that they really love the remix and they want to sign it and officially release it as part of their new rollout as Deep Dish. Since then, we became more friends and I found out both of them are really super nice and humble guys.
EG: Were you hesitant at any point about taking on such a revered classic? What did the original cut mean to you back in the day? How would you describe its impact?
Shai T: I think that I never hesitated about this project, as once I’m starting one – I do believe it can be a good one. The original track means a lot to me as it is one of the tracks that made me fall in love with house music back in 2004, when I discovered the magic of electronic music. In general, I think that the house music back in the days of 2001-2005 was very special and quality, full of groove, soul and energy, which still has its impact on me today.
“House music back in the days of 2001-2005 was very special and quality, full of groove, soul and energy”
EG: And how did you approach the remix? Did you have a clear horizon in mind regarding what you wanted and did not want to do with it?
Shai T: No – to be honest, most of the time I just start to play with the track in my studio, and then things just happen. Some of the tracks get ready quite fast, but some can take months or even years, in which I’m coming back and forth to that specific track till I feel I have the right vibe and energy to make it happen.
EG: Do you think bringing back classics like this one helps new audiences discover a ‘new-old’ sound? Or have they, inadvertently, set us on a self-contained cycle? What’s your relationship with this?
Shai T: I do think that making a good quality remix for a back classic can help new audiences to discover these timeless tracks and fall in love with them, which is a beautiful thing in my opinion. Yet, at least for me, before I’m starting a project like this one, it is really important to make sure that this track hasn’t been “over remixed” during the last few years, so that it will be something refreshing and special for me and for the audience.
EG: What advice can you give to other producers who might get such a remix request or even those who want to attempt a bootleg of a classic? Is there anything that they should definitely try to avoid doing?
Shai T: For me it is very important to try and keep the spirit of the original track on one hand, but at the same time, give it the remixer vibe and energy, and put the updated sound to the remix. Except for that, I think each and every artist has to go with their own feelings and artistic view, not to be followed by trends and try to make their own sound signature to each and every project they are working on.
EG: On to the state of the scene…What do you see as the biggest challenge for the music industry in the next few years, and how do you think artists can adapt?
Shai T: Uff – this question. Honestly, so many issues in the music industry these days in my opinion. First – every 2nd or 3rd person today becomes a DJ, because it’s “cool”. This issue causes a flood of too many DJs in each and every spot on the planet, which can cause hard times for real DJs. Second – the world has changed and today making good music is not the most important thing anymore, but how you look on social media, how many followers you have, if you’re “cool” or not, and other such things. These things in general can cause real talented artists to quit the music scene as they won’t be rewarded properly and get the attention and work they should get, but that’s life and that’s how things are happening today.
“Today making good music is not the most important thing anymore, but how you look on social media, how many followers you have, if you’re “cool” or not”
EG: Finally, what’s next for Shai T? What new milestones are you looking forward to in 2025? Where can your fans catch you next?
Shai T: As usual I guess – working on new music, playing around the globe and trying to make the best out of it, and people to be happy and dance as much as possible. I do not look forward to new milestones but mostly to keep on making good music and enjoy the way and process.
EG: Thank you so much for your time, Shai! We wish you all the best for the future. Take care!
Shai T: It was a real pleasure to be here with you – thanks for having me!
Deep Dish’s ‘Flashdance (Shai T Remix)’ is out now on Armada Music. Stream and download here.
Follow Shai T: Spotify | Soundcloud | Instagram | Facebook
