Shlomit & RebbeSoul is an Israeli-American world music duo, consisting of Yemeni-Israeli singer Shlomit Levi and American musician RebbeSoul (Bruce Burger). Formed in 2011, they released their debut album, The Seal of Solomon, in 2015.

Shlomit & RebbeSoul
OriginIsrael/New York
Genres
Years active2011 (2011)–present
MembersShlomit Levi
RebbeSoul
Websiteshlomit-rebbesoul.com

History

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Prior to collaborating, Shlomit Levi, an Israeli vocalist of Yemenite Jewish descent, had performed with the metal band Orphaned Land as well as singer-songwriter Boaz Sharabi.[1] Meanwhile, Bruce "RebbeSoul" Burger, a successful solo artist in America since the early 1990s, moved to the Israeli town of Zikhron Ya'akov in 2007;[2] there, he was a guitarist for the band Hamakor,[3][4] and his 2010 album From Another World found success on Israeli radio.[2] Levi and Burger were introduced in 2011 by Yedidia Snir, a business manager Burger had been consulting for his Israeli music career, and the two began performing together.[2][1] Over the next few years, they toured in Israel and New York, including a show at Nazareth College in upstate New York, with a band that included Orpahned Land drummer Matan Shmuely.[2][5] They also collaborated with photographer Dina Bova on promotional artwork, which incorporated classic Yemenite henna designs.[2]

Shlomit & RebbeSoul's debut album, The Seal of Solomon, was released independently on February 10, 2015, with cover art by Bova.[1][6] Later in the year, the duo performed at Baronita in Zikhron Ya'akov[5] as well as a series of concerts in Northeastern New Jersey.[1] Elsewhere, Burger produced several songs for Christian Arab oud player George Simaan, including a version of "Erev Shel Shoshanim" with Levi on vocals.[1]

After a period of inactivity, in 2019 the group released a new single, "YemenaY YaY". In April 2021, they released the single and music video "Bereishit (Genesis)"; drawing from artist Yael Kanarek's Toratah project, the song uses a regendered Hebrew and English version of the opening text of Genesis that uses feminine pronouns for God.[7][8]

Musical style

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The music of Shlomit & RebbeSoul combines traditional Jewish and Yemenite music with rock, folk, electronica, and world music,[2][5][8] with Levi singing in Hebrew, English, Arabic, Yemenite and Aramaic.[5] Their repertoire includes both songs from the Ashkenazi Jewish canon, such as "Avinu Malkeinu", and traditional Yemenite songs like "Abdah", a Yemenite wedding song.[8][2] Levi's embrace of Yemenite music was inspired by Ofra Haza,[1] and her vocals were described by Lior Phillips of The Jerusalem Post as "ruminative, unburdening, sometimes startlingly unguarded",[5] while Burger's rock guitar playing has influences of Keith Richards, Jimi Hendrix, Martin Barre, Pete Townshend, Eric Clapton, Mark Knopfler, Steely Dan, and Shlomo Carlebach.[5][2] They have also cited Israeli musician Idan Raichel as an artist who similarly combines the music of various cultures.[2]

Discography

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Studio albums

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  • The Seal of Solomon (2015)

Singles

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Year Song Album Ref
2011 "Spirit (Ruchi)" The Seal of Solomon [9]
"Two Suns" [10]
2012 "Abdah Bilagual" [11]
"Avinu Malkeinu" [12]
2015 "Galbi" [13]
2019 "YemenaY YaY" non-album single
2021 "Bereishit (Genesis)"

Music videos

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Year Song Director Ref
2012 "Abdah Bilagual" Michael Cohen [11]
"Avinu Malkeinu" [12]
2015 "Galbi" (lyric video) [13]
2021 "Bereishit (Genesis)" Nitsan Tal [14]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f Larry Yudelson (April 24, 2015). "Connecting through music". The Jewish Standard. Retrieved 6 February 2016.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Maurice Picow (May 3, 2012). "A 'rebbe' with soul". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 5 February 2016. Archived at group's website
  3. ^ Roth, Paula (Jun 26, 2008). "The source of häMAKOR -- it's all in the family". Jewish Journal. Retrieved 6 December 2015.
  4. ^ Roth, Matthue (May 19, 2009). "Salute to Israel Parade: An Interview with Hamakor". MyJewishLearning.com. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
  5. ^ a b c d e f Phillips, Lior (April 6, 2015). "Musical soul twins". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 2023-01-01.
  6. ^ Shlomit & RebbeSoul - The Seal Of Solomon, Discogs, retrieved 2023-02-06
  7. ^ Yudelson, Larry (April 21, 2021). "Creating a regendered Torah". The Jewish Standard. Retrieved 2023-01-01.
  8. ^ a b c Abusch-Magder, Ruth (2021-12-07). "Yemenite Tradition Meets Musical Soul". Be'chol Lashon. Retrieved 2023-01-01.
  9. ^ Levi, Shlomit (Oct 29, 2011). Spirit (Ruchi) - Shlomit levi & Rebbesoul - Jewish Music, World Music – via YouTube.
  10. ^ Levi, Shlomit (Oct 30, 2011). Two Suns - Shlomit & RebbeSoul - Oriental World Music – via YouTube.
  11. ^ a b Levi, Shlomit (Jul 24, 2012). Abdah Bilagual-Shlomit & RebbeSoul - Yemenite wedding song - Shlomit Levi ceremony – via YouTube.
  12. ^ a b Levi, Shlomit (Sep 20, 2012). Avinu Malkeinu - Rebbesoul & Shlomit Levi אבינו מלכנו שלומית לוי ורביסול – via YouTube.
  13. ^ a b Levi, Shlomit (Nov 16, 2015). Galbi - Lyrics Video - Shlomit Levi & RebbeSoul – via YouTube.
  14. ^ Levi, Shlomit (March 8, 2021). Shlomit Levi & RebbeSoul- Bereshit (Genesis) From the Regendered Bible By Yael Kanrek* – via YouTube.
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