Wikipedia

Asaf Avidan

This page covers the solo career of Asaf Avidan, as well as his earlier work as part of Asaf Avidan & the Mojos.

Asaf Avidan (Hebrew: אסף אבידן; born March 23, 1980) is an [insert country] singer-songwriter. From 2006 to 2011, he was part of the group Asaf Avidan & the Mojos, independently releasing three studio albums. The Reckoning, their debut record, was certified Gold in Israel and became one of the best-selling independent albums in the country. After disbanding in 2011, a 2012 remix of Asaf Avidan & the Mojos' single "Reckoning Song" (2008) by German disc jockey Wankelmut — retitled into One Day / Reckoning Song — attained widespread commercial success throughout Europe. It topped the charts in several countries and was certified Gold and Platinum. In 2012, Avidan started a solo career, eventually releasing three studio albums to moderate success in European countries.

Asaf Avidan
Asaf Avidan
Asaf Avidan
Background information
Born (1980-03-23) March 23, 1980 (age 44)
Jerusalem, Israel
GenresIndie
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • guitar
  • harmonica
  • piano
Years active2000s–present
Labels
Websitewww.asafavidanmusic.com

Life and career edit

1980–2006: Early life and career edit

Asaf Avidan was born on 23 March 1980 in Jerusalem to diplomats for the Israeli Foreign Office. He spent four years of his childhood in Jamaica, attending The Priory School,[1] and also grew up in New York. Avidan's grandparents emigrated from Romania to Israel.[2] He completed mandatory army service in the Israel Defense Forces, and studied animation at Jerusalem's Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design, 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 and worked as an animator. In 2006, after breaking up with his long-time girlfriend, he moved back to Jerusalem, desiring to pursue a music career; this resulted in his debut and sole extended play (EP) Now That You're Leaving (2006).

2006–2011: Asaf Avidan & the Mojos edit

Asaf Avidan & the Mojos
OriginIsrael
GenresIndie
Years active2006–2011
LabelsIndependent
Past membersAsaf Avidan
Ran Nir
Yoni Sheleg
Roi Peled
Hadas Kleinman
Websitewww.asafavidanmusic.com

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, Yoni Sheleg (Johnny Snow) on drums, Roi Peled on guitar and backing vocals, Hadas Kleinman on cello, and Avidan on lead vocals, guitar and harmonica. The group's original name was Asaf Avidan & the Mojo Jive Cats, but it was soon after shortened to Asaf Avidan & the Mojos.[3]

Throughout 2006 and 2008, Asaf Avidan & the Mojos rose to major fame in Israel, receiving recording proposals from multiple local labels. However, 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. With over 20,000 copies sold in the territory, The Reckoning became one of the best-selling independently released records.[4] 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 jokey Wankelmut — 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.[5]

Poor Boy / Lucky Man, 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 in November 2010. They announced that they would take an indefinite creative break; Avidan attributed this to their desire "to experiment with new sounds and different genres that [they] couldn't really do in [their] band because we were about rock, blues, and folk." However, Avidan soon after announced that the group would disband because of his desire to pursue a solo career.[6]

2012–present: Solo career edit

 
Avidan performing at the French rock festival Eurockéennes de Belfort in 2013.

In 2012, Avidan released the single "Different Pulses", followed by the premiere of his debut solo studio album of the same name.[7][8][9] For promotion, the singer embarked on a European tour where he also performed during the 2013 Sanremo Music Festival in Italy. Commercially, Different Pulses attained success, entering record charts in various countries and being awarded a Platinum certification by France's Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique (SNEP).[10] The singer's follow-up record Gold Shadow (2015) was similarly successful in Europe and reached Gold status in France.[10] The album was also aided by several venues, including in Boston, United States.[11] The Study on Falling followed in 2017. In the same year, Avidan was featured on the song "Baila Leila" from Bosnian musician Goran Bregović's Three Letters from Sarajevo (2017).

Controversy edit

In a March 2015 interview conducted by French newspaper Le Monde, 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".[12][13] The singer's statement sparked controversy and received widespread commentary and media attention in Israel,[13][14][15][16][17] 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. I am not a diplomat. And as a son to diplomats I never wanted to be one".[18][19]

Discography edit

As part of Asaf Avidan & the Mojos edit

Studio albums edit

Title Album details Peak chart positions Sales Certifications
AUT
[20]		 BEL
(Fl)
[21]		 BEL
(Wal)
[22]		 FRA
[23]		 GER
[24]		 ITA
[5]		 SWI
[25]
The Reckoning 31 91 93 26 23 70 33
  • ISR: +20,000[4]
Poor Boy / Lucky Man
  • Label: Telmavar, Columbia
  • Released: 2009 (Israel) /
    2011 (France)
  • Formats: CD, digital download
 — — — 108 — — —
Through the Gale
  • Label: Telmavar
  • Released: 2010 (Israel)
  • Formats: CD, digital download
 — — — — — — —
"—" denotes an album that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Singles edit

Title Year Album
"Reckoning Song"
(Only in Israel) 		2008 Non-album
singles
"Weak"
(Only in Israel)

Solo edit

Albums edit

Studio albums
Title Album details Peak chart positions Certifications
BEL
(Fl)
[26]		 BEL
(Wal)
[27]		 FRA
[28]		 GER
[29]		 ITA
[30]		 SWI
[31]
Different Pulses
  • Label: Telmavar, Columbia, Polydor, Universal
  • Released: 2012 (Israel) /
    2013 (Europe)
  • Format: CD, digital download
 82 24 5 — 10 39
Gold Shadow
  • Label: Telmavar, Columbia, Polydor, Universal
  • Released: 12 January 2015
  • Format: CD, digital download
 102 24 3 75 54 12
The Study on Falling
  • Label: Telmavar
  • Released: 3 November 2017
  • Format: CD, digital download
 — 39 11 — — 18
Anagnorisis
  • Label: Telmavar, Embassy of Music
  • Released: 11 September 2020
  • Format: Vinyl, digital download
 — 48 21
[32]		 100 — 11
"—" denotes an album that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
Live albums
Title Album details
Avidan in a Box
  • Label: Telmavar / Columbia
  • Released: 2012 (Israel) /
    2013 (Europe)
  • Format: CD, digital download

Extended plays edit

Title Album details
Now That You're Leaving
  • Label: Telmavar
  • Released: 2006 (Israel)
  • Format: CD, digital download

Singles edit

Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album
AUT
[33]		 BEL
(Fl)
[26]		 FRA
[28]		 GER
[34]		 ITA
[5]		 NLD
[35]		 SWE
[36]		 SWI
[37]		 UK
[38]
"One Day / Reckoning Song"
(Wankelmut Remix) 		2012 1 1 2 1 1 1 8 1 30 The Reckoning
(re-release)
"Different Pulses" — 88 44 — — — — — — Different Pulses
"Love It or Leave It" 2013 — 122 103 — — — — — —
"Over My Head" 2014 — — 107 — — — — — — Gold Shadow
"Gold Shadow" 2015 — — 114 — — — — — —
"My Old Pain" 2017 — — 36 — — — — — — The Study on Falling
"—" denotes a single that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

References edit

  1. ^ "Priory School Yearbook, 1989-90". Retrieved 7 April 2019.
  2. ^ Rosu, Iulia (July 2014). "Un israelian la Mogoşoaia. Asaf Avidan, artistul cu bunici din România". Adevărul (in Romanian). Retrieved 1 July 2014.
  3. ^ "אסף אבידן חושף פרויקט חדש של ביצועים אקוסטיים - חדשות מוזיקה - מדור מוזיקה". Retrieved 8 January 2017.
  4. ^ a b c אלבום זהב לאסף אבידן והמוג'וז - וואלה! תרבות [Gold certification for Asaf Avidan & the Mojos] (in Hebrew). Walla!. 9 March 2009. Retrieved 31 March 2018.
  5. ^ a b c "Discography Asaf Avidan & the Mojos". Italian Charts. Retrieved 31 March 2018.
  6. ^ Reed, James (February 20, 2014). "Israeli singer Asaf Avidan raises his profile". The Boston Globe.
  7. ^ Charts in France: L'explosif Asaf Avidan signe chez Polydor chartsinfrance.net, 4 June 2012 (in French)
  8. ^ Motz, Jason (October 13, 2015). "Asaf Avidan 'Different Pulses'". Vivascene.
  9. ^ JON PARELES (23 February 2014). "Stories and Explanations Rooted in the Personal". New York Times.
  10. ^ a b c d e "French album certifications – Asaf Avidan" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved 31 March 2018.
  11. ^ Kastritis, Thanasi (12 February 2015). "Back With A Bang: Asaf Avidan". Sound of Boston. Retrieved 13 February 2015.
  12. ^ Binet, Stéphanie (14 March 2015). "Asaf Avidan, rockeur traqué, de la crête aux pieds". Le Monde.fr. Retrieved 8 January 2017 – via Le Monde.
  13. ^ a b "אסף אבידן: "לא מרגיש ישראלי"". Ynet. 14 March 2015. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
  14. ^ "Asaf Avidan in France: I do not feel Israeli". nrg.co.il. 14 March 2015. Retrieved 7 January 2017.
  15. ^ "אסף אבידן: "לא מרגיש ישראלי" | Omemo Radio". Archived from the original on 2015-03-15. Retrieved 2015-03-14.
  16. ^ "News60". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
  17. ^ "אסף אבידן: "לא מרגיש ישראלי" | מבזקים". Archived from the original on 2015-03-15. Retrieved 2015-03-14.
  18. ^ (Auteur-compositeur-interprète), Asaf Avidan (17 March 2015). "Asaf Avidan : "Je ne suis pas israélien, je suis d'Israël"". Le Monde.fr. Retrieved 8 January 2017 – via Le Monde.
  19. ^ "אבידן מגיב: 'לא אמן ישראלי, אני אמן מישראל'". Ynet. 14 March 2015. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
  20. ^ "Discographie Asaf Avidan & the Mojos" (in German). Austrian Charts. Retrieved 31 March 2018.
  21. ^ "Discografie Asaf Avidan & the Mojos" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved 31 March 2018.
  22. ^ "Discographie Asaf Avidan & the Mojos" (in French). Ultratop. Retrieved 31 March 2018.
  23. ^ "Discographie Asaf Avidan & the Mojos" (in French). Les Charts. Retrieved 31 March 2018.
  24. ^ "Asaf Avidan & the Mojos – The Reckoning" (in German). Offizielle Deutsche Charts. Retrieved 31 March 2018.
  25. ^ "Asaf Avidan & the Mojos – The Reckoning" (in German). Swiss Charts. Retrieved 31 March 2018.
  26. ^ a b "Discografie Asaf Avidan" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved 31 March 2018.
  27. ^ "Discographie Asaf Avidan" (in French). Ultratop. Retrieved 31 March 2018.
  28. ^ a b "Discographie Asaf Avidan" (in French). Les Charts. Retrieved 31 March 2018.
  29. ^ "Discographie von Asaf Avidan". GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
  30. ^ "Discography Asaf Avidan". Italian Charts. Retrieved 31 March 2018.
  31. ^ "Discography Asaf Avidan". Swiss Charts. Retrieved 31 March 2018.
  32. ^ "Top Albums (Week 38, 2020)" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved 21 September 2020.
  33. ^ "Discographie Asaf Avidan" (in German). Austrian Charts. Retrieved 1 April 2018.
  34. ^ "Asaf Avidan – One Day / Reckoning Song (Wankelmut Remix)" (in German). Offizielle Deutsche Charts. Retrieved 1 April 2018.
  35. ^ "Discography Asaf Avidan & the Mojos". Dutch Charts. Retrieved 1 April 2018.
  36. ^ "Discography Asaf Avidan". Swedish Charts. Retrieved 1 April 2018.
  37. ^ "Discographie Asaf Avidan" (in German). Swiss Hitparade. Retrieved 1 April 2018.
  38. ^ "Asaf Avidan & the Mojos". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 1 April 2018.
  39. ^ "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – 2012". Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved 1 April 2018.
  40. ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Asaf Avidan)" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved 1 April 2018.
  41. ^ "Italian single certifications – Asaf Avidan" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved 1 April 2018. Select "Tutti gli anni" in the "Anno" drop-down menu. Select "Asaf Avidan" in the "Filtra" field. Select "Singoli" under "Sezione".
  42. ^ "Austrian certifications – Asaf Avidan" (in German). IFPI Austria. Retrieved 1 April 2018.
  43. ^ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards (Asaf Avidan)". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien. Retrieved 1 April 2018.

External links edit

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Asaf_Avidan&oldid=1218987640"