For Asaf Avidan music was always secondary to his career. A trained animator, Avidan worked as a professional animator for years before being prompted to turn to his hobby for his livelihood. While bittersweet for Avidan, fans of the talented musician have his ex-girlfriend to thank for the extensive music he has brought into the world. Only heartbreak could give Asaf Avidan the creative jolt he needed to bring his talent into being and watch it shine.
In 2006, Avidan formed the famous folk rock group Asaf Avidan & The Mojos with Ran Nir, Yoni Sheleg, Roi Peled and Hadas Kleinman. The group became incredibly successful within Israel and played throughout the country to adoring crowds. During his time with the band, Asaf Avidan released three studio albums: “The Reckoning”, “Poor Boy / Lucky Man” and “Through the Gale”. The 2008 release, “The Reckoning”, went to the top of the Israeli album charts and did considerably well in France as well as other European countries.
In 2011 Avidan decided to break away from The Mojos and pursue an entirely solo career. The move was not a total shock to the band as Asaf Avidan had played extensively as a solo artist throughout his time with the band. Prior to releasing his debut solo album, Avidan toured Israel where he performed intimate acoustic shows. The extensive positive response he received from critics and fans alike paved the way for the release of his first studio album.
In 2012, Asaf Avidan released “Different Pulses”. The album was a top 30 hit in Belgium, France and Italy. Asaf Avidan has toured and collaborated with multiple artists including Robert Plant, Lou Reid and Bob Dylan.
Asaf Avidan, one time frontman of Asaf Avidan and the Mojos and now a solo act is an enthralling gig to see live, drawing you in from the opening fingerpicked chords of “My Latest Sin.” The very first time you hear his voice you can’t quite believe it. It’s soulful, fragile, feminine, somewhere between Janis Joplin and Nina Simone. The emotion and passion he puts into his performance has the audience totally captivated, and all of a sudden the rather spacious auditorium feels so intimate. Later on he moves to the piano, which he plays with an exquisite classical touch. The songs also take on a different character, going from a stark, laid-bare fragility brought by the acoustic guitar accompaniment to a fuller, richer sound with the grand piano, although Asaf is always uncompromisingly soulful and heartfelt. A good singer-songwriter is ultimately a good storyteller, and the introduction to "Twisted Olive Branch," a story about Noah’s ark which Asaf relates to us in spoken word with sparse piano accompaniment is at once humorous, melancholic, and beautiful.
About two thirds of the way through Asaf’s set I look around and see several people in the audience with tears in their eyes. I think to myself, truly, here is an artist who is capable of reaching everybody in the room, and not only reaching them, but moving them deeply with his tales of anguish, wonder, love, betrayal and life.
philsomervell
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