Asaf and the Mojos – I say it's gonna be big

I was so happy when I found out that one of my favorite Israeli music bands has signed an album record deal with a major record label –no other than Sony Colombia! (forgive my excitement).

This Israeli rock group that performs in English, Asaf Avidan and The Mojos, now hopes to succeed in the international front. When I first heard this English-language album, I had no idea that the artist is an Israeli! The upcoming album, "Poor Boy/Lucky Man", is due to be released next month.

All the signs have shown that Asaf, a talented Israeli singer, is going to be big. A year ago, Rolling Stone magazine promoted the band as it announced that the Asaf and the Mojos's single "The Reckoning", the highly acclaimed debut album, would be distributed with its next issue in Europe.

The music Asaf and the Mojos brings together many influences: classic rock n' roll, folk and blues. They were even compared to Led Zeppelin.

Many have described Asaf as the male Janis Joplin. Listen to Asaf Avidan and the Mojos – Weak. This song tears me to pieces. Asaf, take another little piece of my heart.



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Asaf Avidan & the Mojos

Israeli modern pop art - David Gertsein

David Gerstein has become known for his three-dimensional modern pop art sculpture. Gerstein's remarkable work commends immediate attention through the use of bright and rich colors. Gerstein's uncompromising aesthetic sculptures manage to capture life little moments of happiness with semi-ironic smile.,
As a child, David grew up without toys. Throughout his many years of work, his creations have touched the innocent child that remains within us as adults. His art recreates that special playful space that our inner child longs for.

Born and raised in Jerusalem, David Gerstein has studied at the most respected art academies in Israel, London, Paris and New York. This extraordinary artist has long captivated the Israeli audience with his free-spirited, authentic colorful works that often "wink" at the viewer with certain self-irony – a common characteristic in the Jewish culture.

David Gerstein's refreshing and original works have captivated audiences by reflecting the Israeli lively and sensual imagery. Without criticism, Gerstein examines the Israeli scenery as he borrows from the symbolism of the everyday reality.

The sculpure above is called David Gerstein's Armstrong. One of the themes in Gerstein work is the pointless race. This whimsical sculpture is inspired by the great road racing cyclist Lance Armstrong, who has won Tour de France seven consecutive times (while breaking a world record!).

This loving couple does not look at us but at each other. With this simple gesture, David Gerstein celebrates love and intimacy.

Israeli music – not only in Hebrew: Mira Awad

Mira Awad has become familiar to the Israeli audience when she collaborated with Achinoam Nini (Noa) in the last Eurovision contest. In the 50 years of the Eurovision Song Contest, Mira is the first Arab chosen to represent Israel. Mira and Achinoam performed a catchy song , "There Must Be Another Way" written in Hebrew, Arabic and English, which led Israel to the finals. At the time, people on both sides were enraged demanding that the Mira and Achinoam withdraw, saying they were given a false impression of coexistence in Israel. As long time peace activists, both Achinoam and Mira expressed their surprise.



From what I've read about Mira Awad, this beautiful woman never rests. Mira is not only a singer, she's a song writer and an accomplished actress. She has played in "Arab Labor" a successful TV show about the life an Israeli Arab family, and its relations with Jewish Israelis (a very good show if you ask me!) and even made a guest appearance in the Israeli TV shopw Hasufim (the best Israeli soap opera to date). Mira also plays in the Israel theater (she's got great reviews for her recent performances), and in cinema: she participated In Eithan Fox's film The Bubble about the life of the gay community in Tel Aviv (Fox is also the creator of Yossi and Jagger and Walk on Water) .

Following the Eurovision contest, Noa and Awad released a collaborative album on May . On June, Mira has released her debut solo album, Bahlawan (circus girl). In the album, Awad combines western influences with classic Arabic music. Even though I don't speak Arabic, Mira's music touches me. I'm curious to see how the Israeli audience responds to these beautiful foreign sounds.

Enjoy this clip, Mira Awad sings as part of the Idan Raichel's Project

Israeli movies review: The Band's Visit

A few days ago I watched a very interesting Israeli movie called The Band's Visit (Bikur HaTizmoret), which I highly recommend. I don't need to praise any further that highly acclaimed movie that has already won dozens of international awards.

A small Egyptian police band arrives in Israel to play at an initiation ceremony. To their great dismay, no one is there to welcome them at the airport. The band tries to make their way to the Arab cultural center on their own, only to find themselves in a desolate development town, somewhere in the Israeli desert.

The first encounter between the Egyptian police officer and an Israeli woman introduces us to two opposite types of characters. When the officer asks the Israeli woman where the Arab cultural center is located, she firmly responds: "No Arab culture here, no Israeli culture, no culture at all". The Israeli is portrayed as informal with open in mannerism which may even come across as vulgar. The Arab is portrayed as polite, formal and refrained. The two visibly and drastically different individuals form a very unique friendship in the movie. As you might expect from the title, music as at the heart of the film; with great magic it binds people together. This only goes to show how art can create most unusual of human connections.

The Band's Visit was submitted for the Best Foreign Language Film Category in 2008. However, the films was disqualified by the Oscar committee because its dialogues were mostly in English. The irony is that the English spoken by the characters only further emphasizes how foreign these two cultures are to each other. This movies is another example at the dramatic progress that the Israeli cinema has made in the last decade. I'd definitely give us an Oscar!

Watch The Band's Visit trailer

meet Israeli singer Yael Dekelbaum

Israeli singer Yael Dekelbaum (although I think she spells it Deckelbaum...) has released her debut solo album, Ground Zero. Dekelbaum, one of the most distinctive Israeli singers, performs mostly in English; that's why I thought it would be a great idea to introduce you to her work. Yael, a native English speaker, has told the press that she hopes singing in English will give her access to a wider audience. Yael is part of a trio female band called HaBanot Nechama, one of the most popular Israeli bands made up by three extremely talented singers - MC Karolina, Dana Adini, and Yael. HaBanot Nechama means "Girls of Comfort" in free translation. One of HaBanot Nechama's songs and two of Yael's solo songs were included in the soundtrack of the Showtime hit drama, The L Word . I've read in Israeli newspapers that a few tracks were sent to the creators of the show who immediately fell in love with her.

Listen to these songs, you'll find out why. I think she's amazing!

You can also visit Yael Dekelbaum's myspace page. You can purchase HaBanot NeChama's CD on Israel music website.

Yael Dekelbaum - One Hundred Percent Light



HaBanot Nechama - So Far

An Iseali Holocaust art exhibit - Jewish art and collective memory

How does contepmorary Jewish art deals with the memory of the Holocaust?

In a new gallery called "Friday Night", Israeli artist Erez Israeli confronts the memory of the Holocaust in a very unusual way. Erez uses visual art to make a saying about memory, death, perpetuation. In a new exhibition the Israeli artist presents us with a series of disturbing objects: at the center stands a kitchen table with food on it surrounded by death trains. Also a doll, kitchen wear, a collection of yellow badges , which were kept after the Holocaust and sold on Ebay in a few dollars. What does that say about the world that we live in I wonder.

There is also an image that shows a man's chest with a yellow badge painted on it. Erez is known for the way he deconstructs symbols with the same tools that have built them. Click here for pictures from the gallery.

An Israeli Animated Video Wins an International Award

The highly acclaimed Israeli animation video has won a prize in Bublegum festival. The festival, which is held in New York for the second time, has awarded Israeli director with 20,000 Euros. The award was handed to the animator Guy Ben-Shitrit by the famous director, Spike Lee.

The talented creator of the winning animation video "Hey" is a musician and an animator, who made this video as a video clip for his Israeli music band, Eatliz. Click here for Eatliz MySpace page - This might be the coolest MySpace page I've ever seen!

Hey animated music video