Omer Gani, better known as T-Puse, was born in 1994 and began his DJ career at the young age of 14. As he honed his craft, he developed a unique vision for the dance floor and embarked on a journey of studying and researching music, psychoacoustic experiences, and how to convey emotions through sound.
Photo Credit: Omer Koren
As a creator, producer, and DJ, T-Puse has performed at some of the most vibrant stages in Israel, bringing his unique and healing sound to his audiences. Recently, T-Puse has become a prominent name in the Organic House scene in Israel and around the world. With countless releases under his belt, he has gained recognition from major labels in the genre for his vision. During his DJ sets and electronic live performances, he incorporates an electric Baglama and keyboards, creating an experience filled with soul-soothing sounds that produce an authentic oriental celebration.
T-Puse is set to release his new collaborative EP with LennyTunes, ‘Anjuna’, this time under his own imprint Ursul Records. Pre-order here.
EG caught up with T-Puse to get insights into his latest collaborative EP ‘Anjuna’, his new label, and upcoming projects.
EG: Hi T-Puse! Welcome to EG. It’s a pleasure to have you here with us. How have you been? Where are you right now?
T-Puse: Hi EG, thank you for having me! I’m feeling great, going through a lot of new, but good changes. In the past few months, I moved to a new studio and opened my own label, Ursul Records.
EG: First of all, congratulations on the forthcoming release of your new collaborative EP, ‘Anjuna’. You must be very excited. What has the initial reception been like? Do you remember the first time you played these ones live?
T-Puse: I’m super excited about this specific release because it’s the first release under Ursul Records. My partners, Angata, and I had a vision for our future in the music industry, but could not find a place that understood our vision. This is when we decided to start Ursul, a place where our creativity could come to life, in the most authentic form. We are able to blend our different musical backgrounds together and create unique sounds.
The process of this EP was incredible. I worked on this album with LennyTunes, an acoustic musician who is always inspiring me and opening my mind to new perspectives. Since working on this, and playing a few of the tracks live, I knew we created something special based on the crowd’s reaction. This response has only motivated me more to perfect the EP.
EG: As you mentioned ‘Anjuna’ sees you linking up with LennyTunes. How did that relationship come about? What was the recording process for these tracks like?
T-Puse: Thanks to music, I met Lenny four years ago when I was asked to remix a track on his belly dancing-inspired album. After finishing two remixes, we had a mutual understanding that we can learn a lot from each other’s perspectives and visions. He’s coming from the acoustic world and I’m from the electronic. We have a special connection and it shows in our creations. I can’t wait for you to hear more music in the near future!
EG: Did you come across any creative differences during the process? How did you solve them? In your opinion, what are the keys to a good collaborative session?
T-Puse: We have faced many creative differences in the process, it’s a part of creating something bigger than yourself. For every project I work on, I value open-minded artists who understand how important it is to flow through different ideas to make something special.
“We have a special connection and it shows in our creations”
EG: When did you start the journey as a producer? What was that like? Your unique style blends ancient traditional folk with modern, sophisticated electronica from the Balkans to the Middle East. How did this sound come about?
T-Puse: I started to learn how to produce when I was 15 years old. I’ve worked with a lot of private teachers and then began studying at Sela School, a small music university in Tel Aviv, Israel. There, I learned music theory and sound engineering for three years then worked there for another four years. I feel that I learned the most about music by teaching others. Growing up, my mother used to listen to Israeli folk music and my father enjoyed psychedelic rock. The fusion between these genres showed me how big the music world is and grew my curiosity for blending different types to create something unique.
EG: So, how and when did you come across electronic dance music? Do you remember the first DJ you saw playing live?
T-Puse: I started playing hip-hop and mainstream at the age of 14 and soon after became interested in producing. Over time, I started to produce and perform all genres like hip hop, pop, dubstep, psytrance, EDM, house, and more.
Once I found myself listening to organic music with live instruments, I began to explore this genre deeply and started to create my own sound. From this, I started to learn more about the instruments behind these sounds and began playing the saz, my favorite instrument that you hear in a lot of my music. Infected Mushroom was one of the first acts I saw live and has been one of my biggest inspirations since. Their work has given me direction in my own musical journey.
Release Art Credit: Bar Cohen
EG: Right now, social media seems to play a completely prominent role in the development of an artist’s career. What’s your stance on this? Is the bringing us closer than ever, or is it drawing our attention away from the actual music?
T-Puse: I think it’s a very important tool, but it’s not everything. If you use it correctly, it can help build a following and spread music and ideas to people and places that would never experience it otherwise. On the other hand, it can be dangerous and take away from one’s authenticity.
EG: How do you keep entertained when not in the studio? Have you recently found any good movies, books, or albums you’d recommend?
T-Puse: I love to listen to any other music that’s not electronic music to get inspired. One book that I’m reading now that I really recommend is ‘The Creative Act’ by Rick Rubin. One movie that inspired me lately is ‘Ray’ about Ray Charles’ life. And one album is ‘Aşk’ by Altin Gun
“I value open-minded artists who understand how important it is to flow through different ideas to make something special”
EG: What’s next for T-Puse? Where can your fans catch you next? What new milestones are you looking forward to in 2023?
T-Puse: For the upcoming year, my main focus is to keep growing Ursul, the record, and the productions we put on. I’m about to fly to Turkey in the middle of August and will be in India shortly after. All of my gigs and new releases can be found on my website.
EG: Thank you for your time, T-Puse! We’re excited to see what’s in store for you. Take care!
T-Puse: Likewise, I really enjoyed talking with you guys. It was fun to share a little bit about me and my music, stay tuned for what’s to come, and see you on the dance floor!
T-Puse’s ‘Anjuna’ EP is set to release on August 11th, 2023. Grab your copy here.
Follow T-Puse: Website I Soundcloud | Spotify | Instagram | Facebook
