Avital Raz

Besides being an unusual singer-songwriter, Avital Raz is also a highly trained and active performer of both Western Early music and Indian classical music.
She was recently introduced, on "the voice of music" radio, during a live performance, as one of the most interesting and versatile artists active in Israel today.
Avital's lyrics are daring and eccentric. Her unique composing and singing styles blend the diverse musical traditions she studied rigorously.
Born in Jerusalem to American parents, Avital studied both singing and composition at the Jerusalem Rubin Academy of music and dance (B.mus).
In her early twenties she moved to India and studied Druphad - The oldest form of north Indian classical music for six years under prof. Ritwik Sanyal of Benares Hindu University. Now she performs her own material which is of mostly dark, alternative, folksy, Indian-influenced nature. Recently she has independently released her second EP entitled Skin & feathers. Her debut EP "Strange Love Songs" was released one year earlier.
In 2004 she recorded a full album of songs based on James Joyce's Chamber Music poem cycle with Indian and Israeli musicians, but is unable to release it till 2011 due to the copyright protection laws on James Joyce's work.
She is the soloist of "Ritmo Anima" early music ensemble, gives frequent concerts and workshops of Indian classical music, is soloist and co-writer in "Voices of the Levites" -an avant garde rock project and is a new member of faculty at "Musrara" - The Naggar School of Photography, Media and New Music.
Shortly Avital will release a full length album produced by multi-instrumentalist Gai Sherf entitled "Infidelity".



Press:



* "A shimmering, dream-like collection containing six beautiful, enchanting and utterly compelling songs that demand attention." - Terrascope Online Reviews, Simon Lewis
* "This young female singer/songwriter from Israel has a superbly utilized crystal clear contralto voice, and writes bewitchingly beautiful, seductively dark melodic songs as well on this inaugural six-song EP. Her lyrics are eccentric and intriguingly original in their somewhat obliquely dramatic approach. The eclectic instrumentation blends acoustic and electric instrumentation to frame her considerable vocal skills. Featuring highly effective use of conventional instruments like banjo, guitars, bass, and drums with tanpura and bansuri."-Dream magazine, George Parsons
* "Shows spiritual and emotional strength, A recommended delicate document, sweet in character."- Gerald Van Waes, Psychedelic Folk Magazine, Belgium.
* "Hailing from Israel, being an acid folk enthusiast and a student of Indian music, this six track short EP actually displays many, many influences, and a sound more well-worked and strong than what seldom comes out of an entire orchestra."- The Shadows commence webzine
* "Despite being spare throughout, not a note is less than perfect and the development of her melody lines deceptive, reflecting an immersion in subtleties that escape most musics." -A review written for the Folk & Acoustic Music Exchange by Mark S. Tucker