Interviews About Albums: Slowrepeat - Aqua Haze (2026)

In this new interview, we sat down with the Israeli Doom Metal/Stoner Metal/Psychedelic Rock band Slowrepeat to ask questions about their album, "Aqua Haze".

1. What does Aqua Haze represent to you on a personal and artistic level?

Ben: The album represents a new and somewhat complex period for me that I went through, and some of the lyrics were also written about it. It's an album with a memory of my life.

2. What was the creative vision or concept that guided this album from start to finish?

Ben: The vision was to level up and stabilize Slowrepeat in the big leagues. Music is not a hobby for me, but a way of life, and I tend to work according to this vision.

3. How did the band’s sound evolve between Abra Cannabra and Aqua Haze?

Ben: The basis of the sound remains almost the same - Low End and Fuzzy, bassist Shai was replaced by Yotam and you can hear the difference in the bass, my amps and pedals were also replaced and there is a bit of a difference, but those who heard the firat EP and Abra Cannabra album can hear the familiar sound here too, only it is a little more upgraded.

4. Can you describe the writing and recording process for this album?

Ben: Some of the music was written during the first EP, and some was written right after the release of Abra Cannabra. Yotam wrote Exodus alone, and Singularity and Neima wrote it together, each bringing their own part. Most of the recordings were made in my private studio, and all of this was mixed and mastered by my dear friend Craig, who has been a partner in the journey since the beginning of Slowrepeat.

5. You’ve blended stoner doom with psychedelic and Middle Eastern textures—how intentional was that fusion?

Ben: Yeah, I like to think outside the box, and as someone who loves Mediterranean elements, I wanted to add that touch as well. I also play bouzouki, and I couldn't give it up on this album either.

6. Did recording under the Mediterranean skies influence the sound or atmosphere of the album?

Ben: Absolutely yes, it's also evident in the album.

7. What role did improvisation or “jamming in the moment” play in shaping these tracks?

Ben: There were no such moments; everything was written with the clear knowledge that it needed to be written.

8. What inspired the heavy, ritualistic, trance-like qualities in your music?

Ben: I think the spirit of that era, along with the music and bands that I am influenced by and listen to all the time.

9. How did working as a full band shape this record compared to Ben Salomon’s earlier solo work?

Ben: There were occasional frictions because I have a very clear vision, and I'm also the leader of the band, so I have very clear lines that I don't compromise on, but sometimes I'm also open to hearing ideas, but I don't always agree to accept them when it deviates from my vision. You'll see bands like Stone Jesus and Acid King, etc. - there are the musicians in these bands, but the line remains the same, thanks to the leader who creates the vision and line of the band.

10. Can you talk about the significance of the singles “Singularity” and “Renewal” within the album’s story?

Ben: Yotam wrote the lyrics for Singularity, and he meant humanity heading for destruction with all the AI ​​and humans trying to renew themselves with technology, but forgetting to be human, and in the end, it will take its toll on them. I wrote Renewal when I was going through a difficult time in my life and despite everything I didn't intend to break down but to move on. Somehow, the lyrics of the album fit together.

11. What emotions or mental space do you hope listeners fall into while hearing Aqua Haze in full?

Ben: I hope that the listeners will be in a spiritual mood and listen to the words themselves, not just the music, and perhaps connect with what we tried to convey to them and to the world.

12. How important is atmosphere and tone compared to traditional riffs and structure in your songwriting?

Ben: They are quite important because the music fits in with the lyrics and that's how the songs take their shape. I think if it weren't for the tone and sound, the meaning might have been different from what we originally intended.

13. What was the most unexpected moment during the making of this album? 

Ben: A period of uncertainty in the country, pressure, and unclear situations, we were not always emotionally available to write, and felt like we were in a race against time for most of the writing process.

14. Are there any artists or bands you’d still love to collaborate with in this space? 

Ben: Of course, Acid King, Elder, Mephistopheles, and other leading bands from the global scene

15. What’s next for Slowrepeat after the release of Aqua Haze?

Ben: We plan to play in the US and Europe and continue writing new material for the next album.

16. If you had to describe Aqua Haze in a single phrase, what would it be?

Ben: A mind-altering album

17. Is there anything else you’d like to add for the readers of Breathing The Core Zine?

Ben: Be good people, focus on creation and yourself and not on hatred and evil, the world is good and has a lot to offer you.

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