| Achinoam Nini | |
|---|---|
Noa (2010) |
|
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Achinoam Nini |
| Also known as | Noa |
| Born | June 23, 1969 |
| Origin | Tel Aviv, Israel |
| Genres | Pop, world, Hebrew, jazz, blues |
| Occupations | Singer |
| Years active | 1990–present |
| Labels | NMC, Geffen Records, Universal Records |
| Associated acts | Pat Metheny |
| Website | Official website |
Achinoam Nini (Hebrew: אֲחִינוֹעַם נִינִי; Aẖinóʻam Nini; born June 23, 1969), also known by her professional name, Noa, is a leading Israeli[1] international concert and recording artist.[2]
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Born in Tel Aviv to a Jewish family of Yemenite descent, Noa lived in New York City from age 2.[3] She attended SAR Academy primary school, and the Rabbi Joseph H. Lookstein Upper School of Ramaz High School, and remained in New York until her return to Israel alone at the age of 17. After serving the mandatory two years in the Israeli Army in a military entertainment unit., Noa studied music at the Rimon School, where she met her long-time partner and collaborator Gil Dor.
As a duo, their music styles are pop, rock, blues, R&B, country, country western, folk, Yemenite & Italian folk. Noa has recorded numerous songs in Italian, French, Spanish, Galician, English, Arabic, Hebrew, Thai, Hindi, Yemenite Jewish and folk & Arabic pop songs as well as Jewish and Christian prayers translated into Hebrew and English.
Noa and Gil Dor have had various ensembles since their early days as an acoustic duet but their most long lived musical relationship has been with the noted percussionist Zohar Fresco. The three have played hundreds of concerts together all over the world. The ensembles vary from album to album ranging from rhythm section through Solis String Quartet and up to symphonic tours. Noa's music is most prominently influenced by the singer-songwriters of the 60s, such as Paul Simon, Joni Mitchell, Leonard Cohen, and James Taylor. These musical and lyrical sensibilities, combined with Noa's Yemenite roots and Gil Dor's strong background in jazz, classical, country and rock, have created Noa and Gil Dor's unique sound, manifested in hundreds of songs written and performed together. Noa plays percussion, guitar and piano. She is married to Dr. Asher Barak, a pediatrician. They have three children, Ayehli, Enea, and Yum. The family makes its home in Israel.
She, together with Arab-Israeli singer Mira Awad, represented her country at Eurovision Song Contest 2009 with the song There Must Be Another Way, qualifying to the final from the first semi final and eventually finishing in 16th place.
Over the span of their 15-year career together, Gil and Noa have written and produced 3 hugely successful Israeli albums: "Achinoam Nini and Gil Dor Live", "Achinoam Nini and Gil Dor" (also known as "Rachel and Leah"), and "Achinoam Nini". Their five international albums are, "Noa" (produced by Pat Metheny) and "Calling" (produced by Rupert Hine) for Geffen records, "Blue Touches Blue" (produced by Mike Hedges) for Mercury records, "Now" (produced by Gil Dor & Yoad Nevo) and "Genes & Jeans" (produced by Gil Dor) for Universal Music. In addition, Noa has recorded a live album with the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, and a live CD and DVD with The Solis String Quartet. There are also various compilations available.
In 1998, Noa recorded the part of Esmeralda in French for the original soundtrack of the multi-Platinum selling "Notre Dame de Paris", but decided not to play the role in the musical on stage. Her song "Babel", written in English, French and Hebrew as theme song for the Gerarad Pullicino movie of the same name, topped the charts in France the following year.
Noa collaborated with French composer Éric Serra on two songs for film: "The Experience of Love" from the James Bond film Goldeneye, and the song "My Heart is Calling" from the Luc Besson film "The Messenger."
In 2000, Noa recorded the theme song of "Life Is Beautiful", Roberto Benigni's Oscar award-winning film. Noa also wrote the lyrics to the song, together with Gil Dor. The song was recorded and released with the album "Blue Touches Blue", and also appears on the soundtrack to the film as well as on her album "Gold" in two versions.
Noa has toured and sung with rock superstar Sting, performed her song Child of man with Stevie Wonder for a CBS TV special in the United States, and shared the stage and microphone with many well-known artists, including Andrea Bocelli, Carlos Santana, Sheryl Crow, George Benson, Johnny Clegg, Zucchero, Peter Maffay, Pino Daniele, Rita Kleinstein Massimo Ranieri, Florent Pagny, Jean Jacques Goldman, Khaled, Amine, Lokua Kanza, Jorge Drexler, Joan Manuel Serrat, Mira Anewr Awad, Meir Banai, Miguel Bosé, Donovan, Maurane, Éric Serra, Pascal Obispo, Patrick Bruel, Mike Mainieri, Chava Alberstein, Gil Dor, Nini Band, Solis String Quartet, Al Di Meola, Lara Fabian and Bustan Abraham.
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations FAO is a specialized agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. FAO was founded on October 16, 1945 in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. The FAO Goodwill Ambassadors Programme was initiated in 1999. On 16 October 2003, Noa was nominated Goodwill Ambassador of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
Noa represented Israel in the Eurovision Song Contest 2009 along with Arab-Israeli singer Mira Awad. The song (There Must Be Another Way) won a place in the Eurovision final on May 16 and finished in 16th place.
| Awards and achievements | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Boaz with "The Fire In Your Eyes" |
Israel in the Eurovision Song Contest (with Mira Awad) 2009 |
Succeeded by Harel Skaat with milim |