{{Short description|Israeli musical artist}} {{BLP sources|date=May 2008}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Asher Swissa | image = | caption = | native_name = אשר סוויסה | native_name_lang = he | birth_name = Asher Swissa | birth_date = {{Birth year and age|1975}} | birth_place = Jerusalem, Israel | genre = Psychedelic trance<br/>Punk, electronic rock, industrial house | instrument = Guitar, keyboards, vocals, programming | occupation = Musician | years_active = 1990–present | label = Chemical Crew | associated_acts = Sartan Hashad, Skazi, Assaf B-Bass, Asher Swissa | website = [https://web.archive.org/web/20100413233850/http://www.skazilive.com/ www.skazilive.com] }}
'''Asher Swissa''' ({{langx|he|אשר סוויסה}}) is a member of the band Skazi. Based in Israel, Asher Swissa, has been producing psytrance since 1998. Their first CD "Animal" was released in September 2000. He is the owner of the Chemical Crew label, and has worked with many artists, including Infected Mushroom, Astrix, GMS, Talamasca, Eskimo, Void, Exaile, Psychotic Micro.
==Biography== Born in Israel to Moroccan Jewish parents in 1975. Asher started his musical career as a Punk-Rocker in 1990, when he formed a group called [http://www.myspace.com/sartanim Sartan Hashad] (literally Breast Cancer) together with 3 friends. The band used to play in small venues in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, and enjoyed limited success in the small Israeli Punk scene.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bar |first=Yoram |date=26 February 1993 |title=שבט הזולה |url=https://www.rockbar.co.il/home.rock/article/394 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240125013448/https://www.rockbar.co.il/home.rock/article/394 |archive-date=25 January 2024 |website=Rockbar - in memory of Yoram Bar}}</ref> In 1996 Asher decided to leave the band, as he wished to develop his career, write and perform music which would appeal to larger audience. He started making Trance music, but still kept a hard rock sound, playing electric guitar riffs in many of his tracks. In 1998 he adopted the stage name DJ Skazi. In 2012, he took part in an Israeli documentary show called "Mehubarim" ("Connected"), in which he used a handheld camera to record his intimate everyday life.
In July 2020, he published a video on social media announcing he contracted COVID-19.
==Controversy== {{See also|Skazi#Controversy}}
During the ongoing Gaza war which started in 2023, Swissa has been vocal in his support of Israeli troops and hostages held in Gaza.
In early November 2023, he participated (as Skazi) in a video produced as "psychological warfare against Gazans and Hamas" which stated "we will return to dance on the ruins of your houses in Gaza".<ref>{{Cite web |date=November 2, 2023 |title="נשוב לרקוד על הריסות הבתים שלכם בעזה": הסרטון שהימם את ראשי חמאס |url=https://www.maariv.co.il/news/viral/article-1049297 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241008075936/https://www.maariv.co.il/news/viral/article-1049297 |archive-date=October 8, 2024 |access-date=July 27, 2025 |website=Maariv Online}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Halperin |first=Yaniv |date=November 2, 2023 |title=DJ סקאזי רוצה להעביר מסר למחבלי החמאס – בסייבר |url=https://www.pc.co.il/featured/397216/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240325080107/https://www.pc.co.il/featured/397216/ |archive-date=March 25, 2024 |access-date=July 27, 2025 |website=אנשים ומחשבים}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=November 2, 2023 |title=הסרטון שהכניס את חמאס לפאניקה |url=https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=983331089435603 |access-date=July 27, 2025 |website=the shadow (הצל) Facebook page}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=November 2, 2023 |title=אהלן וסהלן יא עזה |url=https://www.instagram.com/reel/CzJCxT8OaS2/ |access-date=July 27, 2025 |website=flash_news_il Instagram page}}</ref> The video was created by "The Civil Front" (''"Hachazit Haezrahit"''), a self-proclaimed "apolitical" initiative calling to "completely annihilate Hamas and Islamic Jihad" and giving free rein to Israel and the IDF in Gaza.<ref>{{Cite web |date=November 29, 2024 |title=תנועת החזית האזרחית |url=https://www.hachazit.co.il/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231129051230/https://www.hachazit.co.il/ |archive-date=November 29, 2023 |access-date=July 27, 2025 |website=החזית האזרחית}}</ref>
On 28 November 2023, together with four other Israeli DJs, Swissa performed a set (as Skazi) during a memorial at the site of the Re'im music festival massacre, where 364 concertgoers were killed and 36 taken hostage by Hamas.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Beardsley |first1=Eleanor |date=2023-11-28 |title=Israel holds memorial at the music festival site where Hamas killed 364 people |url=https://www.npr.org/2023/11/28/1215697613/israel-holds-memorial-at-the-music-festival-site-where-hamas-killed-364-people |access-date=1 December 2023 |publisher=NPR}}</ref>
Swissa has performed (as Skazi) for Israeli soldiers before they entered Gaza, with the intention of contributing to the war effort and raising combatants' morale and motivation to fight.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Eitan |first=Itzchak |date=18 September 2024 |title=סקאזי: "הופעתי בפני חיילים רגע לפני שהם מתו, זה רודף אותי" |url=https://www.hidabroot.org/article/1200832 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241011080954/https://www.hidabroot.org/article/1200832 |archive-date=11 October 2024 |access-date=27 July 2025 |website=הידברות}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Masoury |first=Elad |date=19 December 2023 |title=מי שלא אוהב אותנו - אני גם ככה לא רוצה להופיע עבורו |url=https://www.hebrewnews.com/article/57739 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250727124737/https://www.hebrewnews.com/article/57739 |archive-date=27 July 2025 |access-date=27 July 2025 |website=Hebrew News}}</ref>
In July 2024, Swissa dedicated a Skazi set at Tomorrowland festival to Israeli troops and hostages, while displaying an Israeli flag on stage.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Zohar |first=Tzalach |date=21 July 2024 |title=מול אלפים בטומורולנד: סקאזי מקדיש את הסט ללוחמי צה"ל ולחטופים |url=https://www.mako.co.il/music-news/Article-45ae69d4796d091026.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250704000626/https://www.mako.co.il/music-news/Article-45ae69d4796d091026.htm |archive-date=July 4, 2025 |access-date=July 27, 2025 |website=Mako}}</ref>
In July 2025, a controversy arose regarding plans for Skazi to perform again at Tomorrowland.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=26 July 2025 |title=Israeli DJ Skazi cancels gig at Tomorrowland amid controversy |url=https://www.brusselstimes.com/belgium/1679343/tomorrowland-to-keeps-israeli-dj-skazi-despite-controversy |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250727081004/https://www.brusselstimes.com/belgium/1679343/tomorrowland-to-keeps-israeli-dj-skazi-despite-controversy |archive-date=27 July 2025 |access-date=27 July 2025 |website=The Brussels Times}}</ref> It has been mentioned that Swissa calls himself a "Combat DJ" who motivates soldiers before they go into battle in Gaza.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Struys |first=Bruno |date=26 July 2025 |title=Israëlische 'gevechts-dj' Skazi annuleert optreden op Tomorrowland na controverse |url=https://www.demorgen.be/snelnieuws/israelische-gevechts-dj-skazi-annuleert-optreden-op-tomorrowland-na-controverse~b69670f9/?referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ecosia.org%2F |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250727080008/http://web.archive.org/screenshot/https://www.demorgen.be/snelnieuws/israelische-gevechts-dj-skazi-annuleert-optreden-op-tomorrowland-na-controverse~b69670f9/ |archive-date=27 July 2025 |access-date=27 July 2025 |website=De Morgen}}</ref> In response to this controversy, Swissa posted on his Instagram page stating "my mission is to bring unity" and calling to "make music not war".<ref>{{Cite web |date=26 July 2025 |title=skazi_asher's post, 27 July 2025 |url=https://www.instagram.com/reel/DMiX29gNKjr/ |access-date=27 July 2025 |website=Instagram}}</ref> The performance has subsequently been cancelled.<ref name=":0" />
==Discography== *''Animal'' (Shaffel Records, 2001) <ref name=Discogs>[http://www.discogs.com/artist/Asher+Swissa Asher Swissa Discography on Discogs ]</ref> *''Media:Zoo1'' (released October 2001) <ref name=Discogs /> *''Storm'' (Shaffel Records, 2002) <ref name=Discogs /> *''Media:Zoo2'' (released January 2003) <ref name=Discogs /> *''Media:Zoo3'' 2CD (released January 2003) <ref name=Discogs /> *''Media:Animal in Storm'' (Special Edition, Double CD) <ref name=Discogs /> *''Media:Most wanted – Compiled By Skazi'' (released January 2003) <ref name=Discogs /> *''Total Anarchy'' (released June 29, 2006)<ref name=Discogs /> *''Zoo Vol. 4: To The Floor'' (released 2009)<ref name=Discogs /> *''My way'' (Released 2012)
==References== {{Reflist}} *{{Cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/385534.cms|title=Dance floor destroying music|last=Khan|first=Zahra|date=2003-12-27|work=The Times of India|accessdate=2008-05-22}} *{{Cite news|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?id=7ffdb23e-1dae-4779-bef9-c7d0d895484f|title=Israel's Skazi to put Delhi in musical 'trance'|date=2006-04-27|publisher=Hindustan Times|accessdate=2008-05-22}}{{dead link|date=January 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Swissa, Asher}} Category:1975 births Category:Living people Category:Israeli musicians