Asaf Avidan () is an
Israeli singer
Singing is the art of creating music with the voice. It is the oldest form of musical expression, and the human voice can be considered the first musical instrument. The definition of singing varies across sources. Some sources define singi ...
and songwriter born in
Jerusalem
Jerusalem is a city in the Southern Levant, on a plateau in the Judaean Mountains between the Mediterranean Sea, Mediterranean and the Dead Sea. It is one of the List of oldest continuously inhabited cities, oldest cities in the world, and ...
. He was raised in Jamaica, and currently resides in Europe.
From 2006 to 2011, he was part of the band Asaf Avidan & the Mojos, independently releasing three studio albums. Their debut record, ''
The Reckoning'', was certified Gold in Israel following release, and a 2012 remix,
One Day / Reckoning Song
"Reckoning Song" is a song written by Israeli singer-songwriter Asaf Avidan and performed by Asaf Avidan and the Mojos. The original under this title is track number 5 on the band's 2008 album '' The Reckoning''.
A remixed version of the song c ...
by
Wankelmut
Jacob Dilßner (born 17 July 1987), better known by his stage name Wankelmut, is a German electronic music DJ and record producer based in Berlin. He rose to fame internationally through the remix hit " One Day / Reckoning Song (Wankelmut Remix)" ...
, was
certified
Certification is part of testing, inspection and certification and the provision by an independent body of written assurance (a certificate) that the product, service or system in question meets specific requirements. It is the formal attestatio ...
Gold and Platinum in multiple countries.
In 2012, Avidan started a solo career and has released three studio albums to moderate success in European countries.
Life and career
1980–2006: Early life and career
Asaf Avidan was born in
Jerusalem
Jerusalem is a city in the Southern Levant, on a plateau in the Judaean Mountains between the Mediterranean Sea, Mediterranean and the Dead Sea. It is one of the List of oldest continuously inhabited cities, oldest cities in the world, and ...
. Avidan's grandparents emigrated from Romania to Israel. He spent 4 years of his youth in Jamaica.
He completed mandatory army service in the
Israel Defense Forces
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF; , ), alternatively referred to by the Hebrew-language acronym (), is the national military of the State of Israel. It consists of three service branches: the Israeli Ground Forces, the Israeli Air Force, and ...
, and studied animation at Jerusalem's
Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design
Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design () is a public college of design and art located in Jerusalem. Established in 1906 by Jewish painter and sculptor Boris Schatz, Bezalel is Israel's oldest institution of higher education and is considered the ...
, with his final project short film "Find Love Now" winning an award at the
Haifa Film Festival that year.
Subsequently, Avidan moved to
Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv-Yafo ( or , ; ), sometimes rendered as Tel Aviv-Jaffa, and usually referred to as just Tel Aviv, is the most populous city in the Gush Dan metropolitan area of Israel. Located on the Israeli Mediterranean coastline and with a popula ...
and worked as an animator.
In 2006, after breaking up with his long-time girlfriend, he moved back to Jerusalem, releasing his first
EP ''Now That You're Leaving'' later that year.
2006–2011: Asaf Avidan & the Mojos
In late 2006, while on tour in Israel, Avidan and
Ran Nir decided to put together a band, who would consist of Nir on
bass guitar
The bass guitar (), also known as the electric bass guitar, electric bass, or simply the bass, is the lowest-pitched member of the guitar family. It is similar in appearance and construction to an Electric guitar, electric but with a longer nec ...
, Yoni Sheleg (Johnny Snow) on drums, Roi Peled on guitar and backing vocals, Hadas Kleinman on
cello
The violoncello ( , ), commonly abbreviated as cello ( ), is a middle pitched bowed (sometimes pizzicato, plucked and occasionally col legno, hit) string instrument of the violin family. Its four strings are usually intonation (music), tuned i ...
, and Avidan on
lead vocals
The lead vocalist in popular music is typically the member of a group or band whose voice is the most prominent melody in a performance where multiple voices may be heard. The lead singer sets their voice against the accompaniment parts of the ...
, guitar and
harmonica
The harmonica, also known as a French harp or mouth organ, is a free reed wind instrument used worldwide in many musical genres, notably in blues, American folk music, classical music, jazz, country, and rock. The many types of harmonica incl ...
. The group's original name was Asaf Avidan & the Mojo Jive Cats, but it was soon after shortened to Asaf Avidan & the Mojos.
The group released their debut studio album ''
The Reckoning'' independently in March 2008, founding Telmavar Records with Avidan's brother Roie. The album was met with critical and commercial acclaim, reaching Gold status in Israel.
It was aided by two singles — "
Reckoning Song" and "Weak" — as well as by a tour throughout Europe. Later in 2012, a remix of "Reckoning Song" by German disc jockey
Wankelmut
Jacob Dilßner (born 17 July 1987), better known by his stage name Wankelmut, is a German electronic music DJ and record producer based in Berlin. He rose to fame internationally through the remix hit " One Day / Reckoning Song (Wankelmut Remix)" ...
— retitled into "One Day / Reckoning Song" — would attain widespread commercial success, topping the charts and being certified Gold and Platinum in countries including Germany, Italy and Netherlands. The single's attention would lead to ''The Reckoning'' entering the record charts in various European regions in 2012.
''
Poor Boy / Lucky Man
''Poor Boy / Lucky Man'' is the second album by Asaf Avidan & the Mojos. It was independently released in Israel in 2009 after the success of their debut 2008 album '' The Reckoning''.
Released in Israel on 9/9/09 (9 September 2009), the album wa ...
'', the band's second album, was released in Israel in September 2009 to favorable reviews. For promotion, the band embarked on a worldwide tour from 2009 to 2011, during which they had appeared and performed on several notable occasions in Germany, France, China and the United States. Meanwhile, Asaf Avidan and the Mojos premiered their third and last record ''
Through the Gale
''Through the Gale'' is the third album of Asaf Avidan & the Mojos
Asaf Avidan () is an Israeli singer and songwriter born in Jerusalem. He was raised in Jamaica, and currently resides in Europe.
From 2006 to 2011, he was part of the band As ...
'' in November 2010. In 2012, following the group taking a short break, Avidan announced the group would disband to allow him to pursue a solo career.
2012–present: Solo career

In 2012, Avidan released the single "Different Pulses", followed by the release of his debut solo studio album
of the same name. For promotion, the singer embarked on a European tour where he also performed during the
2013 Sanremo Music Festival in Italy. ''Different Pulses'' entered record charts in various countries and was awarded a Platinum certification by France's
Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique
SNEP (, in English National Syndicate of Phonographic Publishing) is the inter-professional organisation that protects the interests of the French record industry. Originally known under the acronym SNICOP, the organisation was established in ...
(SNEP).
[ The singer's follow-up record '']Gold Shadow
''Gold Shadow'' is the second solo studio album of Israeli artist Asaf Avidan after his first album entitled '' Different Pulses''. The album containing 12 tracks was released on 12 January 2015 in Israel on Telmavar Records and in Europe on Polydo ...
'' (2015) was also attained Gold status in France.[ The album was also aided by several venues, including in ]Boston
Boston is the capital and most populous city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the United States. The city serves as the cultural and Financial centre, financial center of New England, a region of the Northeas ...
, United States. ''The Study on Falling'' followed in 2017. In the same year, Avidan was featured on the song "Baila Leila" from Goran Bregović
Goran Bregović ( sr-Cyrl, Горан Бреговић; born 22 March 1950) is a recording artist born in Bosnia and Herzegovina. He is one of the most internationally known modern musicians and composers of the Slavic speaking countries in the ...
's ''Three Letters from Sarajevo'' (2017).
Controversy
In a March 2015 interview conducted by French newspaper ''Le Monde
(; ) is a mass media in France, French daily afternoon list of newspapers in France, newspaper. It is the main publication of Le Monde Group and reported an average print circulation, circulation of 480,000 copies per issue in 2022, including ...
'', Avidan stated: "I don't really feel Israeli. As Israelis, what unites us is the fear. We are always the persecuted, and that is why I am no longer interested in living in Israel, to not feel that fear". The singer's statement sparked controversy and received widespread commentary and media attention in Israel, prompting Avidan to respond by saying: "In every interview I gave from the first second I always said I am not an Israeli artist, but an artist from Israel. I am not coming to represent Israel. I am not a politician
A politician is a person who participates in Public policy, policy-making processes, usually holding an elective position in government. Politicians represent the people, make decisions, and influence the formulation of public policy. The roles ...
. I am not a diplomat. And as a son to diplomats I never wanted to be one".
Discography
As part of Asaf Avidan & the Mojos
Studio albums
Singles
Solo
Albums
;Studio albums
;Live albums
Extended plays
Singles
References
External links
*
Official Soundcloud profile
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Avidan, Asaf
1980 births
21st-century Israeli male singers
Israeli rock music groups
Israeli people of Romanian-Jewish descent
Living people
Musical groups established in 2006
Israeli male singer-songwriters
Israeli singer-songwriters
Israeli soul singers
Israeli blues singers
Fiction Records artists
Israeli male voice actors