Untitled Document

HOME

NEWS

ARTISTS

PHOTOS

PODCASTS

TOURS

FESTIVALS

WIN

REVIEWS

Featured
Lowrider
Celebrating the release of Lowrider's new album 'Round The World' we go behind the scenes of the hot new single!

Featured Artist
Amy Meredith
A journey is a fitting way to describe the last two years of life for Amy Meredith. From shaping...

Win Stuff
Bam! Festival
BAM! Festival is pleased to announce its first all Aussie, emerging artist line up, full of gems waiting...

On Tour
Crowded House
Crowded House, some of Australasia’s favourite sons and one of the most exceptional and enduring bands...

ON THE COUCH WITH: Israel

RSS Artist Interviews Feed

QUICK LINKS: Artist Interview | Artist Biography | Artist Website

Share this

Send this to my mate

ARTIST INTERVIEW

Access All Areas.net.au: Now having read some of your lyrics it seems that it is very much a story of your life to the point of where you are now, is that right?
Israel: That’s right, pretty much in every single song I’ve written I’ve experienced something or taken a concept and although I was wanting to keep personal what I was going through but I did want to cry out about something. I write about the situation I’m in with every song.

Access All Areas.net.au: Some of your lyrics are very deep emotive lyrics, do you feel uncomfortable that you have bared yourself and parts of your life to the public or do you see this as more of a closing chapter and moving forward?
Israel: Yeah that’s actually for me how I like release what it is that I’m feeling - this is it no matter how hard it is to sing or write about but after experiencing something or being in a situation, I make a song after I do it and I feel all the pain I’m going through exit my body.

Access All Areas.net.au: Is this something that you had to do or was it just a natural progression with your songwriting?
Israel: Well I think there was a point – I’ve always wanted to be a songwriter and producer. There was a lot of time earlier when I started doing production to get my foot in the door and I think “this is too deep, I shouldn’t be talking about this and that” and instead writing stuff that’s just simple that doesn’t make sense because that was the phase at that time. I kind of went through a whole lot of that [when writing] for other artists but for myself I never was happy with the song when I did it like that – that didn’t make sense to me, for other artists they loved it, for me it had to make sense. It was a progression of different phases and the best thing to do to make a song and impact in a deeper way is write what’s real to you, and it’s something that a lot of writer’s don’t have now days and it’s very bland. That’s one thing that people ask me about. I suppose it’s doing well 4 me.

Access All Areas.net.au: You’ve certainly had a lengthy career with your music having written hundreds of songs, how was it that you began your career as a singer/songwriter?
Israel: I started ages ago. Briefly though, when I was thirteen, I borrowed my first original tape back when we copied tapes for each other – Ice cubes “Predator” - I loved it! On the tape there was a credit on there [producer credit] and next day I was looking at it and every song was by this guy and thought what ever this guy does it looked important and went to school and said “I wanted to be producer” and everyone’s asking “what’s that?” and I am like I dunno but I want to do it? I didn’t realise was kind of leaning towards music and I suppose I started building up by writing songs. I started producing really young with crap equipment and a lot of young cats began to know me at street level. I guess my break in wasn’t until 2 years ago when I started writing and producing with other artists and releases take a while – I wrote Boomin’ for Selwyn which I produced about a year ago. I suppose I was known as a performer in Melbourne more so and in Sydney more of a producer but I crept in to music from different angles.

Access All Areas.net.au: You certainly dabble in many different fields: producing, songwriting, singing, rapping, dancing, playing musical instruments, what is your most enjoyable or preferred area?
Israel: Well they’re all different, I put it to you like this: I like going away from the studio and know I created something and knowing that I’ve finished the product, like “I started this many hours ago and finished now” and I love the feeling of leaving and knowing I’ve finished something

Israel: With performing, others can appreciate it: they all got their hands up in the air and all screaming when I tell them to and bopping to the song so they are two different feelings but work the same. I love both! Some would say he’s a great entertainer or great producer or both equal.

Access All Areas.net.au: Even at such a young age, its apparent that you were and still are a very motivated and music-driven young artist, which really does give a lot of inspiration I am sure to many of those people trying to break in to the industry. What is it that keeps you focussed and motivated to be doing what you’re doing?
Israel: I suppose when you are motivated by money and fame and all that, they come and go and realise that as you live everyday, money comes and it goes

Israel: Fame is not worth much just checkout the Idols- they get a little spot on tv and then they’re forgotten, so money and fame never really motivated me but what did motivate me is there are some goals in the future that I really want to achieve but can’t until I feel I have done this sort of thing – the main thing reaching out to people who have gone through struggling situations and reaching for something and I feel that I can’t do it if I struggle myself. When you have nothing and everything kind of happened at lowest point in my life… when you’re at the low there is no where to go but up!

Israel: I used to sleep in my car and I was like I got to do this and then what am I going to do - all my energy was in meeting people, being as professional as I can be and get jobs to keep me alive.

Access All Areas.net.au: Your first single is Wake Up With You, can you tell us more about what that song is about?
Israel: Well Wake Up With You I wrote in 10 minutes. The whole song is pretty much about a messed up situation with my relationship at that time and everything become really complicated, messy and ugly and Wake Up With You was kind of like an ideal relationship but its like all little things don’t mean anything after while.

Israel: Listen to lyrics. Its about things that you do at the start of your relationship that get lost along the way – the small things in life. This is the relationship that I want. Funny enough I was flying out to Sydney and the cab was about to pick me up and he was in driveway at that point and it was like I had this idea for a song and told him to wait for ten minutes so I could finish it and now it’s the single.

Access All Areas.net.au: What sorts of things will you be doing in support of the release? Instores?
Israel: We’re going to put it out, we’re targeting a lot of urban scenes, lots of shows and launches in clubs and under 18’s and a few supports…October were doing launches everywhere.

Israel: Then Melbourne the following week, The Gold Coast, Perth. And we’re going to have Rove, The Pane, Video Hits and everything so it going to be a big event!

Access All Areas.net.au: You’re debut album ‘Chapter 1’, when can we expect that out?
Israel: Its ready and finished and now we’re waiting on what the vibe is. We want to make sure whatever happens in the next couple of months that it’s a very testing time: lots of releases coming out soon and for artists that aren’t entering the idols it’s a bit difficult to break records cause they have millions of dollars to push it out in November so push out the single in October as first single and December for the second single.

Access All Areas.net.au: Chapter 1 – how did that title originate?
Israel: The title originated from when I was recording the album. I was sleeping in my car at the time and my friend says I can stay with him for a week and set up all recording gear at his place and its like lets record the album – did it in a week! It’s like what is this still the beginning? Then thought this was the perfect title because it explains the first chapter of my life and doesn’t end here. Lot’s of artist put out one album and some lucky to break in to Second and third and this is making a statement that there’s plenty more to come.

Israel: I have got lots of songs - 450 – and there are only 16 on the album – I’ll probably record another 50 for second album.

Access All Areas.net.au: Outside of touring, recording, etc what is it that you like to do?
Israel: I love to kick back watch movies because it takes my mind of whatever situation I’m in.

Israel: I spend lots of time recording and performing and a quick fix is watching movies and kicking back with my team and my girl and kind of just relaxing and talking, spending time in church which is a big thing for me, if I didn’t have that I would be all over the place like lots of people I know – it keeps me grounded, when I do music its crazy and there is so much going so you need things to keep grounded.

ARTIST BIOGRAPHY

After years of making the music of others sound great through his talents as producer and remixer with the renowned Elite Fleet production tem (J-Wess, 1200 Techniques, Selwyn), the time has come for Israel to show the world his real talents: singer, rapper, song writer and musician.

The first single to be lifted from his debut album 'Chapter 1', Wake Up With You is a nod to the smooth, sweet R&B of the 80's. Impeccable vocals - both solo and in harmony - float over an understated, melodic groove and a sublime guitar line.

www.israeltheartist.com

GIGS & TOURS GUIDE

search by Artist:

Search by Festival:

Recently Announced: Crowded House | Gorillaz | Amy Meredith | Klaxons | MORE GIGS

EVENTS & COMPETITIONS

+ View more competitions

Win Tix

Bam! Festival

BAM! Festival is pleased to announce its first all Aussie, emerging artist line up, full of gems waiting to be discovered in a true...

Win Tix

The Likes Of You w/ Stephan Bodzin

Intuition is the little man inside all our heads. A flash of illumination that can’t be judged by logical reason. Intuition gives us...

Win Tix

Biffy Clyro

Biffy Clyro have announced new tour dates for Brisbane 18th The Hi Fi, Melbourne 19th The Hi Fi and Sydney 20th Metro this May. Coming...

Win Tix

The Holidays

Sydney quartet The Holidays announce East Coast headline dates to coincide with the release of their imminent new single Golden Sky....

LIVE PHOTO GALLERY

+ View more photos

Amy Meredith + Finabah
Live @ Rock at the Schools tour 2010

Karnivool + MM9
Live @ The Hi Fi Bar, Brisbane, QLD (June 2010)

Train
Live @ The Forum, Melbourne, VIC (June 2010)

Gyroscope
Live @ HQ, Adelaide, SA (2010)

MUSIC FESTIVAL NEWS

SPLENDOUR IN THE GRASS TURNS 10 : Day1 Reviewed

Posted August 1 2010

It’s a celebration bitches enjoy yourselves. That’s...

WIN TX TO GODSKITCHEN 3D IN MELBOURNE

Posted July 28 2010

Godskitchen returns to Australia in October to blow...

30 Seconds To Mars to return to Oz for Soundwave Festival!

Posted July 28 2010

30 Seconds To Mars will return to Australia in February...

MY FESTIVAL EXPERIENCE

Birds of Tokyo
In january 2007 we did our first Big Day Out over here in Perth & when we got on stage the security had to close the doors of the pavilion as the room capacity had been reached. Now the thing was the band on before us only got the room like a third full so for heaps of people to rock up to watch us play, at home, was something special & I haven’t forgotten that show since.

Ideal Lineup?
Firstly Weezer, I really like those guys & they play some cool rock stuff, so they’d be awesome to see. I’d also have to say Queens Of The Stone Age, these guys just put on the best show each & every time they step on stage & to see them is always amazing. So I’d go with those 2 for now.

Tips for attending a Music Festival?
Personally, I feel it comes down to just being curteous to others. I mean you go to festivals & you see people just barging through in groups or by themselves & it’s just not on in my books. I suppose drinking water & wearing proper clothing to protect yourself from the sun also help, but basically being curteous is my tip.