Avital, you sing so deep. How do you get your voice that low?
Well, just practice, really. I've been singing for seven years now (Betzefer was the first band I ever sang in – used only to play guitar beforehand) and was only self-taught. I can definitely see how my voice has changed over this period of time. Heck, I couldn't really scream for the first year or so. I would just get all red and lose my voice... The way I see it it's about not recognising any limitations in your own capabilities. Just believe you can do whatever you want to and keep aiming for the way you want your voice to be like, and in the end it will get there. And it goes for everything in life – not only singing.
How many tattoos do you have and what's your favourite one?
I have both sleeves done, one of my legs, some stars on my hands, small skulls on my thumbs, "BORN DEAD" and "F..$K 9 to 5" on my fingers, another star way up on my chest which looks like it hangs from a necklace piece which says "I sold my soul for rock N' roll", a weird monkey face on the back of my neck, small Kanji beneath it (first ink I ever got), tribal decorations behind my ears, and of course my infamous tribal Mohawk, which is definitely my favourite one. It slides just a tad below my hairline, so it actually ends on my forehead, and that little bit of ink gives me the most satisfaction since it’s there every time I look in the mirror. I plan on having more face work done in the years to come.
You've been playing as a band for seven years, how has the sound evolved?
One of the best things for me with Betzefer is how we started as a high-school band and now we're grown-ups making totally different music. We definitely got heavier and tighter (and keep on doing so). We started this thing when we were still kids and didn't even hear about half of the bands that would later on inspire us and take our music to new directions, and as much as I don't take any pride in our early releases (and I'm being gentle here) I think it’s remarkable the way we stuck together.
In your album you single out Svencho for "special thanks...for all of his help and endless support which made this album possible." Who is Svencho and how did he contribute to Down Low?
Svencho is a dear friend to our band. He sings in the death metal band Aborted and abuses the drum kit in ‘Leng Tche’. I would probably leave out a lot if I tried to list everything he has done for Betzefer, but he had a great deal in making this album possible. He did stuff such as hooking us up with the CCR studio we recorded at, getting us a slot supporting Fear Factory while we were on recording, designing a lot of visual stuff for us including our new website, editing the ‘Down Low’ video, and much, much more.
What inspires you lyrically?
People, good poetry, feelings, culture, basically everything around and inside me!
When I play the album on RealPlayer it recognises the album as 666% Rock ‘n’ Roll. Was this the original title or something?
666% Rock 'n' Roll was the working title for Down Low. If you check, you will also see ‘Black Ínside’ listed as ‘My Way To Nowhere’. It slipped. Sorry!
What's the best thing about living in Israel?
My beloved cat Zuma, the beautiful women, the best food in the universe, the great weather, and ultimately the beach!
When you tour, what's on your rider?
Not much man, a case of Red Bull, a bottle of Smirnoff, the occasional Jagermeister, Oh…and gotta have the red wine.
What is the band up to at the moment?
We're working non-stop writing songs for our next album due fall 2006. I can tell you right now there's a lot to look forward to! We're definitely taking this thing up a level (more like two or three even)! DANGER: Some sickly catchy tunes coming your way!!! Also, Matan and I are performing on a Dimebag Darrell tribute show on the first annual memorial day, December 9th (which also happens to be my birthday – I'll turn 24), so we're a little busy rehearsing for that.
What's only kinky the first time?
Being interviewed for British media and getting yelled at twice a minute because you just can't seem to stop saying ‘fuck’ in every second sentence. You get used to that though. So do they.

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