Roll those windows down and turn up the volume. This is a journey across Israel’s eclectic musical landscape.
Be sure to take the sensational sounds of Israel's thriving music scene with you on the road this summer, as you explore the country’s diverse scenery with your best mates. After all, music becomes that much sweeter when enjoyed together; songs take on new meaning when given the right amount of sun, laughter and air to breathe in.
So, here’s your local soundtrack...
track #1:
Noga Erez - Toy
One of Israel’s brightest indie stars, eccentric electronic producer and singer Noga Erez shines with every heartbeat and synth pulse. Her new single, “Toy”, packs the jittery punch needed to keep that blood pumping on those long stretches of road.
track #2
Hope 6 - Everything Is Before Me
Every road trip needs an epic sing-along, and who better to deliver that than the soaring melody-makers of Hatikva 6? By fusing bits of seemingly every genre under the sun, the funky sextet deliver exactly what you’re looking for when seeking out that massive sugar high.
track #3
Bela Tar - Apple Hill
Already putting the right filters on your Instagram photos of your trip to fuel the early-onset nostalgia? Well, Bela Tar’s “Apple Hill” might just be the perfect fit. Zoe Polanski’s sepia-tinged lo-fi tunes shift and sway as easily and beautifully as leaves shifting softly on the wind.
track #4
MIQEDEM - Be'elohim
MIQEDEM truly understand the strength and power of tradition. By taking from the Tanakh and infusing all of the best of both traditional folk styles and massive pop songwriting, the five-piece craft tunes that will bowl over those listening closely to the lyrics and equally amaze those just catching onto the hooks.
track #5
Ninet Tayeb - Vague
After more than ten years rising to the top of Israel’s music scene, Ninet Tayeb’s captivating music pairs perfectly with music-loving friends and meaningful conversations. Having worked with The Arctic Monkeys’ producer, toured the world, and released albums, Tayeb’s developed an impressive ability to pull at the heartstrings.
track #6
Sefi Zisling & Rejoicer - DreamWalk
Sometimes you need to spice up a simple drive and pretend you’re on a special James Bond-ian mission, and the pairing of trumpeter Sefi Zisling and multi-instrumentalist Rejoicer will amp up your secret agent quest.
track #7
Eviatar Banai - Light In The Shadow
For fans of Parachutes-era Coldplay hoping to find something more closely tied to a ride down the Israeli highways, Eviatar Banai’s “Light in the Shadow” couldn’t be a more perfect fit. His melancholy melody and crystalline vocals will inspire sing-alongs on even the very first listen.
track #8
Hoodna Orchestra - Yelben
Ethiopian jazz never died - it’s alive and well in the able hands of Tel Aviv’s Hoodna Orchestra. The 14-piece orchestra’s timeless grooves will get you jiving and squirming in your car seat. Paired with vocalist Tesfaye Negatu on new cut “Yelben”, Hoodna Orchestra gets funky and keeps on grooving.
track #9
A-WA - Galbi Haway
The Haim sister trio turns Yemenite folklore into whirling sound-slamming glory, squashing stereotypes one beat at a time. Let these Middle Eastern grooves fused with reggae and electronic soul glide through the stereo -- bringing you one step closer to a blissful journey.
track #10
Lola Marsh - Wishing Girl
Don’t be fooled by the name: Lola Marsh isn’t an American chanteuse, but in fact the indie folk duo of Yael Shoshana and Gil Landau. Together, these two put together high-drama, heartfelt hits sure to satisfy any fan of She & Him.
track #11
Daniel Bnaya - Me And Jack At The Bar
Not all road trips are packed with laughs and friends jammed into the backseat, and it would seem no one knows that more than Daniel Bnaya. The Jerusalemite singer-songwriter’s “Me and Jack at the Bar” details another time when he was stuck with no one to talk to and wound up sharing his deepest thoughts with a whiskey bottle. But that doesn’t mean it won’t be a fun time listening to him do it.
track #12
Jane Bordeaux - What Matters
Acoustic folk country trio Jane Bordeaux utilize their perfect chemistry to deliver narratives of soaring beauty. Whether it’s the way they wrap their acoustic guitar with just the right propulsive push or their sky-cracking harmonies, every piece of the puzzle fits together to bring a bit of majestic sweetness to life’s simplest moments. Tune in to hear one of the most unique and succesful voices in Israeli music over the past years.
track #13
Adi Ulmansky - Snow
Get ready to sing and dance along with Adi Ulmansky’s romantic overtures at the top of your lungs.
“Dreamin' about you/ Thinkin' about you/ You got me losin' my mind/ Thinkin' about you,” she coos over the choppy beat. You’ll want to replay this one through the car stereo over and over again until you make your way to the dance floor.
track #14
Abigail Rose - Gold Dome
Listen for one minute to singer-songwriter Abigail Rose’s feathery, doe-eyed voice, and you might feel transported to some sun-dappled cafe, looking out at the bloom of Spring. Between softly strummed acoustic guitar and full-bodied vibraphone, Rose floats softly, guiding you along a sweet-scented path to something beautiful.
track #15
Or Edry - Smuott
Listening to Or Edry can feel like joining a ‘60s lounge party that also just happens to be on a spaceship. A member of Israeli indie pop darlings REO, Edry’s (ft.Tal A avraham) tracks like “Smuott” feel like some sexy fusion of French aesthetes Air and retro groove-masters Stereolab. Just wind the window down and keep on rolling.