Face the Music

ISRAELI VOICES: THE NEXT WAVE

In every issue of TAMUZ, we bring you the hottest singers and performers in Israel. For the first in a series about the future of Israeli music, we went looking for the most promising rising stars and we found some female voices that, soon enough, will be filling concert halls. We sat down with two of them to ask about their inspiration and goals.

Tzlil Danin

PHOTO: YARDEN ROKACH

Tzlil Danin is an Israeli singer-songwriter, composer, songwriter and music producer, who was born in Yokneam Illit. While still in high school, she founded the rock band The Backyard, with which she performed at The Barbie, one of Israel's leading rock clubs. Tzlil managed the artists' community Jaffa Creative and her debut album, Angry and Hungry, came out in 2021 to rave reviews. Who is your inspiration? In music, in life.

As someone who grew up in the ’90s in front of MTV and VH1, my influences came mainly from the soul and hip-hop worlds of that time. Those who really touched me on a deep artistic level were Nina Simone, Erykah Badu, Bob Marley, and Betty Davis (the singer— former wife of Miles Davis) in the texture, the messages, and the depth of the healing that they brought into my life as a listener and a creator.

When I started my career I was singing in English because that’s all I heard and the dream has always been for an internationalMiddle Eastern career. In my mid-20s I went back to Hebrew after I took part in the last album of Metropolin (an Israeli band) and my influences in Hebrew were actually more rooted in Shoshana Demari, Esther Ofarim, and of course, Ofra Haza. They all inspire me to bring the Hebrew language to the international arena. I’ve been working on that for years in hope of cracking the right dose of Hebrew that will break through the walls of the world again.

Watch Tzlil in a live performance

Where do you see yourself in 10 years? Other goals? (Acting? Producing?)

In 10 years I see myself living in the apartment of my dreams in Israel (with a big garden) and a family. I hope to be working between Israel and the rest of the world in the international musical arena. Also, as a creator and producer of international content, I hope to export both my personal story and other content that will bring healing and new joy to TV, movies, and whatever else the universe will surprise me with. I am ready to receive it with love and curiosity.

PHOTO: PASHA MATZ

Sima Nun

Sima Nun is an Israeli creator, musician, singer, and rapper! A powerful performer who consumes the stage, speaks her mind without censorship, and presents kicking and cheeky hip-hop that manages to touch and move, she has managed to create her own genre.

With the release of the successful debut album Talk already, which includes collaborations with the most interesting names in the Israeli hip-hop scene—Shekel, Yishai Suisa, Uri Shohat, Michael Suisa, and Ravid Plotnik—Sima performed on stages throughout Israel, from energetic appearances at The Barbie Club to the In-DNegev Festival. These days, Sima is working on her next, highly anticipated album and continuing an intense tour schedule.

Who is your inspiration? In music, in life.

My main inspiration in life are my parents. In terms of music, It's basically punk rock bands I used to listen to growing up, like the Ramones, Descendents, Dag Nasty, The Muffs, Rosalia, Nathy Peluso. Also, and always, Erykah Badu and Rihanna.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years? Other goals? (Acting? Producing?)

Wow, I don't know, but hopefully with a kid and a partner and shows all around the world and a house next to a river or a beach and I wanna have time to relax, as well. High hopes. Later on, I want to write a movie or a TV show and act in it, and also direct music videos and grow vegetables in my garden. That’s it for now.

Watch Sima's latest video