Balkan Beat Box Interview
By Jessica Youseffi
The band members, born in Israel but brought up in New York bring a fusion of musical styles to the room from urban hip hop beats and raps to Balkan and Middle Eastern Rhythms all in one go.
I catch up with Balkan Beat Box's Ori Kaplan, ex-Gogol Bordello member right before the band continues to tour the rest of the US. Be sure to watch out for the next time BBB come around.
-Jewish music! ?
What have you guys been up to?
Tour tour tour. This summer japan canada eu south north. Also working on the new album
Do you feel like you’re redefining the Israeli music scene?
Some of us have not lived in israel between 12-16 years. So its kind of a funny question. We are not part of the local scene as the band is not based there, formed in nyc yet kicks ass when we go to israel. We play there twice a year and 120 times a year in other cities in the globe, yet its fun to hit the homeland always. There is definitly affect now on israelis who either are super proud to see what is going on and musicians who see what can be.
We also bring in a way the voice of the left wing, the sane part of israeliness and carry that voice abroad. Its familiarizing thousands of european audiences with a face of different kind of israelis, the ones you don't often see on european news.
Where do you get the best audience response around the world?
All around it can be exciting. Really amazing how japan or louisiana can be similar excitment, different body moves, but same energy it brings out in ppl
Tell me about your groupies?
What do you want to know?
What’s it like on stage?
The best chanelling of everybody's energy. Sometimes its as good as se
Do you keep hotel rooms clean?
We bring our own detergents
Where is home?
Nyc, Israel, Vienna
Where the heart is
How does being Jewish influence your music?
Its not a conscious factor, we don't make jewish music. we mix up our background of growing up in israel with so many other influences. Whatever entered our ears throughout our lives is "our" music which is as diverse as punk rock and greek old fol musik. We call it nu med, new mediterranian wave, it has nothing to do with borders or religion
You have a huge mix of musical styles, what kind of style are you feeling right now?
Working on some new songs, the writing is getting more personal, in a few months you'll get to hear the new album which we are very excited about
Who would you love to tour with?
Tinariwen, MIA, manu chao
I’ve heard you say your music is aimed at breaking barriers, how do you think you are you breaking the barries between Tel-aviv and Ramallah?
We are musicians first, we express our feelings, our desires. First comes the dream, if that is heard by one person at a time and affects them, that is already an achievment. Musicians should not fear expressing any utopian dreams they have
What’s next?
Looking forward to working more on the new album so winter will be very dedicated work, and tour brazil, mexico, uk, iceland, italy, more Usa in late winter!
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