Avital Raz is a vocal artist and singer-songwriter from Israel whose work moves across folk, world music and psytrance, as well as related forms such as Indian classical music, cabaret, blues, country and Eastern European Jewish melodies. She grows up in Jerusalem and trains in classical music as a vocalist and composer.

Early training and influences

In her early twenties, Raz moves to Benares, India, where she studies Dhrupad, an ancient meditative style of Indian song, for six years. Her writing and performance draw on a wide range of musical traditions, and her songs are described as recalling old English lute songs, Indian classical ragas and Jewish melodies, alongside other styles.

Recordings

While in India, Raz records an album based on James Joyce’s Chamber Music poem cycle, using Indian instruments and working with Indian musicians. In 2008, she records Strange Love Songs, a six-song EP. The release features acoustic and electric instrumentation, including banjo, guitars, bass, drums, tanpura and bansuri, and presents her contralto voice in a set of dark, eccentric songs. She also works on Infidelity.

Performance history

Raz performs extensively in the UK and in Berlin, where she is based for a period, before moving to San Francisco.

Style

Her music is characterised by a mixture of styles and an unusual vocal approach, with commentary on her work noting its strong melodic writing, distinctive lyrics and blend of conventional and Indian instrumentation.