YOSSI SASSI – The interview with composer and guitarist Yossi Sassi

„… I don’t limit myself to a style (…) it just makes sense that this diversity of cultures and exposure to so many versatile musical genre will linger to my composing process (…) My compositions tend to combine East & West, acoustic & Electric, rock/metal with tradditional music (…) Some of „Prediluvian” tracks could easily be an ORPHANED LAND song, and is only had some more lyrics, could be sort of „Mabool 2”, in a way…” – Yossi Sassi

Hi Yossi! How are the emotions related to the release of the new album “Prediluvian”?

Hi Pavel! Every creation is like a “baby”, and we are really excited that ‘Prediluvian’ is about to be heard and felt throughout the globe. This unique child with brand new 12 tracks has something for everyone of our fans, both rock-metal as well as acoustic-eastern/oriental music lovers.

Basic question… What is the difference between “Prediluvian” and its predecessors? I think it will be more guitar-like, but still oriental, progressive?

Oh, yes – still very oriental. Still progressive. Yet on ‘Prediluvian’ I drifted back to my electric guitar. I play more riffs and rhythm sections rather than, in comparison with the last 3 albums – being focued on the Bouzouki lines, for example. The result is first of all „heavier”, as well as more tight – I love being as-one with the rhythm section!

Looks like you’ve merged with THE ORIENTAL ROCK ORCHESTRA for good. “Prediluvian” is the third album played with this orchestra… Apart from the fact that your daughter Danielle Sassi is a flautist there, it’s seems to work well together?

The Orchestra ensemble is what I dreamt of years back. I always had the feeling, especially when playing live sets, that there is a gap between how the music is felt & performed live to how it is recorded, layers by layers. It started around „Roots and Roads”, when I for sure knew there is a core band here, full blown ensemble, with „extra” musicians on instruments such as Kanoon and Nay flutes. I wanted to go away from using computers at shows. I wanted to get free from the „click”/metronome at the drummer’s ear. I wanted it all to be REAL. And – undeniably great. And we’ve reached this experience. The Oriental Rock Orchestra is, for me and many that I know of, an UNDENIABLY GREAT Experience. You can like it more or less, but it is unique and overwhelming, regardless of musical taste & preferences.

In addition to this whole group, you also invited the vocalist Ross Jennings from the progressive Metal band HAKEN to cooperate. So some “Metal accent”, although knowing his singing – it’s delicate. How did this collaboration come about?

I’ve known Ross & the friends from “Haken” for some years now. They’ve performed in Israel few times, with us joining them, both myself as well as my daughter Danielle playing flute live with ‘Haken’, and also Roei my percussion player & humble brother-in-music, that goes with me for over 20 years. Ross is first and foremost a friend and an amazing guy. Really kind soul & great to hang with. On top of that, he’s also one, if not THE, best vocalists of recent years! He’s absolutely killer both studio and live. His performance is stellar and unique. I admire his voice and his lyrics writing skills. It is our 2nd studio collaboration. Ross also wrote and performed “Reveal”, from the album “Illusion of Choice”.

In addition, the next guest was the jazz-classical pianist Uriel Herman…

Oh, the talented Uriel. Indeed, he was the „cherry” on top of the album arrangements. When we finished recording all the album LIVE on the island of Santorini, Greece, I went back to Jaffa in Israel to mix and do additional instruments, such as Charrango, Saz, Yukalele etc. The idea to combine Uriel, a gifted virtuosou pianist, came from Liron Schaffer – my musical producer & the talent that records & mixes all my albums & many of my side-productions for over a decade now. Uriel added his magic on few tracks in the album, and his palying is a proof that sometimes small touches are enough to create the right effect and value to the song.

So… Do Rock, Jazz and Oriental music form the point of YOSSI SASSI’s compositions?

All these, and more! Ha ha. Seriously, I don’t limit myself to a style. At the ‘Oriental Rock Orchestra’, with its 9 memebrs – we have SO MUCH TALENT to admire and explore. Some ensemble come from Jazz/beebop background, some metal, some traditional world music/turkish/egyptian/morrocan, greek music and more. So it is only natural to enjoy this pool of talent, and compose accordingly.

And what inspires you to create music that is so rich in sound, instrumental and cultural terms?

Coming from the middle east, sorrounded by many cultures, smells, cuisine, tastes etc., it just makes sense that this diversity of cultures and exposure to so many versatile musical genre will linger to my composing process. I was exposed from early childhood to music from multiple nations & cultures, and it keeps being my inspiration even to this day.

Is there an idea behind your composing? I think that with your music you connect not only the East with the West but also the feuding nations of the Middle East…

My compositions tend to combine East & West, acoustic & Electric, rock/metal with tradditional music. I love fusing elements from different genre and sides of the globe. There is no strict idea, just the notion that music is a journey, an experience to be explored, and I let it guide me to its depths.

The title “Prediluvian” refers to the biblical antediluvian period… However, the cover-art suggests a flood! Who is its author?

The cover art is a result of multiple people working on it, graphic designers, visual artists as well as our manager Amir Rozanes who had the visual concept in mind. Essentially, Prediluvian means ‘one who lives before the flood’. The album concept relates to the period before the flood, in terms of something imminent, something globally bad approaching, the sins of men etc. The cover show this as sort of a glance to the future, kind of a prophecy, if you’d like. The future being, of course, the Flood – the outcome of events that occured before.

Is there any connection between ORPHANED LAND’s “Mabool – The Story of the Three Sons of Seven” and “Prediluvian”?

Yes! As you might know, „Mabool” means „flood” in hebrew. I composed Mabool since the late 90’s throughout early 2000’s, and was lucky enough to produce and record it with my friends in „Orphaned Land” in 2003, being our first album to be released in Century media back then, on 2004. My father sings there, as he did in all other albums. We have there many progressive elements compared to previous O.L albums. It is a very special album for me. When I began to compose „Prediluvian”, I code-named it „CHAPTER 6”, knowing that I want it to be around my electric guitar roots, yet in a re-visited approach – meaning, it is the same Yossi, same guitar playing 20+ years ago, but capturing those same riffs and „Orphaned Land style” compositions that I used to do in dozens and hundreds of compositions for Orphaned Land. Some of „Prediluvian” tracks could easily be an Orphaned Land song, and is only had some more lyrics, could be sort of „Mabool 2”, in a way.

Do you see any resemblance between present-day civilizations and pre-Flood civilizations?… A suggestion of prophecy?

Certainly. I think there is nothing new under the sun, at the core of the events cycles. History keeps repeating itself, only with new names & people and with different technology, yet very similar „bottom line outcomes”. These are challenging times for humanity – the climate crisis, the situation in Ukraine, post-Covid effects and more – all those give similar feelings to a „Pre-Flood energy”.

The single promoting “Prediluvian” is the song “Vision Of Water” … Out of 12 tracks you chose this one. Why?

I just love the tune! Ha ha. Seriously, we felt this song very natural as a bridge between the „old school” riffs on my compositions in Orphaned Land, to the new unique sound of the Oriental Rock Orchestra. It is a good showcase of what we have prepared for you. And the rest of the album is a concept journey you would hopefully enjoy listening from start to end.

And of course you released a music video for “Vision Of Water”. Now tell me, where did you record it and what did you drink, hahaha… It must have been a very nice atmosphere there?!

We’ve returned for the 3rd time to „Black Rock Studios”, where we record in an isolated high-quality resident, on the island of Santorini, Greece. We disconnect from the routine for some time, sleep there, eat there, learn the music there and record it there. Seriously! People didn’t know the music before coming – most of the actual „learning the songs”, as well as some of the actual compositions (aided by my daughter Danielle, who composed 3 songs together with me) – all this happend on the island itself. We drink there Raki, which is a sort of local drink that we as a group got quite used to while visiting Greece.

Do you have other videos planned for “Prediluvian”?

Yes, we do! On March 13th we will release a new video here, a 2nd single for the album, for the song „ARMAROS FALL” featuring Ross Jennings. The clip is quite spactacular! Came out really great, hope you enjoy it.

So the premiere of the album is coming soon… And the first concert promoting the album will be on March 30 in Tel Aviv. Will you reveal who will be the support and why?

Yep, the premiere is coming close, on March 30th in Tel Aviv. We expect a sold out venue and a very warm and supporting audience! Our opening act will be „Steroid Puppets”, Ben Azar’s trio of magnificent musicianship, really surreal and contemporary instrumental genius stuff going on there!

And the next concerts?

We are not planned yet for touring abroad, but are considering some options, festivals etc. Since Covid, it has been a challenge to return on the road, but this year I feel it is much better and it finally „opened up” as expected. Still, our live set is originally 9 (!) musicians, so that is not something to perform in every venue. We’ll see.

As a side note, I would like to mention that as a young Metalhead, I also liked listening to Oriental and Ethnic Music. Then suddenly in the 90s ORPHANED LAND appeared and knocked me off my feet! “Oriental” Metal is something amazing! In some circles you are considered a pioneer of Oriental Metal… Is Metal music still in your interest?

Dziekuje! I am really happy to hear that. Well, yes, I do have a feeling of sort of pioneering this genre along with my friends in Orphaned Land, since to be honest, oriental melodies back in the late 80’s early 90’s, when we started, were very limited, and used mainly as a „gimick” or one-off experimentations. With my music and with Orphaned Land, both in Rock (solo) as well as metal (Orphaned Land), we soared to new levels with this genre. It warms the heart to see so many followers, bands continuing to progress and develop this genre, all over the world.

Did you finally break up with ORPHANED LAND?

I left Orphaned Land. Yes. I am no longer an active member since 2014. I composed and recorded ‘All is One’ with the band in 2013, toured with the album, and then decided to move on. When I started Orphaned Land back in 1991, it was a dream to fullfil. And the dream came through. I love my brothers there, Uri & Kobi, as well as Matan, chen and Idan – and obviously – all past members – especially Matti. But I moved on. I always think about Now, and the future. You see, after ~23 years, I felt I have to go to the next adventure. When you say „yes” to something, you say „No” to everything else while you do this thing. So I had to evolve beyond what Orphaned Land had to offer for me specifically. And I did. 9 years later with 6 solo album, considred for Grammy nomination, european tours, „Top newcomer” of Rock Hard Magazine, collaborations all over the planet with Marty Friedman, Ron „Bumblefoot” Thal, Zaher Zorgatti of Myrath, Mariangela Demurtas, Ross of Haken and much much more – I am very happy about the decision to leave Orphaned Land. Not an easy choice – as it was my life’s project(!) – but the Best & right choice. For me.

Yeah! In your life you had the opportunity to play with various guitarists, for example with Marty Friedman or Stéphan Forté… Which guitarist do you admire the most?

I am humbled and lucky to have been invited to record and/or share stages and even tour with some of the world’s most amazing guitar players, from Marty Friedman (brother and inspiration – toured together, recorded in few albums and more), Ron „bumblefoot” Thal (my crazy brother from another mother, also, live, studio , the whole works), and on to Steve Vai (live, twice), Paul Gilbert etc. My most admired guitarist is Joe Satriani – which I’ve met and briefly jammed with. He played on my musical instument that I invented, the Bouzoukitara.

This year, Steve Vai is touring Europe. He has his Ibanez JEM Tripleneck and Ibanez Heart Tripleneck, and you have a double-neck bouzoukitara… The instrument details are on your website. But can you tell me something about your bouzoukitara, maybe an interesting story or anecdote? Is this model designed for sale?

The Bouzoukitara is an instrument i’ve built for my needs, together with luthier Benjamin Miller. It is a one-of-a-kind instrument, a hybrid of electric guitar, acoustic guitar and a bouzouki (greek mandolin). It combines all 3 guitars with 2 necks and 1 body with perfect sound and quality, which was not an easy thing to acheive. I’ve played the instrument in over 100 shows in dozens of countries in the last ~12 years. I also jammed with Steve Vai, with this exact guitar. The model is not for sale, since it was custom created for my live needs mostly – to go between acoustic, electric and bouzouki quickly and effectively when playing live. And of course, to carry less guitars on airplanes! Ha ha.

Yossi, thank you very much for the interview and, the more so that after years I could remember and return to your music (reviewing “Melting Clocks” ), with which I will stay for a long time!

Dziekuje, Pavel! Really happy that you follow and support my music for so many years. I send greeting & big hugs to all our friends and followers worldwide – listen to „Prediluvian” and let us know what you think! Thank you!

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