Israeli Music Artists

The music of Israel is a combination of Jewish and non-Jewish music traditions that have come together over the course of a century to create a distinctive musical culture. For more than 100 years, musicians have sought original stylistic elements that would define the emerging national spirit.[1] In addition to creating an Israeli style and sound, Israel's musicians have made significant contributions to classical, jazz, pop rock and other international music genres. Since the 1970s, there has been a flowering of musical diversity, with Israeli rock, folk and jazz musicians creating and performing extensively, both locally and abroad. Many of the world's top classical musicians are Israelis or Israeli expatriates. The works of Israeli classical composers have been performed by leading orchestras worldwide.

Israeli Music Artists

A

Adam (singer) See article on Hebrew Wikipedia אדם (זמר)
Moshik Afia
Aharit HaYamim (End of Days)
Corinne Alal See article on Hebrew Wikipedia קורין אלאל
Chava Alberstein
Almana Shchora (Black Widow)
Jo Amar
Etti Ankri
Keren Ann
Yardena Arazi
Gili Argov See article on Hebrew Wikipedia גיל ארגוב
Zohar Argov
Meir Ariel
Ben Artzi See article on Hebrew Wikipedia בן ארצי
Shlomo Artzi
Asaf Amdurski
Michal Amdurski
Izhar Ashdot
Astral Projection
Astrix
Gali Atari
Yona Atari See article on Hebrew Wikipedia יונה עטרי
Atraf See article on Hebrew Wikipedia אטרף
Anat Atzmon See article on Hebrew Wikipedia ענת עצמון
Asaf Avidan
Aviva Avidan See article on Hebrew Wikipedia אביבה אבידן
Din Din Aviv
Avtipus See article on Hebrew Wikipedia אבטיפוס (להקה) (Prototype)
B

David Broza

Abatte
Ehud Banai
Eviatar Banai
Meir Banai
Orrie Banai See article on Hebrew Wikipedia אורי בנאי
Yossi Banai
Yuval Banai
Shlomo Bar
Abatte Barihun (Abatte)
Danni Bassan
Ofer Bashan See article on Hebrew Wikipedia עפר בשן
Batzal Yarok (Scallion)
Meni Beger See article on Hebrew Wikipedia מני בגר
Beit HaBubot See article on Hebrew Wikipedia בית הבובות (להקה) (The Dollhouse)
Zehava Ben
Mosh Ben-Ari
Orly Ben-Garti See article on Hebrew Wikipedia אורלי בן-גרטי
Amir Benayun See article on Hebrew Wikipedia עמיר בניון
Dori Ben Ze'ev See article on Hebrew Wikipedia דורי בן זאב
Benzine (band) See article on Hebrew Wikipedia בנזין (להקה)
Dana Berger
Avi Bitter See article on Hebrew Wikipedia אבי ביטר
Yoni Bloch
David Broza
Bustan Avraham See article on Hebrew Wikipedia בוסתן אברהם (Abraham's Orchard)
C

Matti Caspi
Matti Caspi
The Churchills
Anat Cohen
Avishai Cohen (bassist)
Avishai Cohen (trumpeter)
Maor Cohen See article on Hebrew Wikipedia מאור כהן
Mazzie Cohen See article on Hebrew Wikipedia מזי כהן
Yizhar Cohen
D

Dana International
DAM
Tzila Dagan See article on Hebrew Wikipedia צילה דגן
Daphna and the Cookies See article on Hebrew Wikipedia דפנה והעוגיות
Daklon
Yair Dalal
Shoshana Damari
Alona Daniel See article on Hebrew Wikipedia אלונה דניאל
David D'Or
Dani Dothan See article on Hebrew Wikipedia דני דותן
Arkadi Duchin
Dana International
Duo Datz
Dikla (singer) See article on Hebrew Wikipedia דיקלה
Doda (band) See article on Hebrew Wikipedia דודה (Aunt)
Roni Duani
E

Ovad Efrat See article on Hebrew Wikipedia עובד אפרת
Seffy Efrati
Eifo HaYeled (Where's the Child)
Arik Einstein
Gary Ekstein See article on Hebrew Wikipedia גרי אקשטיין
Dudu Elharar
Yossi Elphant See article on Hebrew Wikipedia יוסי אלפנט
Ethnix
F

Eyal Golan
Uri Feinman See article on Hebrew Wikipedia אורי פיינמן
Amir Fey Guttman See article on Hebrew Wikipedia אמיר פיי גוטמן
Bradley Fish
Dudu Fisher
Rami Fortis
Pollyanna Frank See article on Hebrew Wikipedia פוליאנה פרנק
Dalia Friedland See article on Hebrew Wikipedia דליה פרידלנד
Uzzi Fuchs See article on Hebrew Wikipedia עוזי פוקס
G

Aviv Geffen
Shalom Gad See article on Hebrew Wikipedia שלום גד
Avner Gadassi See article on Hebrew Wikipedia אבנר גדסי
Gaia (band) See article on Hebrew Wikipedia גאיה (להקה)
Riki Gal See article on Hebrew Wikipedia ריקי גל
Tamir Gal See article on Hebrew Wikipedia תמיר גל
Nurit Galron
Gan Hayot See article on Hebrew Wikipedia גן חיות (להקה) (Zoo)
Yehoram Gaon
Mickey Gavrielov See article on Hebrew Wikipedia מיקי גבריאלוב
Gazoz See article on Hebrew Wikipedia גזוז (להקה)
Aviv Geffen
Yehonatan Geffen
Gesher HaYarkon Trio See article on Hebrew Wikipedia שלישיית גשר הירקון (Yarkon Bridge Trio)
Yoav Ginai See article on Hebrew Wikipedia יואב גינאי
Giraffot See article on Hebrew Wikipedia ג'ירפות (להקה) (Giraffes)
Michael Glozman
Eyal Golan
Zion Golan
Jean-Jacques Goldberg See article on Hebrew Wikipedia ז'אן ז'אק גולדברג
Tal Gordon See article on Hebrew Wikipedia טל גורדון
Efrat Gosh
Dan Gottfried
Gidi Gov
Shlomo Gronich
Carmela Gross-Wagner See article on Hebrew Wikipedia כרמלה גרוס ואגנר
H

Ofra Haza

Hayehudim
HaAhim VeHaAhayot See article on Hebrew Wikipedia האחים והאחיות (The Brothers and the Sisters)
HaAnashim See article on Hebrew Wikipedia האנשים (להקה) (The People)
HaBrera HaTiv'it See article on Hebrew Wikipedia הברירה הטבעית (להקה) (Natural Selection)
HaClique (The Clique)
Sarit Hadad
HaDag Nahash (The Snakefish)
Hadorbanim (The Porcupines)
HaDuda'im See article on Hebrew Wikipedia הדודאים (The Mandrakes)
HaGashash HaHiver (The Pale Tracker)
HaGev'atron See article on Hebrew Wikipedia הגבעטרון (vocal ensemble of Kibbutz Geva)
HaHalonot HaGvohim (The High Windows)
The Friends of Natasha
Haivrit
HaJinjiyot See article on Hebrew Wikipedia ג'ינג'יות (The Redheads)
HaKol Over Habibi (Everything Passes, Habibi)
Erez HaLevi See article on Hebrew Wikipedia ארז הלוי
HaMekhashefot See article on Hebrew Wikipedia המכשפות (The Witches)
Hamsa
Hamuchtar
Shalom Hanoch
HaNshamot HaTehorot See article on Hebrew Wikipedia הנשמות הטהורות (The Pure Souls)
HaParvarim See article on Hebrew Wikipedia הפרברים (The Suburbs)
Hila Harari See article on Hebrew Wikipedia הילה הררי
HaShlosharim See article on Hebrew Wikipedia השלושרים
HaTarnegolim See article on Hebrew Wikipedia התרנגולים (The Roosters)
Israeli Andalusian Orchestra
HaTov, HaRa VeHaNa'ara See article on Hebrew Wikipedia הטוב הרע והנערה (The Good, the Bad & the Girl)
HaYehudim (The Jews)
Ofra Haza
Sharon Haziz See article on Hebrew Wikipedia שרון חזיז
HaZvuvim See article on Hebrew Wikipedia הזבובים (The Flies)
Nechama Hendel
High Five (band) See article on Hebrew Wikipedia היי פייב
Uzi Hitman
Regev Hod See article on Hebrew Wikipedia רגב הוד
Ariel Horowitz
Hovevei Zion
Hamadregot See article on Hebrew Wikipedia המדרגות
Harel Moyal
I

Ilanit
Infected Mushroom
Infektzia See article on Hebrew Wikipedia אינפקציה (להקה)
Ishtar
J

Noam Jacobson
J.Viewz
Jango (singer) See article on Hebrew Wikipedia ג'נגו (זמר)
K

Rita
Itzik Kala See article on Hebrew Wikipedia איציק קלה
Yirmi Kaplan See article on Hebrew Wikipedia ירמי קפלן
Yosef Karduner See article on Hebrew Wikipedia יוסף קרדונר
Mika Karni
Katamine
Josie Katz See article on Hebrew Wikipedia ג'וזי כץ
Shlomo Katz
Kaveret (Beehive)
Kerach Tesha (Ice Nine)
Amir Kertes
Sassi Keshet See article on Hebrew Wikipedia ששי קשת
Rami Kleinstein
Rita Kleinstein
Knesiyat Hasekhel (Church of the Mind)
Koko Blof VeHaYatushim See article on Hebrew Wikipedia קוקו בלוף והיתושים (Koko Bluff & the Mosquitoes)
Shmulik Kraus
L

Ivri Lider
Tzruya Lahav
Arik Lavi See article on Hebrew Wikipedia אריק לביא
Oren Lavie
Amir Lev See article on Hebrew Wikipedia עמיר לב
Edna Lev See article on Hebrew Wikipedia עדנה לב
Nimrod Lev See article on Hebrew Wikipedia נימרוד לב
Nati Levi See article on Hebrew Wikipedia נתי לוי
Ofer Levi See article on Hebrew Wikipedia עופר לוי
Oshik Levi
Shem-Tov Levi See article on Hebrew Wikipedia שם טוב לוי
Yael Levi See article on Hebrew Wikipedia יעל לוי
Yishai Levi
Ivri Lider
Sharon Lifshitz See article on Hebrew Wikipedia שרון ליפשיץ
Danny Litani See article on Hebrew Wikipedia דני ליטני
Lola (band) See article on Hebrew Wikipedia לולה (להקה)
Eli Luzon See article on Hebrew Wikipedia אלי לוזון
M

Haim Moshe
Marbin
Mashina
Boaz Mauda
MissFlag
Monica Sex
Haim Moshe
Harel Moyal
N

Achinoam Nini
Tamer Nafer
Nahal Band See article on Hebrew Wikipedia להקת הנח"ל
Lior Narkis
Ruti Navon See article on Hebrew Wikipedia רותי נבון
Amiti Ne'eman See article on Hebrew Wikipedia אמיתי נאמן
Nikmat HaTraktor (The Tractor's Revenge)
Achinoam Nini
Offer Nissim
No'ar Shulayim See article on Hebrew Wikipedia נוער שוליים (להקה) (Fringe Youth)
Shy Nobleman
Nos'ei HaMigba'at See article on Hebrew Wikipedia נושאי המגבעת (Top-Hat Carriers)
O

Kobi Oz
Esther Ofarim
Off Simches See article on Hebrew Wikipedia אוף שימחעס
Alon Olearchik See article on Hebrew Wikipedia אלון אולארצ'יק
Ram Orion See article on Hebrew Wikipedia רם אוריון
Orphaned Land
Shaike Ophir
Kobi Oz
P

Yehuda Poliker
Natalia Paruz
Avi Peretz
Kobi Peretz
Inbal Perlmutter
Tzvika Pik
Yehuda Poliker
Poplex See article on Hebrew Wikipedia פופלקס
Portret See article on Hebrew Wikipedia פורטרט (להקה)
Punch (band) See article on Hebrew Wikipedia פונץ' (להקה)
Pharaoh's Daughter
Q

Quami See article on Hebrew Wikipedia קוואמי
R

Idan Raichel
Ra'ash See article on Hebrew Wikipedia רעש (להקה)
Idan Raichel
Adi Ran
Ras Deshen duo
Yehudit Ravitz
Ruchama Raz See article on Hebrew Wikipedia רוחמה רז
Yoni Rechter
Dorit Reuveni See article on Hebrew Wikipedia דורית ראובני
Danny Robas
Rockfour
Yoni Ro'eh See article on Hebrew Wikipedia יוני רועה
Ya'akov Rottblit See article on Hebrew Wikipedia יעקב רוטבליט
Sharon Rotter See article on Hebrew Wikipedia שרון רוטר
Pavlo Rosenberg
Hemi Rudner See article on Hebrew Wikipedia חמי רודנר
S

Harel Skaat

Naomi Shemer

Berry Sakharof
Sagol 59 (Purple 59)
Berry Sakharof
Daniel Salomon
Sheygets
Aris San
Danny Sanderson
Nisim Sarussi See article on Hebrew Wikipedia ניסים סרוסי
Seek Irony See article on Hebrew Wikipedia סיק איירוני
Tal Segev See article on Hebrew Wikipedia טל שגב
Shlomi Seranga See article on Hebrew Wikipedia שלומי סרנגה
Sfatayim (Lips)
Shabak S
Avner Strauss
Shlomi Shaban See article on Hebrew Wikipedia שלומי שבן
Leah Shabat See article on Hebrew Wikipedia לאה שבת
Shlomi Shabat
Ronit Shachar See article on Hebrew Wikipedia רונית שחר
Asther Shamir See article on Hebrew Wikipedia אסתר שמיר
Efraim Shamir See article on Hebrew Wikipedia אפרים שמיר
Boaz Sharabi
Shariff See article on Hebrew Wikipedia מייק שריף
Mickey Shaviv See article on Hebrew Wikipedia מיקי שביב
Eyal Shechter See article on Hebrew Wikipedia אייל שכטר
Micha Sheetrit See article on Hebrew Wikipedia מיכה שטרית
Naomi Shemer
Yahel Sherman
Sheshet (band) See article on Hebrew Wikipedia ששת (Man Friday)
Sheva (Seven)
Shfi'ut Zmanit See article on Hebrew Wikipedia שפיות זמנית (Temporary Sanity)
Gabi Shoshan See article on Hebrew Wikipedia גבי שושן
Shotei HaNvu'a (Fools of Prophecy)
Ron Shoval See article on Hebrew Wikipedia רון שובל
Johnnie Shu'ali See article on Hebrew Wikipedia ג'וני שועלי
Samir Shukri See article on Hebrew Wikipedia סמיר שוקרי
Shushan (singer) See article on Hebrew Wikipedia שושן (זמר)
Arik Sinai See article on Hebrew Wikipedia אריק סיני
Avi Sinuani See article on Hebrew Wikipedia אבי סינואני
Harel Skaat
Skazi
Malka Spigel
Stella Maris
Sub6 See article on Hebrew Wikipedia סאבסיקס
Subliminal
SuZy, Sefardi (in Judeo-Spanish), Israeli and Turkish singer
T

The Voca People
Yehudit Tamir
Dudu Tasa See article on Hebrew Wikipedia דודו טסה
Shimi Tavori
Ninette Tayeb
Teapacks
Tislam
Doppler Effect (Doppler effect)
Avi Toledano
Dan Toren See article on Hebrew Wikipedia דן תורן
Margalit Tzan'ani
Tzofei Tel Aviv
Eran Tzur See article on Hebrew Wikipedia ערן צור
The Voca People
U

Useless ID
V

Ilana Vered
Ilan Virtzberg See article on Hebrew Wikipedia אילן וירצברג
W

Iggy Wachsman See article on Hebrew Wikipedia איגי וקסמן
Y

Yaffa Yarkoni
Shlomo Ydov See article on Hebrew Wikipedia שלמה יידוב
Yitzhak Yedid
Shefi Yishai
Shimon Yisra'eli
[1]
Yoav Yitzchak See article on Hebrew Wikipedia יואב יצחק (זמר)
Tomer Yosef See article on Hebrew Wikipedia תומר יוסף
Lidor Yosefi
Hanan Yovel See article on Hebrew Wikipedia חנן יובל
Idan Yaniv
Z

Ziknei Tzfat (The Elders of Safed)
Ariel Zilber
Orly Zilbershatz-Banai See article on Hebrew Wikipedia אורלי זילברשץ-בנאי
Zino and Tommy
Haim Zinovitch See article on Hebrew Wikipedia חיים צינוביץ' (a.k.a. HaSaruf, The Burned)
Rivka Zohar

Identity

Music in Israel is an integral part of national identity. Beginning in the days of the pioneers, Hebrew songs and public singalongs (Shira beTsibur) were encouraged and supported by the establishment. "Public singalongs were a common pastime [of the early settlers], and were for them a force in defining their identity", wrote Nathan Shahar.[2] This view of music as nation-building continues to this day. "We are in the midst of creating a culture", says Nahum Heyman, one of Israel's leading folk music composers and music historians.[3] Jewish immigrants from Europe, Asia, the Middle East and elsewhere brought with them their musical traditions, melding and molding them into a new Israeli sound.

Russian music

Shir Hamitpachat, sung by Arik Sinai
Many of the Zionist immigrants who arrived before 1935 came from Russia. They brought with them the folk tunes and musical style of Russia.[5] Songs in the early days were often contrafacta — Russian folk tunes with translated or new lyrics in Hebrew. An example is Shir Hamitpachat, ("Song of the Kerchief") a Polish song by Jerzy Petersburski (Niebieska chusteczka, Sinij Platochek, синий платочек)[6] with Hebrew lyrics by the Israeli poet and lyricist Natan Alterman.[nb 1] These Russian-style tunes are generally in a minor key, and often accompanied by accordion, or by guitar imitating the sound of the balalaika.

Klezmer music from East Europe

"Numi Numi" sung by Ahuva Tsadok
Klezmer music was also brought to the country by the immigrants of the early 20th century.[7] Many Hassidic and klezmer melodies found their way into the canon of Israeli folk music, with lyrics translated from the Yiddish, or new Hebrew words. An example is Numi Numi (Sleep My Child), a song composed by Joel Engel based on a Hassidic lullaby, with lyrics by Yehiel Heilprin.

Pop and Rock

Since the late 1960s, Israeli popular music has been deeply influenced by mainstream pop and rock music from the United Kingdom and the U.S. Iconic Israeli 1970s rock groups such as Kaveret and Tamooz and singer-songwriters such as Shalom Hanoch and Miki Gavrielov, laid the foundations for what is today the rich and varied scene of Israeli pop and rock. Mixing Western pop and rock with the original style of Israeli folk music and Oriental Jewish music, particularly Yemenite, Greek and Andalusian-Moroccan, creates together the original and unique sound of Israeli music today.
Among the leaders in Israeli music are singers and bands such as: Etti Ankri, David D'Or, Aviv Gefen, Rita, Shlomo Artzi, HaYehudim, Ivri Lider, and Dana International. Both Lider and International often sing songs dealing with their own sexual preferences — Lider's song "Jesse" is about unrequited homosexual love,[8] and International, a transsexual, began her singing career as a drag queen.[9] Other pop stars include Ninet Tayeb, Harel Skaat and Shiri Maimon — all winners of the Israeli talent search TV show "Israeli Pop Idol." Maimon represented Israel in the Eurovision Song Contest 2005, and reached top 4 out of over 25 countries, with her ballad "Hasheket Shenishar" (the silence that remains).

Middle East Influence

The earliest composers of Hebrew folk music were influenced by the sounds of the local Arab music.[10] Later, Oriental musical traditions were brought by Jewish immigrants from Arab lands — from Morocco, Yemen, Iraq, Egypt and elsewhere. These immigrants developed an eclectic Mediterranean style called "Muzika Mizrahit"[11] (Oriental music), which became increasingly popular in the early 1960s and was later influenced by popular Greek music (Rembetiko), whilst at the same time, influencing Israeli pop and rock. Muzika Mizrahit combines eastern and western elements: the ensemble includes Middle Eastern instruments, such as the oud, the kanun, the Arabic violin, the darbouka and the Greek bouzouki, alongside electric and acoustic guitars, pianos and other western instruments. The singers add Arab-style melismatic ornamentation, (silsulim in Hebrew), and often sing in a nasal tone, similar to Arab music. The melodies are often modal, swinging between major and minor, and diction is guttural. While Arab music is traditionally homophonic, based on melodic patterns called maqamat, Muzika Mizrahit is closer to Greek music, has harmonic accompaniment and usually uses a western, 12-tone scale.

The distinctive East-West sonorities of Muzika Mizrahit have left their imprint on Israeli popular music. An example is Zohar Argov's HaPerach BeGani ("The flower in my garden"), with lyrics and music by Avihu Medina.