Adi Shaham
...is a synth pop musician based in Tel Aviv. Adi creates alternative pop in Hebrew, inspired by eighties aesthetic, the riot grrrl movement and the current Israeli indie scene. Adi's music is influenced by the urban surroundings of Tel Aviv and a growing feeling of ambivalence towards the Israeli political climate.
Adi's feminist agenda is a vital element in her work. The song lyrics consist of vigilant social criticism about gender roles and male-female relationships. Shaham performs within a trio in which she sings, plays synthesizer and drum machine, Yuval Rozin plays Bass and synth, and Sivan Dahan plays synth, sampler and sings backing vocals.
Thanks a lot for your time, Adi, please let us know more about you, how would you describe yourself as "human" behind the artist and what were your first steps in music?
I'm a 37 women human living and working in Tel Aviv. As well as making my own music, I produce music for other musicians, sound design podcasts and write for the biggest news site in Israel in the love, sex & relationship section. I live in a young hipster neighborhood in south TLV where a lot of the people are also artists.
I spend my days either in a nearby café where I write and promote my music or in my home studio where I create and work. Most of my friends and collaborators live here and it's a very loving environment.
I started making music pretty late in life, after finishing my music studies when I was 31. Up until than I sang and wrote songs but didn’t really see myself taking it to the next level. I lived in a socialist commune and worked in education and music was just a side thing. I released my first album when I was 33 and never stopped creating and preforming since.
"Balcony" sounds fantastic, I really like this synth pop charm, what's the story of the song?
Thanks! I'm so glad you like it. I wrote it about a guy I met that didn't really make a move and, as usual, I ended up hitting on him and we spent a very awkward night together. Every song in the album is about a different guy I dated in the year after a breakup from a ten-year relationship I was in. Balcony was kind of an improve of words on two chords. I improvised the lyrics while playing bass.
The track is also part of your album "LOVERS", what can our readers expect from?
LOVERS is my first album in English, it has an indie pop vibe while still maintaining a synth pop atmosphere that I really like. It's romantic, bitter sweet and versatile. I produced it with a very good friend of mine, Hip Hop artist and producer Mr Aiio Lazer. The way we worked is I played the songs for him on bass and came up with a sketch for what I wanted it to sound like. The production style is very much inspired by artists we were both listening to at that time like Cocteau Twins, Japanese Breakfast, The Weekend, St Vincent and many others.
Synth-Pop inspired by the 80s, where does this love for this particular sound come from and what are your favorite 80s artists?
When I was 16, I inherited a box full of records from my uncles and it was filled with 80's records from bands like Duran Duran, Depeche Mode, Blondie and many others. In many ways it's the soundtrack of my teen years. I also really love The Smiths, Kate Bush, Siouxsie and The Banshees and Tears for Fears.
You are from Tel Aviv, how would you describe the Indie scene there, especially for the genre you are in?
We actually have a pretty booming indie scene in TLV. A lot of bands and artists from different styles – Garage Rock, Hip Hop, Psychedelic Rock, Folk and Punk. When I first came to TLV I worked for 6 years as a cashier/hostess for the main indie club in the city Levontin 7 which has an underground vibe.
It really helped me make connection and start out, and I still really love going there to see shows. You can catch 8-10 indie shows a night in this part of the city if you know where to go. Not a lot of Synth Pop bands though, so I'm pretty unique in the scene.
What's in your opinion the hardest part of "being Indie"?
The hardest thing would have to be to keep creating while still making ends meet. TLV is very expensive and I work around the clock to manage a work-music combination. But as long as I keep doing what I like – I'm happy.
...and last but not least, what's next for you?
I have a big show in TLV on May 31 and planning on coming to Europe for a few shows this Fall. After that I'll probably keep producing music and writing songs and hope to spread out to making music for TV and film.
Photos credits: Ella Barak
