Jochen: How did you get in touch with Steven Wilson – who actually did a great job on your album, I’d say!
Omer: That's an easy question: with an e-mail. I just sent him an e-mail with some of my stuff I've been working on and he got back to me. That’s how we hooked up and that's when we've started working together.

Jochen: Was the final version some kind of teamwork or more guided by Wilson?
Omer: Well, I have to say that it was more of a guide than teamwork. He wasn't there in the studio with and I did the producing of the album myself so he was there for my questions and for consultation for once in a while. Of course that in the mixing phase he became more active since he's the one who mixed and mastered the album.

Jochen: I think even if there are slight echoes of Porcupine Tree, your record already has its own trademarks in sound and melodies.
Omer: I'm glad to hear that. In my opinion most of the porcupine tree feel kicked in at the mixing phase, Steven used a lot of techniques that he uses on PT albums.

Jochen: Is EPHRAT a real band or rather some kind of project, whose musicians – except for you – are replaceable with other studio-musicians?
Omer: That's a good question actually. The band started as a solo project of mine and that's how I wrote everything and that's how few things have been recorded. Only at a certain phase I decided that it will be a band and recruited Gili (bass), Tomer (drums) and later on – Lior Seker (vocals). But I guess because that the decision was made in the middle of the album making it's not a homorganic band and that will be tested in the near future. It's really important for me to say that it's not a one time band with a one time album like few other projects in the genre. It's a band that will continue to create and to release albums and hopefully soon will also begin touring.

Jochen: I wouldn’t rate it necessarily negative, because an open approach has its advantages. And especially your guest singers Petronella Nettermalm and Daniel Gildenlöw are enrichment for the album. How you got in touch to these nice musicians?
Omer: Logistically it wasn't hard. We are all signed at the same label. I just sent them a request to appear in my album and they agreed. Everything sound quite simple isn't it? After they got my request they immediately agreed and we begun to work each vocalist on his song.

Jochen: Amaseffer work together with Mats Leven, you do the same with the above mentioned. Do Israeli-musicians have a special affinity to Scandinavia?
Omer: I don't know about the Amaseffer lads but seriously I think that Scandinavia is a musical treasure. So many great and most importantly unique bands. I don't know what the reason for that musical abundance there is, but it's there and it's different from the rest of Europe (in my opinion).
But it's not that I picked up the vocalists using a map, I just wanted to have the best and more appropriate vocalists for this album, that's what directed me.

Jochen: A propos Amaseffer, it seems that a lot of new and outstanding music comes along from Israel in these days. Is there any reason why this does happen right now?
Omer: I don't think so, it's a clear coincidence. I don't know them and they don't know me and there are a lot of other great bands here that worked on their music in the same time (and still are) but only we had the break from InsideOut. Was it a decision by InsideOut to open the Israeli music gates? Could be, but you have to ask them.

Jochen: Although your music – apart from its rich diversity and virtuosity – is quite different from Amaseffers, you’re both part of the InsideOut-label. Are there any points of contact between the two bands in “real” life or is it pure coincidence?
Omer: Like I mentioned, there's no connection between both bands, and I think that you can hear that we are on a different page of the Prog genre, but it could be interesting to meet them actually.

Jochen: Oriental influences in your music are probably available, but I think the influence of pop and rock music of Central Europe and America (from the Beatles to Porcupine Tree) is a bigger one, right?
Omer: Exactly. A lot of Israeli bands are something you can call an ethnic band, if it's Amaseffer or Orphaned Land and we are definitely not an ethnic band. We are a Prog band influenced from the Prog genre classic bands and the ethnic features are the side dish. It’s not an attempt to discard the Israeli nature but simply my musical taste and the way I write, that's all.

Jochen: What’s about EPHRAT as a live band? Are performances planned outside of Israel, perhaps even a tour?
Omer: Well, we are working on the logistics of that matter these days and I must say that it's not going to be easy. It’s not the usual band and it will be a big production to handle. But to the fans it only means that even though it will take some time, it will be a show to wait for.

Jochen: Once again, heartfelt congratulations on your truly excellent debut, one of my favorite CDs in the recent months. I am looking much forward to your next release... are there any plans by now?
Omer: Thanks again. There are always things running in my head but now the emphasis is on touring.

Jochen: Best wishes for your future!
Omer: Thank you very much. Bye, bye.