Evyatar Banai
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Eviatar Banai (also spelled Evyatar or (incorrectly) Evitar; he, אביתר בנאי; born February 8, 1973) is an Israeli musician, singer and songwriter.


Biography


Early life

Banai was born in 1973 in Beersheba. The extended Banai family is notable as an outstanding family of Israeli artists; Eviatar is the younger brother of the actress Orna Banai and the singer and songwriter
Meir Banai Meir Banai ( he, מאיר בנאי‎; 5 July 1961 – 12 January 2017) was an Israeli musician, singer, and songwriter. Biography Meir Banai was born in Beersheba in 1961, the son of Yitzhak Banai, to a traditional Jewish family which has pr ...
, although their father, Yitzhak Banai, was a judge. Banai studied cinema in high school. He also studied piano for eight years. While serving in the
Israel Defense Forces The Israel Defense Forces (IDF; he, צְבָא הַהֲגָנָה לְיִשְׂרָאֵל , ), alternatively referred to by the Hebrew-language acronym (), is the national military of the Israel, State of Israel. It consists of three servic ...
he directed and wrote the screenplay and music for a comedy film called ''Six'' that was shown on Israel's Channel 1.


Career

After his military service in the
IDF IDF or idf may refer to: Defence forces * Irish Defence Forces * Israel Defense Forces *Iceland Defense Force, of the US Armed Forces, 1951-2006 * Indian Defence Force, a part-time force, 1917 Organizations * Israeli Diving Federation * Interac ...
Banai lived and worked in a kibbutz in the Golan Heights. There he wrote a play, which he hoped to stage in Tel Aviv. He moved to Tel Aviv to do that, and although the play was never staged, he stayed to live there and started writing songs. He played intimate concerts in small clubs in Tel Aviv and after some time the music producer
Chaim Shemesh Chaim Shemesh (Hebrew: חיים שמש, born Jaimi Shams in 1959) is a Brazilian-born Israeli music producer and manager. Shemesh was born in São Paulo, Brazil. Shemesh is a producer and manager in the Israeli music industry for almost three dec ...
, who worked at
Hed Arzi Music Hed Arzi Music ( he, הד ארצי, meaning: ''Echo of My Country'') is an Israeli record label founded in 1946. History The company was founded in Tel Aviv in 1946 as a partnership of Zvi Levin (also known as Hirsch Lewin) with Josef Grossman, ...
, proposed that he record an album. The songs on the album were produced and arranged by Israeli singer-songwriter
Corinne Allal Corinne Allal ( he, קורין אלאל; born 15 March 1955) is an Israeli rock musician and music producer. Biography Corinne Allal was born in Tunisia and immigrated to Israel when she was 8 years old. Music career During her military servic ...
. Most of the album was based on Banai's unique melodic singing voice accompanied by a piano, some songs had strings arrangements and a few had simpler rock guitar-and-drums arrangements. The eponymous debut album was released in 1997 and the combination of traditionalist chamber pop sound with modern sounds, emotional lyrics and intricate melodies was well-received: The reviews were uniformly positive, many songs became major radio hits and the album sold over 50,000 copies. Overwhelmed by the success of the album, Banai, like many young Israelis, traveled to India to overcome it. Upon his return to Israel he settled in the desert town of Mitzpe Ramon, where he started working on his second album, ''Shir Tiyul'' (שיר טיול, Trip Song). The album was released in 1999. Its style was completely different – it had very little of the piano sound that characterized the first album and was mostly based on experimental electronic music. The reviews praised Banai's boldness and innovation, but the sales were poor and Banai retreated from public attention. In 2004 Banai, like his cousin
Ehud Banai Ehud Banai ( he, אֵהוּד בַּנַּאי; born March 31, 1953) is an Israeli singer and songwriter. Biography Ehud Banai was born in Jerusalem. His father was the actor Yaakov Banai, one of the Banai siblings. The family moved to Givatayim ...
, returned to his Jewish religious roots and became a baal teshuva. He moved back to Tel Aviv, married and had a son. On Purim day of 5765 (2005) he released his new album ''`Omed Al Neyar'' (עומד על נייר, Standing on Paper), produced by
Gil Smetana Gil or GIL may refer to: Places * Gil Island (disambiguation), one of several islands by that name * Gil, Iran, a village in Hormozgan Province, Iran * Hil, Azerbaijan, also spelled ''Gil, a village in Azerbaijan * Hiloba, also spelled ''Gil, ...
. Most of the music was written by Banai. One song was an adaptation of a poem by Rachel, some others were contributed by Etgar Keret,
Amir Lev Emir (; ar, أمير ' ), sometimes transliterated amir, amier, or ameer, is a word of Arabic origin that can refer to a male monarch, aristocrat, holder of high-ranking military or political office, or other person possessing actual or ceremo ...
and
Gilad Kahana Gilad or Ghil'ad (Hebrew: ) may refer to: People Given name * Ghil'ad Zuckermann (born 1971), linguist and revivalist * Gilad Atzmon (born 1963), Israeli-born British jazz saxophonist * Gilad Bloom (born 1967), Israeli professional tennis player ...
and rest were written by Banai. The music on the album was again a departure from his earlier albums – it was mostly played by a basic rock band of guitar, bass and drums. The album received critical praise, produced several radio hits and returned Banai to the public attention. It was certified gold in November of the same year. Banai released his fourth album ''Layla Kayom Yair'' (לילה כיום יאיר, The Night will be as Bright as the Day; taken from ) on November 22, 2009. It was similar in musical style to ''`Omed Al Neyar'', while the lyrics showed Banai's deeper involvement with Judaism. The albums was produced by Amir Tzoref. The jazz musician
Daniel Zamir Daniel Zamir ( he, דניאל זמיר; born 1980 in Petah Tikva) is an Israeli saxophonist and singer. Having started on alto saxophone, Zamir is mainly known for his soprano playing. Background Zamir was born to a secular family and started ...
contributed saxophone to three songs and Eviatar's father Yitzhak Banai sang on one song. In August 2013 he released his fifth album, called "Yafa Kalevana" (יפה כלבנה, Pretty as the Moon). The second single succeeded well in the charts and on the radio.


Discography

*1997: ''Eviatar Banai'' *1999: ''Shir Tiyul'' (Trip Song) *2005: ''Omed Al Neyar'' (Standing on Paper) *2009: ''Layla Kayom Yair'' (Night as the Day Does Shine) *2013: ''Yafa Kalevana'' (Pretty as the Moon) *2017: ''Leshonot Shel Esh'' (Tongues of Fire) *2021: ''HaChayim Mitchilim L'Nigun'' (Life Begins to Play)


External links


Official website
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Banai, Eviatar 21st-century Israeli male singers
Eviatar Banai Eviatar Banai (also spelled Evyatar or (incorrectly) Evitar; he, אביתר בנאי; born February 8, 1973) is an Israeli musician, singer and songwriter. Biography Early life Banai was born in 1973 in Beersheba. The extended Banai family is ...
Living people Israeli Orthodox Jews Baalei teshuva 1973 births Musicians from Beersheba Israeli people of Iranian-Jewish descent 20th-century Israeli male singers