musical scenesters: Israeli ladyyy bands HaBanot Nechama + Karolina (my love)

Habanot Nechama, a charming folk trio of Israeli female singers, were formed in 2004. Yael, Karolina and Dana met in a local Tel Aviv designer's boutique and started up this musical trio soon after. They exploded onto the scene with their self-titled debut album in 2007. With lovely layered melodies and poetic lyrics, their musical appeal was broad enough to sell to indie hipsters and coffee shops alike.




This album has a reggae-soul- folk vibe that you don't often find from Israeli performers. Their track So Far was one of my favorites on their debut album as well as being hit with the coffee shop crowd- the English lyrics are not the strongest (I generally frown on any song that mentions rainbows) but the Hebrew lyrics are satisfyingly romantic and soulful.


While I have only good things to say about their debut album, I must admit I always had a soft spot for Karolina. I mean really- that afro should make it all clear. I truly feel that singers with afros are to be trusted intrinsically. Learning that she performed with (goddess, queen etc) Lauryn Hill on her recent tour has only deepened my love.









Karolina recently had a concert in Tel Aviv at the venue Barbie, which I tragically missed. The silver lining to this dark musical cloud is that a friend bought her Cd, which is now the soundtrack to my city bike rides (also: new bike! its mint green with a puppy-safe basket, and now I am unstoppable). So here is some Karolina for you and remember- always trust the afro.

audio art: eviatar banai

The Banai artists are a veritable clan of artistic force, a pack of crazy talented musicians with distinct voices and styles. I love them all, but I recently saw Eviatar in concert and he stole my heart. Really he just stole it all in one fell swoop- got up there on that unassuming kibbutz stage and KILLED it, stole my breath away and stole the show.

I was literally mesmerized by him. His voice seemed to capture all the space around him, and for a solid hour there was only EVIATAR, crooning his heartbreaking, slightly sinister lyrics. I haven't seen an artist who seemed to grab the very air around them like that since I saw Regina Spektor silence a room of rowdy Russian fans with an acapella version of 'Poor Little Rich Boy'. With his inspirational tale of spiritual redemption (former, maybe current pothead who found God and is now religious) and complex lyrical compositions, he cuts a fascinating figure in the Israeli music scene.