Artists
Artist Profile
Tomer Yosef
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Tomer Yosef was born and raised in the small town of Kfar Saba, Israel, just east of Tel Aviv. He began his artistic career as a stand-up comedian in the 90’s and performed live across Israel, gradually branching out into TV, radio, and ultimately feature films. However, like many Israelis, he felt stifled in the small Middle Eastern country, and moved to New York City in 1998. There he connected with fellow Israeli-expat, Itamar Ziegler, and started the 9 piece band Zion Train. Though short lived, it was his first contact with what would later become Balkan Beat Box (Itamar is now BBB’s bassist). 3 years later, BBB producer and drummer Tamir Muskat produced Tomer’s first album Say Something, which received critical praise in Israel as an innovative hybrid of reggae and Israeli rock, but his unique musical voice had yet to really shine. He began work on his second album in a home studio in 2003, but was sidetracked by requests for his songwriting and production skills, and ultimately by the formation of Balkan Beat Box.
Initially Tomer recorded vocals for one BBB song, “La Bush Resistance” on their 2004 self-titled debut. But when the founders (Tamir and sax man Ori Kaplan) invited him to perform with the band live, he quickly became an equal partner and an integral part of the live BBB experience. During their US debut at SOB’s in Manhattan in March 2004, Tomer kicked off the show by scaling a support beam in the center of the venue and delivering his first verse suspended upside-down from the ceiling. His escapades escalated from there, and he sang, sampled, and danced his way onto dank clubs in San Francisco and later onto Central Park Summerstage—landing a half page photo in the New Yorker, shirtless, entwined with a bellydancer. Two years later, in 2006, when it came time for Balkan Beat Box to begin recording Nu Med, Tomer asserted himself as the most dynamic and creative presence on the album. His multilingual rabble-rousing on “Digital Monkey”, “Mexico City”, & “Hermetico” have received high praise from the likes of SPIN and Billboard.
Still, Tomer continued to work on his 2nd solo album, which grew from the ever-exciting experience of traveling the world with BBB. The fantastic result is Laughing Underground, which marries tempered rock and reggae with Tomer’s signature Middle Eastern dancehall delivery and his penchant for pop-sensibility and distinctly Mediterranean melodies.
Laughing Underground is Tomer's first US release. The album was produced by Tomer and Tamir Muskat, who also plays drums throughout. Other band members include Guy Mar of Israeli hip hop supergroup Hadag Nachash and Uri Kinrot of Boom Pam, as well as Beno Hendler on bass and Shaul Eshet on keys. The album mostly devotes itself to Tomer’s two favorite subjects: the pains and strains of love and politics.
Latest_news
Artists, Activists Rally Against Child Deportation
November 1st, hundreds of Activists rallied against the intended deportation of migrant workers from Israel along with their children, most of whom were born in the country. They also protested the statement by Minister of The Interior Eli Yishay (of Shas), who was quoted saying: “They will spread Hepatitis, Tuberculosis and Aids”. The rally, which took place at Tel Aviv venue The Block, featured several Knesset members, as well as social activists and artists Tomer Yosef, Kwami, Useless I.D, Kottage and me.
JDub Radio App!
Calling all you iPhone and iPod touch heads out there, the JDub Radio App is now available!! For the low price of $1.99, you can have instant and unlimited access to 100+ streaming tracks from the JDub Records archive directly on your iPhone. Features tracks from Balkan Beat Box, Michael Showalter, Golem, Soulico, DeLeon and all your other favorite JDub artists.
Download the app HERE
Holy Land Home Run
Today we have some real wisdom from Erik Kesten and Brett Rapkin, the brilliant pair of directors behind new documentary Holy Land Hardball. The movie focuses on the struggle to put together a professional Israeli baseball league, and includes a cameo by Jewish first basemen for the Red Sox, Kevin Youkilis. The film (and this entry) speaks for itself–but I’ll leave you with this a cool tidbit: last year, Kesten’s fantasy baseball team were called THE UNHOLEY BAGELS, named after IBL creator Larry Baras’ cream-cheese-stuffed hole-less bagel invention from the film. He also had Jewish All-Star Ian Kinsler on my team. They finished in 7th place!
When we first read about a middle-aged, bagel-making Jew from Boston named Larry Baras who was attempting to create the first-ever professional baseball league in the Middle East, it sounded like one of those absurd underdog premises that often make the best sports movies. Of course this was real life and a victorious ending was far from guaranteed. Nevertheless, we were inspired by a number of Hollywood sports films.
It was clear Larry was guided by the “If you build it, they will come” mantra from “Field of Dreams.” Despite a skeptical Israeli public, which had gone 5767 years without the sport, Larry believed that if he was able to show Israelis the best qualities of baseball - father/son camaraderie, pastoral backdrops - they would in fact come.
With players ranging in age from 17 to 51 and hailing from nine different countries, the IBL was a rag-tag group of underdogs, much like the characters in “Major League.” But while the fictional Cleveland Indians had Ricky Vaughn and Jake Taylor, the real life Netanya Tigers of the IBL have Leon Feingold and Dan Rootenberg! (”Who are these &^%&-ing guys?”)
As we looked to meld a hip Mid-East vibe to the classical sports film score - like the iconic theme to “The Natural” - we were extremely fortunate to work with JDUB Records in molding the film’s soundtrack. In addition to using tracks from Tomer Yosef and Sagol 59, an original score was composed by Sway Machinery’s Jeremiah Lockwood. The film moves from moments of absurdist comedy to nail-biting suspense to spiritual exploration. Somehow Jeremiah was able to pull it off. Our limited edition DVD comes with a “Making of the Score” featurette starring Jeremiah and members of Sway Machinery. Check out the entire film HERE.
Soulico gives it up
Soulico’s debut album, Exotic on the Speaker, is on iTunes September 9 and in stores September 29th. Exotic on the Mixtape will be out next month and is fire fire fire! Yes, they have collaborations with MCs like Ghostface, Del, and Rye Rye. And yes, Israel is represented by Axum, Tomer Yosef, Onili, and more. Underneath those voices are some banging, intricate beats. Check two of them out for free below. One is based on a Ladino folk song called “Et Dodim”. The other is 100% original flavor. Like what you hear? Grab them on iTunes for a whopping $1.98. While you’re there, can you help us spread the word by leaving a review and rating it?
Balkan Beat Box fan video
Seattle fan Otto Bulut just sent us this amazing video for BBB’s La Bush Resistance. True the album came out almost 4 years ago (!) but we say better late than never. Thanks Otto!
Video
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I B Lovin' U
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Don't Fly
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Artist Music
Latest News
The Wailing Wall Has 2 Brooklyn Shows This Week!
Our dear friend The Wailing Wall has 2 shows in Brooklyn this week, one tonight and one on Thursday. Check ‘em out:
TONIGHT (2/8) @ Death By Audio
8PM / ALL AGES
The Wailing Wall (full band), Horse’s Mouth, Your Nature, Blastoff!
Thursday (2/11) @ Bar Matchless
7PM/ FREE
Vol. 1 Brooklyn & Gigantic Present: Greatest Three-Minute Rock N’ Roll Story [...]
The Jewnas Brothers
Thanks to Heeb for tipping me off to The Moshiach Times Band, a group of teenybopper hunks out of Miami. Look at that skinny jean/Tzitzit combo!