MORPHEUS
MUSIC INTERVIEW - CUTS
27.10.11 - On release of Hold
The Sun
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Q:
Would you begin please by giving us a bit of
background on yourself?
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I was born in 1981 in Haifa,
Israel. I was involved with music since I can remember myself.
When I was younger I played bass and electric guitars in different
rock bands. Eventually I’ve found myself drawn to the
world of sound engineering, recording and musical production.
I got myself some equipment, built my own studio and started
to experiment with different microphones and such. Today I
work mainly as a producer, a mix and mastering engineer, and
off course I still find myself playing bass, guitars and the
occasional synthesizer. |
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Q:
So how did the CUTS project come into being?
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I first got to know Aleph Zero
records when I did a project with Eitan Reiter called “Unoccupied”
back in 2008. I never really thought about doing a solo project
since I would always put away songs that I wrote and recorded.
But one day I finished recording one of my own songs, and
I called my good friend Omri Klein to do some vocals. After
he was done, I had a good feeling about it and decided to
send it to the guys at Aleph Zero to see what they thought
about it. Turns out they really liked it and even offered
me to record a full length album. |
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Q:
Was there anything specific that you
wanted CUTS to sound like or to achieve?
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I didn’t really consciously want the project to sound
like anything in particular. My work process was always
very instinctive and less preplanned.
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Q:
How did you go about recording the music on Hold The Sun –
do you have a writing/recording method as it were? Were there
particular techniques or pieces of equipment that were crucial
to the music?
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I wrote and recorded all
the songs by myself; after that Omri came in and wrote the
lyrics and recorded the vocals. On some of the songs I would
bring musician friends of mine to record specific instruments.
As for equipment, it was very important for me to use only
analogue synths and studio equipment as I greatly value
the sound they produce over their digital counterparts.
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Q:
How did you work with your collaborators
on the album?
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Ok, so I had a few collaborators
on this project: With Shay Raviv (Violet Vision) I actually
wrote and produced one of the songs on the album, “The
Wheels Will Turn”; I brought Elad Aizikowitz to lay
down drum tracks on “A Devils Inside” and “Swallow
Your Pride”; Gal Binyamin played violins on “A
Devil Inside” and “Love”; lastly, Barak
Rosen played santur on “Religious Standards”.
Coincidentally all of them are really good friends of mine. |
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Q:
Having completed the album how would
you describe your sound to the uninitiated? |
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Well, it’s somewhat difficult
for me to put this music in any definite genre. Bottom line
is that these are songs and the song is the most important
aspect of the music. In retrospect I guess the music resembles
stuff like Zero 7, Massive Attack or Air, though I didn’t
set out to do it that way. So I guess if you like those bands
you’ll dig this project as well. |
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Q:
Having worked in a number of joint projects
in the past – how did creating a solo album compare?
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There wasn’t
too much of a difference for me between working alone or in
a joint project with someone. Having said that, being the
only one making the decisions you definitely have more freedom
in making certain creative choices. |
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Q:
Could you tell us something about the
album that might not be obvious?
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Looking backwards,
I feel like the source for my creative inspiration to make
this album was a pretty lengthy relationship I was in and
that ended just before the work process began. I guess that
could put a different light for the listener on the music
and lyrics. All in all, the entire process of making this
album was happening just when I was undergoing a very intensive
soul-searching process that somewhat redefined my spirituality;
that definitely influenced the music. |
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Q:
Besides CUTS, what else is going on in
your life at present?
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Aside from
CUTS, I’m working as a producer, mixing and mastering
engineer for many productions in Israel. I really love to
produce, and as a producer it is very important for me to
involve myself in other aspects of the project aside from
producing. So for example, if I’m producing an artist.
I will also actually play myself some of the instruments,
and usually take care of mixing duties. |
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Q:
Do you intend to return to CUTS in the
future? If so – how do you hope to see the project developing?
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I definitely will want to
record more CUTS albums in the future. I’m not really
sure, but for next album I think I would want to experiment
with a female vocalist, or perhaps I would go for an all instrumental
album. I can’t really say; like I said earlier, the
process is very instinctive so I wouldn’t know until
I actually start working. |
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| Q:
Do you have any
interesting little anecdotes around the creation of Survival
that you'd like to share?
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Only that my wife Janee helped
me so much, she is a good critic to have around, she helped
in so many ways, from volume of instruments to lyrics, to
which song works after each song....really great to have someone
you love understand your work.
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Q:
The sleeve notes
hint at more to come - what can we look forward to?
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There will be at least 2
more albums to come from these sessions........have fun........
Q: Any news on the Olias of Sunhillow development - some
websites indicate a multi CD release in the wings?
I will continue writing songs for
this kind of release, but I do have 4 large projects in
the works, and a new way of getting the music out there
into the big world, but technology is not quite ready.
Q: Any possibility of future work with Yes?
I don't see me touring with YES at this time...
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Thanks
to Nadav for allowing us that interview. |
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