This new musical project is deeply inspired by the crisis that emerged after the massacre of October 7th, leading to a war that is being waged on many fronts, physical, emotional and ideological, In Israel and Palestine and around the world. This horrible crisis has brought many, including myself, to the extremes of our being, in sorrow, loss and pain, in anger and frustration, but also in strength of spirit, in courageous leadership, and light. The challenging period we are all living is fertile ground  for depth of perspective and internal reckoning, and has lead me to express my feelings, ideas and vision, in song. 

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The songwriting process, which I started  together with  grammy award winning pianist Ruslan Sirota who is also the producer of the album, is also  a timely reflection of a journey of personal growth and  learning  that I embarked on a few years ago and is taking me to deep, fascinating and enlightening places and shaping my life every day, as I enter the beautiful age of wisdom and wonder.  

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Since the war started,  I have been engaged in voluntary activity aimed at healing: singing for the brokenhearted, the bereaved, the wounded, the confused and displaced; singing and speaking  the pain of the families of the hostages and calling for their return; singing about the importance of holding each other’s pain, never hardening our hearts to the suffering of others even as we ourselves suffer: speaking about the importance of embracing complexity,  supporting peace, seeking truth, and bravely choosing  love….even in the darkest moments. 

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In creating these new songs, one strong point of inspiration was the phrase “from the river to the sea”. 

This seemingly innocent phrase has been used for years by the both the Palestinian Liberation movement and the Israel Right. Both sides claim the entire land between the river and the sea, as their own, disregarding the rights, aspirations, narrative and very existence of the other. 

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Since Oct 7th the phrase has become toxic, inspiring hatred, anger, and acts of violence the world over. I found myself wishing I could “detoxify” this phrase, and bring it to what I feel is its more natural place, OUR more natural place, a place of acceptance, sharing and freedom. I decided the first step would be to “hide”  the  words River and Sea in every song on the album…like  white pebbles in the forest, like clues to unlock a mystery,  with veins of water and blood, rivers of tears, seas of possibility,  and endless  love. 

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Finally , the name of the project, “the Giver”, reflects my own philosophy of generosity , sharing, compassion and giving…..as a way of life in times of trouble and in times of joy, on and off stage. 

 

-Noa