Tower Blog

This Week’s NEXT BIG THING: Yael Naim

March 6, 2008 by Romy

For those interested in sampling the sounds of one of the most dynamic singer/songwriters in World Music today, this two-song CD single from Israel’s darling Yael Naim will not disappoint! For TV fanatics with a good ear for great music, you will likely recognize this single’s lead-off track, “New Soul,” which skyrocketed the young performer to fame after being aired as part of the successfull Apple Macbbook Air ad campaign.

A little more information about Naim:

Born in Paris in 1978 to Jewish-Tunisian parents, Naim moved with her family to Ramat HaSharon, Israel at the age of four, where she learned Hebrew and trained as a pianist. She served in Israel Defence Forces as a soloist in Israel Air Force Orchestra and began her singing career with a part in the musical “Les Dix Commandements.” Her first solo album, In A Man’s Womb, was released in 2001.

A move to Paris in 2000 prompted Naïm to meet and join forces with percussionist David Donatien and other ecletic French performers. Over a period of two years they recorded thirteen of Naïm’s songs in a studio in Naïm’s Paris apartment, and these were released as her second album, Yael Naim, in the fall of 2007 on the Tôt Ou Tard label. The songs are in French, English, and Hebrew and received critical acclaim, and the album entered the French album chart at #11 the week after its release. The style has been described as having a touch of folk and a touch of jazz, with mysterious and evocative words sung with a delicate and intentionally slightly husky voice.

In January 2008, her song “New Soul” was featured in the debut commercial for the MacBook Air laptop. The song gained fame from being featured in the ad, and it has peaked, as of February 1 2008, at #2 on the iTunes Top 100 Downloaded Songs. The domestic release of her full-length debut is available March 18, 2008.

Discography
* 2001: In A Man’s Womb
* 2007: Yael Naim