Years

"Ohad Benchetrit is a Canadian musician who performs and records under the name Years. He also plays guitar, bass, saxophone and flute for the post-rock band Do Make Say Think, and has contributed to albums by Broken Social Scene, Feist, The Hidden Cameras and Charles Spearin."

[reproduced or excerpted from the Wikipedia article "Ohad Benchetrit" and its use is thus licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License]

Bandega Interview with Ohad Benchetrit of Years (June 2009)

Hiding for Years is behind him.

Q: How have your shows changed over the years? Has your perspective on performing live changed?
A: They haven't really changed that much at all. You go out and play your songs as best as you can. It's still a thrill and honor to get the chance to perform. I expect for me, on a personal level, that Years will present a challenge. Not being able to hide behind a large loud band will definitely be a new and thrilling experience for me.

Q: Describe the most memorable live show you've played.
A: There have been so many it's hard to pick just one. There are the firsts – first show ever, first show in Europe, first show in Japan, first festival. Then there are those shows you expect nothing from that turn out to be a surprise. Do Make Say Think had a show like that in Minneapolis a few years back. I think Interpol and some other big indie act was playing that same night and drew away some of our potential audience. So, we ended up playing in front of a small 40-50 audience. We didn't have any expectations but there was that connection, it felt great and it was just an amazing reminder of how a live show should feel, regardless of size or setting.

Q: What venue do you consider to be your "home", where you feel most comfortable, with the crowd and the place itself?
A: I'd have to say Lee's Palace. I'm not sure I have a strong emotional attachment but there is definitely a solid history. I played my first club show there when I was still underage in a high school thrash metal band called The Dead Lemmings which also included Charles Spearin and Dave Mitchell who have pretty much been in every band I've ever been in. At some points all those bands have played Lee's Palace. Do Make Say Think even have a song on the first record titled Le'espalace.

Q: Describe the most enjoyable show you've ever experienced as a fan.
A: From a fan perspective, Leonard Cohen at the Hummingbird center in Toronto in the 90's (2 nights in a row). My dad introduced me to Cohen when I was a kid and I've been a fan ever since. Seeing someone you have such an iconic view of is pretty intense. I find it kind of ironic that I've been mainly involved in instrumental music all these years but my favourite artist is a poet. I'd also have to include Godspeed You Black Emperor at the AB Club in Brussels April, 2002. DMST was staring the first week of our Europe dates opening for GYBE. They were just finishing up a tour and we were going to take over their backline – they were at their peak and played a soul-crushing show in front of 2500 Belgians.

Q: What has your experience been in recently releasing your first solo album (Years)? What elements of being more "alone" through the recording process have you enjoyed the most?
A: Going down to my basement to work on the record with no discussions and or arguments, just work as fast as I could think, was a meditative state I became almost addicted to...making solo decisions and working in my own headspace. Having said that, I still had a great core of musicians and friends that I could rely on to come over and lay a track or give me their honest opinion and help guide me through the process of creating the record whenever I needed it. No "solo" record is truly "solo" and I have great respect for all those who have contributed to Years.

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