This interview was supposed to be published with totally different feelings in our hearts. It was supposed to be read totally differently. But life takes sharp turns at times. This time it took a turn, which is hard for us, who knew Avihen, to digest. Avihen was killed in a motorcycle accident in Goa in Feb. 10th, 2003. He was on a short vacation before the release of his second, much awaited, Cosma album- Non Stop. In the end of that vacation he was supposed to start another long world tour and make lots of beautiful colorful people all around the world happy and jumpy with his music. All this won't happen now, neither will the many plans he had and the huge musical future that awaited him and us. A future which he also discussed here with Thomas in this interview made a month ago. So here is a last conversation with a person that all who knew loved, a person that had so much in him, that he could give so much to others with his music. The little light that remains is that at least his music stayed with us, and will remind us of him every time we listen to it.
Shahar.
February, 2003.
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What Equipment do you use and how do you work with it?
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The main gear that I use is a PC with many plug-ins and instruments. Today it's not really necessary to buy real studio equipment. It can help for sure but I think less buttons- less problems. My main program is Nuendo/Cubase SX and for all my studio working under audio mode I have a Yamaha keyboard as controller and good Tannoy speakers.
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How do you get such a clear sound with a Sound Blaster Card?
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My Simplicity album was made with a normal Sound Blaster. It was very hard to get this kind of sound with this kind of soundcard. A good acoustic room is very important and a big part of the mix. Good mix = good sound!
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How do you build up a track?
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Most of my tracks made like flashes in 1 or 2 days. It's like the story of my day or the feeling of a moment. Sometimes after I'm coming home from a really good party, the atmosphere is still really close, so I take it direct to the studio and from there it goes back to the people.
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Do you work on more than one track at the same time? What way do you make the arrangement and the mix?
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 | Normally I'm working only on one project. Sometimes the final mix is not really perfect so I have to open the old project and to make a new mix. The arrangement of my tracks is very simple. Every sound has its own channel. The Mix is a very important part of the track. For every track I make a separate mix and later I check the sound in different systems. |
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Please give some hints for beginners.
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Don't waste your money to buy a full studio in the beginning, the main gear is always the PC. Try to look for sounds and the effects you really like.
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Tell us about your daily life. From where do you get your Inspiration?
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I like to travel and to learn from many different people about life. Animals make me happy and Mother Nature is a brilliant outdoor weekend! I have a dog and a house and it's very nice to go for a walk outside on a sunny day. I like the blue sea and most, I like to eat!!! Inspiration is something that every time comes from a different part of my soul. Inspiration is not always coming. Sometimes when the mood and the atmosphere are blocking you a million Kms away from the speakers, its really hard to get into the studio. I'm living in a very difficult place, the situation here takes a lot of good energy from me, but I teach myself how to find the peaceful way and the good vibes. |  |
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Do you think the trance scene works still with P.L.U.R. (Peace Love Unity Respect)?
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 | It was like this but not anymore. I don't think you can say today that the trance scene is underground. For sure and I'm happy for this that there are still underground parties all over the world but locally trance became commercial. Good people with a very good vibes started with P.L.U.R, they still with us but there is big part of people that only hurting the scene and the good people! |
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Your music sounds so Swedish. Any special connection between you and Scandinavia?
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Some years ago the Scandinavian music effected me in a different way. People that hear my music know that I make a lot of styles, including the Scandinavian style. In Simplicity I tried to take the full on side and the minimal and combine between them. About the melody part of me it came long time ago on the Diablo project. Scandinavia is a factory of music like Israel, and there is a connection between the music. The Swedish artists have the deepness that a lot of artists don't have. |  |
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Your Album Non Stop is on the way to be released. What's your favorite track?
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 | Non Stop is different from the first album. The style is still Cosma story but the music is stronger than Simplicity. The target is to kick dance floors with the mind and to let the people enjoy the music at home. It contains progressive, ambient, full on & more. My favorite track is People on Hold. |
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What's your connection to Ambient?
I really like to come down with ambient and chill electronic music and for sure I'm going to do it a lot in the future. This year my next project is an ambient CD.
Minimal vs. Full On? What will be the future of Trance?
I think that every couple of years the crowd is changing and the music also. Full on is music that can fill the dance floor very well, but to listen to it at home is boring. More minimal music can work in both places. |  |
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