Interview
Zehavi Interview: Aliya, Lior Narkis, And Music Without Borders
Zehavi Interview: Aliya, Lior Narkis, And Music Without Borders as he talks Aliya, Mediterranean roots, and culture-crossing electronic music
Zehavi’s music began with the sounds he grew up around, from Arabic, Moroccan, Persian, Greek, and Mediterranean melodies to the bouzouki he first learned through his father. Those early influences now sit inside his electronic productions, giving his work a personal link to tradition without pulling it away from a wider audience. In this interview, Zehavi discusses his collaboration with Lior Narkis on Aliya, the creative control behind the release, and how different languages, instruments, and cultural references can meet inside one record without losing their emotional weight.
Great to have you with us. Before we dive in, can you tell us a bit about the artists, sounds, or moments that originally drew you toward music as a profession?
Growing up, I was exposed to music from many different cultures and languages — Arabic, Moroccan, Persian, Greek, and more. From a very young age, I already knew how to play full classic songs on the bouzouki, and those ethnic melodies became a huge part of my musical identity.
What excited me most was the idea of bringing those timeless sounds and emotions into today’s mainstream world through modern production and electronic music. Music was never just a profession for me. It has always been the biggest love of my life. It calms me, gives me energy, and has been there for me even during difficult moments. For me, music is not just work — it’s a way of life.
There’s a really distinctive blend in your work, electronic textures sitting alongside instruments like the bouzouki. How did that pairing come about for you, and how have you refined it over the years?
This connection started when I was very young. My father played the bouzouki everywhere we went, and during his free time he would teach me as well. Those sounds became part of me from childhood, so the emotional connection to the instrument was always very natural.
As I got older, I formed a band where we performed original music alongside classic songs in a Mediterranean and Greek-inspired atmosphere. That experience taught me a lot about live performance, emotion, and connecting with people through traditional melodies.
Later on, when I discovered electronic music, I immediately realized how fascinating the combination between these two worlds could be. The energy and production of electronic music mixed with the soul and emotion of live ethnic instruments felt like something unique that I wanted to build and develop further.
You’ve seen substantial growth across streaming platforms and social media recently. How are you processing that level of recognition, and what does it open up for you as an artist?
I think people connect not only to the music itself, but also to the authenticity behind it. That openness has created a very strong connection with my audience and opened many doors for me professionally and personally. It led to collaborations around the world, live performance opportunities, and relationships with incredible people who are still part of my life today. Sometimes people even reach out to me for advice about life, which is something I never expected. I’m truly grateful for all of it.
Taking full creative control on the release of “Aliya” alongside Lior Narkis, how did this collaboration differ from others you’ve worked on, and were there any challenges you faced along the way?
This project was very special for me because I really wanted to bring together different cultures and languages in one track. With “Aliya,” the vision was to create an English record combined with Arabic influences, which made the collaboration feel very unique from the beginning.
Seeing Lior Narkis, an artist of his level and background, step into a language and musical atmosphere that was less familiar to him was something very exciting and inspiring to witness. One of the biggest challenges was making sure the fusion felt natural and authentic, while still remaining accessible to a wide audience.
What moved me the most was seeing how people connected to it regardless of language or culture. The track reached audiences all around the world and showed me that music can truly break boundaries and unite people emotionally.
Credited as performer, producer, and co-writer, could you talk us through the creation process of this track and how rewarding projects like this can be?
Being involved in the project as a performer, producer, and co-writer made the entire process feel very personal to me. I wasn’t only focused on creating a good song, I was focused on building a full experience and emotion around it. Every small detail mattered, from the melodies and production to the atmosphere and energy of the track.
The creative process was very organic. We spent a lot of time experimenting with sounds, languages, and different musical influences until everything felt authentic and emotionally connected. Because I come from both a live musical background and an electronic production world, I always try to balance emotion with energy.
Projects like this are extremely rewarding because they allow me to fully express my artistic vision. Seeing people from different countries and cultures connect to something we created in the studio is one of the best feelings an artist can experience.
As a major collaboration, what was it like working with an established artist like Narkis, and what key lessons did you take from the experience?
Working with Lior Narkis was an incredible experience. Beyond being a great artist, he’s also an amazing person with a very special energy, the kind of person you instantly connect with. From the very first moment, everything flowed naturally between us, both creatively and personally, and I think people can feel that chemistry in the music as well.
One of the biggest lessons I took from the experience is to always listen to your heart and trust your vision. In music, there will always be different opinions from people around you, but when you truly believe in an idea and feel connected to it emotionally, you have to follow it completely. Sometimes the projects people doubt the most become the ones that connect the strongest with audiences.
With your career constantly on the rise, could you give us an insight into what the future holds for Zehavi, particularly in terms of new music and live performances?
This project is constantly evolving, and I feel like I’m only at the beginning of the journey. I’m planning to release a lot of new music and collaborate with artists from different countries and cultures, all with the same goal – to create music that truly touches people emotionally.
My live show is also constantly changing and growing. I always try to bring something fresh, emotional, and unexpected to the stage. Right now, I’m working on a brand new project that I’ll be able to reveal very soon, and I believe it’s going to take the Zehavi experience to another level.
