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MI: So describe LevYatan in your own words to someone who’s never heard it.

CB: A journey into the mystical sounds on a bed of almost Beatles sounding tunes. There’s some Jethro, Santana, and David Matthews with a hint of Led Zeppelin at times.

MI: Why did you get involved in it?

CB: I usually get into projects that I’m passionate about, and levYatan has been an artist that I’ve followed for a long time but didn’t really work artistically with until this latest release. He sent me the mix before it went to mastering to get my opinion. As soon as I put that CD on I was hooked. The visual scapes I pictured in my head based on the sounds I was hearing were a trip to say the least. I pitched the concept for the cover and he loved it.

MI: What have you worked on before and why did he send you the mix? How did he know about you?

CB: I’m an all-around artist. I work on branding for corporations, advertising, packaging, and web design. I’m also a singer -songwriter myself. Music is my true passion. I’m a distant relative of levYatan so that’s how he knows me, and he always sought my opinion in all his artistic endeavors. I’ve always given him insight and advice on direction and sound. But it was always from a distance. This is the first time I really got involved to create something artistically together. I flew out to LA, sat with him for days before arriving at the final concept which we shot in his pool 🙂

MI: What are the plans with LevYatan – what are the goals for the future?

CB: He’s an independent artist and as any there is a lot of struggle to get out there and be heard. My goal is to try and put it in the right hands, through people I know. I think people would love it if they just had a chance to hear it. I’d like to see him do a US tour this summer.

MI: Is there a real possibility of that at this point?

CB: Anything is possible. He could get signed by a super indie label that can tag him on to a few festivals and tours.

MI: Is that in the works or is that a maybe ? 🙂

CB: Both it’s in the works and it’s a maybe 🙂

MI: You’re living in Israel now – are you doing any work creatively together? If so, how?

CB: I’m living in Tel Aviv at the moment to try and advance my own artistic endeavors of music, art and acting. I hope to take up acting really soon and explore my expression in that form.

MI: Through what venues in Israel?

CB: Israel is a small country but I’m looking forward to using it as a launching pad.

MI: What is your musical background?

CB: Fortunately I come from a great heritage of music. My grandfather was a piytan (cantor) in Morocco who studied with the great David Bozaglo. My father followed suit somewhat but in the realm of rock n roll, or what he calls Moroccanroll. He was with a very successful group in the 70s called Les Variations. They toured with a lot of known bands from the time, namely The Who. But my father’s true passion was soul music, blues, music of the African-American experience. The soundtrack of my childhood is Otis Redding, Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, Sydney Bache…those artists and the music I came to discover and love as a teenager were the foundations to my own musical expression. I was in a band as an early teen which only lasted as long as school did. Once that was out I didn’t touch music seriously for years. Only 4 years ago my brother and I formed a band Rock Of David. We hooked up with another musical protégé from the Piamenta clan. His father, Yosi Piamenta is known as the Jewish Jimi Hendrix. Yuda, son of Yosi is a great guitar player and friend. We eventually decided to take a break as we wanted to try different things in music. I wanted less loud rock n’ roll, and go for what comes out of me best, soul. So I took up learning the guitar, and for the past year I’ve getting better at playing and the same time composing songs. I used to compose just from the mind before. Having an instrument really changed things for me. I wouldn’t say its better, it’s a just different way of composing that takes you in another direction.

MI: What’s the difference? Snd how did you put the songs down if you didn’t have an instrument?

CB:  The difference for me at least is that with the guitar there is more of a progression. This chord sounds good with that chord following it, and then singing a melody on top of it, where before I used to hum my tunes (mostly in the shower), and free flow into something. If I felt I had something I liked I would record it on my Iphone and then bring it to my guitar player and we’d work it and iron it out. Then write the lyrics. I guess in a way it was a more free way to compose. But the tradeoff I have with giving up some of that freedom is the consistency I have when writing music with an instrument. I don’t have to wait for the lightning bolt to hit me with a melody. I can play a few chords and listen to what the notes are saying.

MI: Cool! Do you have anything else on the horizon?

CB: I ‘m just opening my design studio and launched a site for it: hippush.com. It will be my basecamp for all future projects. I also have a fashion line in the works. I’m collaborating with a brilliant designer in Milan, Italy. Sarah Benchimol and I are working on a collection for men and women to hit stores in August. The line is called IMUZE and you can get more info about that on my site.