With a new album on the horizon and a Berlin concert around the corner, bassist and composer Haggai Cohen-Milo is in the middle of one of his most ambitious projects yet.
Gravitations, out June 13, 2025, is a live recording made at Hamburg’s Laeiszhalle that takes on Mahler, Verdi, and Debussy – not by arranging their music, but by using it as a launchpad for something entirely new. Built on improvisation, groove, and collaboration, the album brings together an eclectic lineup of musicians and blurs the lines between classical, jazz, and spoken word. The live premiere happens June 14th in Hamburg, with a Berlin appearance following as part of the FRAMED Festival. We caught up with Haggai ahead of the release to talk about connection, creativity, and why he still makes music like a kid playing with friends.
FACTS
1. A donut has one hole but a T-shirt has 3 holes.
2. Half the time, one of my cats finds the litter box unsuitable for her.
3. Have spacesuit, will travel!
QUESTIONS
1. What is the biggest inspiration for your music?
There is no one biggest, it’s a massive mix. Something that’s very inspiring to me are my contemporaries – hearing what my peers are doing all over the world, the kind of new music they imagine and put out always pushes my creative output. Also in composing, the band which will play the music is a huge source of inspiration. Imagining them play what I compose, I get more and more ideas, and it’s a creative loop. I compose for us to play—we do that—and that gives the motivation and inspiration to compose more.
2. How and when did you get into making music?
I started playing music when I was about 11 years old. I was hanging with some friends who started a punk band, and all I wanted was to play with my friends. In the beginning we all just went from instrument to instrument, playing a bit of everything. It took me a year to settle on the bass. The connection with other people is still my deepest motivation to make music – with the audience, my bandmates, and other collaborators. Inside, I’m still the same kid who just wanted to play music with his friends.
3. What are 5 of your favourite albums of all time?
Miles Smiles – Miles Davis
Mingus, Mingus, Mingus, Mingus, Mingus – Charles Mingus
The Eraser – Thom Yorke
Fly – Fly
The Shape of Jazz to Come – Ornette Coleman
4. What do you associate with Berlin?
Space. Moving from NYC in 2017, the biggest life upgrade for me was in terms of space, in every way. Berlin opened spaces for me. I had more space in my mind for thoughts and dreams, more space in my physical existence, more space in my time.
5. What’s your favourite place in your town?
My actual favorite place is my apartment :) But in terms of public places, I love the Schlachtensee for the outdoors, I love the Zigzag for jazz, and I absolutely love the coffee shop on my street – Cafe de Enrico.
6. If there was no music in the world, what would you do instead?
I think I would be a jewelry maker – maybe I’ll still do that in this world… Otherwise, I always wanted to go to space, so maybe an astronaut (or a billionaire..)?!
7. What was the last record/music you bought or listened to?
I just checked these 2 great albums this past week: Emanuel Wilkins – Blues Blood, and Compositions for Guitar Vol. 2 by Will Graefe.
8. Who would you most like to collaborate with?
I always wanted to collaborate with Thom Yorke…
9. What was your best gig (as performer or spectator)?
I remember a gig that changed me. On New Year’s Eve 2019–2020 (I was just getting into jazz) I saw a band called Third World Love play in Tel Aviv. It blew my mind – a marriage between song, dance, improvisation, freedom, and friendship all in a couple of hours. I still remember the vibe from that night.
10. How important is technology to your creative process?
Technology is minimally a part of my creation processes. I make the music in my mind, on the bass and piano, with friends. My computer comes into play when I have to make charts or demos. I’m absolutely not against it though – just not a part of my creative motion for now.
11. What can we expect from your show at FRAMED Festival in Berlin?
You can expect to hear and see an honest and raw connection between 3 musicians and the audience. A very close and personal setting with two of my dearest collaborators – James Shipp (NY) and Emma Rawicz (UK). Music that is melodic and personal, played not to be nice or pretty but to be real and in the moment, and take each other and the listener on a mind-expanding trip.
