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 | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Israel/New York |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 2011–present |
| Members | Shlomit Levi RebbeSoul |
| Website | shlomit-rebbesoul |
History
editPrior 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
editThe 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
editStudio albums
edit- The Seal of Solomon (2015)
Singles
edit| 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
edit| 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
edit- ^ a b c d e f Larry Yudelson (April 24, 2015). "Connecting through music". The Jewish Standard. Retrieved 6 February 2016.
- ^ 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
- ^ Roth, Paula (Jun 26, 2008). "The source of häMAKOR -- it's all in the family". Jewish Journal. Retrieved 6 December 2015.
- ^ Roth, Matthue (May 19, 2009). "Salute to Israel Parade: An Interview with Hamakor". MyJewishLearning.com. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
- ^ a b c d e f Phillips, Lior (April 6, 2015). "Musical soul twins". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 2023-01-01.
- ^ Shlomit & RebbeSoul - The Seal Of Solomon, Discogs, retrieved 2023-02-06
- ^ Yudelson, Larry (April 21, 2021). "Creating a regendered Torah". The Jewish Standard. Retrieved 2023-01-01.
- ^ a b c Abusch-Magder, Ruth (2021-12-07). "Yemenite Tradition Meets Musical Soul". Be'chol Lashon. Retrieved 2023-01-01.
- ^ Levi, Shlomit (Oct 29, 2011). Spirit (Ruchi) - Shlomit levi & Rebbesoul - Jewish Music, World Music – via YouTube.
- ^ Levi, Shlomit (Oct 30, 2011). Two Suns - Shlomit & RebbeSoul - Oriental World Music – via YouTube.
- ^ a b Levi, Shlomit (Jul 24, 2012). Abdah Bilagual-Shlomit & RebbeSoul - Yemenite wedding song - Shlomit Levi ceremony – via YouTube.
- ^ a b Levi, Shlomit (Sep 20, 2012). Avinu Malkeinu - Rebbesoul & Shlomit Levi אבינו מלכנו שלומית לוי ורביסול – via YouTube.
- ^ a b Levi, Shlomit (Nov 16, 2015). Galbi - Lyrics Video - Shlomit Levi & RebbeSoul – via YouTube.
- ^ Levi, Shlomit (March 8, 2021). Shlomit Levi & RebbeSoul- Bereshit (Genesis) From the Regendered Bible By Yael Kanrek* – via YouTube.