Ilana Eliya
Ilana Eliya (born April 24, 1955 in Jerusalem ) is an Israeli singer of Kurdish descent .
biography
Ilana Eliya's family is originally from Iraqi Kurdistan and immigrated to Jerusalem shortly after the establishment of Israel. In her childhood she was strongly influenced by her father's musical and poetic activities. She heard Kurdish-language music for the first time at an early age and became interested in music.
As a teenager, there was no opportunity for her to do music education in East Jerusalem. So her parents sent her to the YMCA where she sang arias and studied the scriptures .
At that time she mainly devoted herself to Jewish religious music . Soon afterwards she began studying ethnology and became increasingly interested in her Kurdish roots. After the death of her father in 1988 at the latest, her interest in Kurdish music increased, which is why she did not begin her musical career until she was 37.
Musical style
Ilana Eliya's style consists of a mixture of ethnic music, Kurdish folklore and Israeli world music . She often sings traditional Kurdish songs in a new way. For this reason their sound is unique for the Israeli music scene and is also something special in Kurdish music. Because in their style, oriental and western styles flow into one another. Thus, Kurdish and Israeli musical influences can be recognized. The latter are reminiscent of the ancient Jewish Ashkenazim community, which is said to have been based around Mount Ararat (today in the Kurdish settlement area).
Musical creation
In 1992 she released her first solo album called "Jabal" (from the Kurdish Cebel , which means something like son of the mountains ). The special thing about this album is that all songs were recorded accompanied by classical musical instruments and not reworked.
Many of the songs she performs are rooted in Kurdish folk music and are interpreted using Ilana's new style. They contain political messages such as freedom and the emancipation of women . Still other songs are about love and joie de vivre, which are particularly evident through her voice and way of singing.
Appearances
- Participation in several projects by Israeli filmmakers, including A. by Mark Kopytman and Father General
- Concerts in the USA and Europe (Jewish Festival Krakow in 2010 and Brooklyn Academy of Music).
swell
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Eliya, Ilana |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | Israeli singer of Kurdish descent |
| DATE OF BIRTH | April 24, 1955 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Jerusalem |