Amir Amram is the vocalist for techpoprock act DMA. DMA have already taken the steps indicative of a success plan in mind: they’ve toured outside Israel (in Canada), they’ve recorded with a hotshot producer in Germany, and well, read all about it…

MI: So, Amir Amram, tell me a bit about DMA. Tell someone who’s never heard of DMA a bit of what you’re about.

AA: DMA is a band creating tunes to fit directly into one’s memory bank, with a positive alternative edge.

MI: You recently recorded in Germany?

AA: Yes, we recorded our debut album with Rolf Munkes at Empire Records this past May. Empire Studios- sorry.

MI: Heheh you liked that movie?

AA: I like Liv. 😛

MI: She’s Jew you know.

AA: No I did not.You heard of Rush I’m sure

MI: 😛 Nu, nu.

AA: Geddy Lee, the bass/keys/vocalist?

MI: Dude, why you asking me stupid questions? I’m the one supposed to ask stupid questions.

AA: We’re comparing Jew knowledge.

MI: Ah. Yeh I know he is.

AA: AKA Gaddy Levy 🙂

MI: So how did you hook up with this Munkes person?

AA: We met Rolf through Internet/Myspace, he heard our early recordings, and we worked a deal for a full album recording. The experience was great, and he’s a great producer. Rolf also works with Tony Martin, Doogie White and other rock legends in his own music releases, Neil Murray of Whitesnake etc.

MI: Is he helping you out with getting a deal?

AA: We are currently sending our album “kit” to labels we chose out of a long list, and hoping to get some good answers. Rolf has suggested helping with distribution in Germany, and that option is always available, Of course he would also love to see this project succeeding.

MI: (checking out DMA’s Myspace @ http://www.myspace.com/dmaband. You added someone on your Myspace named Irish Palestinian Solidarity?

AA: I’m sorry, I didn’t get that

MI: http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=249876337 commented on your Myspace. She lists Sheik Ahmed Yassin (may his name be erased and may he boil in pig blood) as a martyr on there. She writes about how much she wants peace and meanwhile there are people w khaffiyehs brandishing guns on her Top Friends, and the PLO is listed as an organization wanting peace. Makes the soldiers look like babykillers.

AA: Interesting. We get asked many times about the influence of Israeli politics on our music, but there isn’t any. We have enough bands and performers doing that, we target other fields of interest, with different influences, though we’re not blind to what’s around. For example: in live shows, we dedicate a song to Karnit Goldwasser, wife of kidnapped soldier Ehud, and we send our hopes for her to have him back soon, and every show we count the days that he’s gone. We were declined of joining an Icelandic rock festival for being Israeli. But no hard feelings there.

MI: Iceland? What the hell do they have to do with anything? And why no hard feelings?

AA: Well, they have Bjork to apologize for, so nobody is perfect.

MI: ☺ But how would you feel about a fan that promotes Sheik Yassin as a holy smiley martyr who we murdered in cold blood?

AA: Good question. How can you tell? This one is obviously flaunting it, but we might have many who keep their ideas and views for themselves (as do we), and as long it’s the music we’re all after, no harm is done. Being an Israeli band, has its ways of stirring minds anywhere we might go, we just have to be good representatives, and try and set out a good reputation for musicians from Israel. That’s the best without turning into Rage Against the Machine.

MI: Well, what do you think sets a good reputation for Israeli musicians?

AA: First of all- professionalism. Arriving to the venue on time, with the proper gear, and giving a good performance, that gives respect to the artist himself, therefore saying something about his origin. If a band or an artist does not, the next the venue might not want any performers from Israel. Also setting a good vibe around, no need to light up anger and hatred, which is fast coming because of prejudice.

MI: Speaking of prejudice (especially mine), what was it like being Jewish and Israeli in Germany? You were there for a few months, no?

AA: We were there for a month, we were treated great, everybody were impressed to hear where we came for, and nothing sinister happened. We sometimes expect things that aren’t really there.

MI: OK..now let’s talk about the music. You’re not exactly metal, but what do you think of the Incubus comparison?

AA: That’s a compliment any day of the week, and twice on Shabbos 🙂 They are a great band, we are all fans, and just mentioning us as a comparison is flattering.

MI: What does Jamais Vu mean?

AA: Jamais Vu, is French for opposite of Deja Vu

MI: Vu Da Je. You’re yourself again. Wait, what the hell is the opposite of deja vu??

AA: If Deja Vu is the occurence of recognising a first time event as being something that already happened – but didn’t, Jamais Vu is not recognizing something you actually know very well.

MI: The breakup song is cute. Call me when you’re dead?

AA: Well, that’s the best way to put it. Loud and clear 🙂 Call me when you’re sober is better?

MI: No that was fine, I was just going to be a yenta and ask you if it was based on personal experience.

AA: No it isn’t. One of the album’s songs is, but I’m not telling which. 😛

MI: OK. What’s your favorite song on the album and why?

AA: The last track “Demons”, will be the answer if you ask any of the band members. The song was arranged only a few days before leaving to Germany to record, and lyrics were written a few hours before the vocal session itself. So we were all playing something that we didn’t plan like with the other songs, and we call it ‘a miracle’. It has a very special feel about it.

MI: It’s not online yet, huh?

AA: Nope, but I think we can get you a copy 🙂

MI: Nu, nu! Anything to say I didn’t ask you?

AA: My wishes: Alternative bands (and by that I mean anything that isn’t mainstream here) should unite as a group, as of now we are all too independent to make a difference. A good Alt music radio staion to broadcast for people of our mutual interest, and a global success for an Israeli band to show the world and the industry there’s much to find here.

MI: Alt meaning metal as well, yeh?

AA: Everything that isn’t prime time material, at least in Israel. (Regarding the scene), I know some bands are friends with others, but there isn’t a thriving scene.
I can say that a fan as much as a musician. I go to parties and I see the people there, much more can be done.

MI: Cool, anything else?

AA: Thanks for the interview, great site Aviva, thanks for your hard work and support.

MI: Awwww, shucks.