Not Just Another Boring Political Band

Though they were both born in Israel, drummer/percussionist Tamir Muskat and saxophonist Ori Kaplan met and developed their musical chops as teenagers in New York City, first working together in the mid-‘90s with a band called Firewater, and then a collective called Gogol Bordello.

“But there was a common thread,” Kaplan points out on the line from Israel. “Firewater had this kind of punk rock meeting this crazy klezmer downtown sound and Gogol Bordello was this other Ukrainian kind of gypsy punk. So we went through that school, playing to some of the same audiences in some cases. That was the kind of scene.”

Singer and guitarist Tomer Yosef, another Israeli in NYC came into the picture when Muskat produced his 2002 debut album, Say Something, beginning as a guest vocalist in the pair’s next project, Balkan Beat Box, featuring on the 2005 eponymous debut album, before becoming the third core member.

“It’s what we enjoy doing,” Kaplan says of the band’s fusing of so many musical styles, ranging from electronics to reggae, klezmer to toasting, with a chuckle. “The fact is we come from such a wide palette, three individuals in the band all having such different experiences, each one comes with a big palette and there’s a lot to be poured into the mix, so there are always fresh ideas running. It’s a workshop of we three musicians.”

"Try not to depend on old clichés or formulas."

Though lyrically 2012’s album, Give, their fourth, was very much a collection of statements on a variety of socio-political issues, from the Occupy movement to Israeli protests over the cost of living, Balkan Beat Box isn’t specifically a political band. “There are many other issues; personal issues, intimacy, love, relationships,” Kaplan laughs. “So although we’re very concerned – everybody’s knows what we feel about different political issues – we’re not just about that. That would be boring.

“I think we were really like obsessed for a while with Roma music. We still love it but we never tried to emulate it. It’s aesthetics, sounds that we like. It can be influenced by old funk vinyl and R&B, ‘50s, all kinds of things we’re interested in.”

The trio are currently working on their next album – “Fresh music and great concept and content” – but don’t assume you know what it’s going to sound like. “You know, every album which I do I push the envelope and do something new; somehow find a way to tie up one leg or something to find ways for other stuff to come and try not to depend on old clichés or formulas we’ve perfected but create new ones, new ways. So, we’re trying!”