Fresh album and interview with Animato – Harmonize

Animato is Patrick Chen, and he’s no newcomer to this scene. The Animato project is celebrating the release of the debut album “Harmonize” in Hommega Productions hosting an amazing roster of collaborations with some amazing musicians such as Liquid Soul, Ticon, Perfect Stranger, Ritmo, Freedom Fighters and more. We chatted with Patrick to find more about him, his music and the new album. As usual lots of music included.

While you read you can listen to the new Animato album in one long playlist here:

Q: Who is Animato? What does the name mean?

A: Animato is an expression in Italian ( Latin ) – musical composition term for playing with excitement and spirit.

Q: Do you remember the first party you went to? Were you hooked at once? Any undisclosed stories?

A: First party I went to was back in jewish new year of 1996 in the forest somewhere in the center of Israel, it was something completely new at the time as most of the events were secret, but it was such an intense experience that we started going every weekend to a trance party and the peak was at 1997 Ganei Huga Rave.

I feel totally in synch with the new project and the new style is much more my musical preference. I guess when you have that kind of symbiosis with your musical creations, success follows.

Q: Tell us a bit about your journey from that party to become Animato

A: After that party I was basically in love with the new fresh music called psy trance. I always loved electronic music and at that time, this new sound got my full attention. I travelled to India and got totally embraced by this new genre. When I returned from Asia I started learning music & sound in a musical college in Israel and then started my first steps in producing psy trance under the name PTX. I released 3 albums and then it was time to reinvent myself in a new era of trance music with a new project – Animato.

Animato live @ Boom Festival 2016
Animato live @ Boom Festival 2016

Q: You’ve been around this scene for many years, yet in the last few years leading to this album you’ve been making more of an impact playing the biggest festivals and world wide events. What has changed and made it happen?

A: Unlike PTX, Animato is my current state of mind. I feel totally in synch with the new project and the new style is much more my musical preference. I guess when you have that kind of symbiosis with your musical creations, success follows.

Animato made for us a playlist summarizing his musical story so far – enjoy:

Q: New album, 1st one as Animato – tell us about it

A: The album is called Harmonize, and it came to me in search of the complete submission I have in my music. Harmonize is when 2 entities in complete synch in music or in life.

First party I went to was back in… 1996 in the forest somewhere in the center of Israel, it was something completely new at the time as most of the events were secret, but it was such an intense experience that we started going every weekend…

Q: There are a lot of collaborations on the album, with some amazing musicians such as Liquid Soul, Ticon, Perfect Stranger, Ritmo, Freedom Fighters, Sonic Species and a remix to Juno Reactor – how was it working with them?

A: All the collaborators on my album are close friends with whom I have a special connection for years. On top of that, all are very talented musicians and I have gained as much as I contributed on every one of these collaborations. This is the fun part of making music

Animato live @ Psy-Fi Festival 2016
Animato live @ Psy-Fi Festival 2016

Q: The album is coming out in one of the power houses of Psytrance – Hommega Productions – in their 20th anniversary – how does it feel to be a part of Hommega for a few years now. How did the work with label boss, Eyal, helped the album process?

A: Hommega has always been a part of my life in many ways and it was always my dream to be a part of its universe. As for Eyal, I couldn’t ask for a better label manager than him and the rest of the Hommega team.

Q: Future plans for Animato?

A: To Harmonize as many people as I possibly can.

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