Amit Erez
Encyclopedia
Amit Erez (born June 9, 1980 in Tel Aviv
, Israel
) is an Israel
i musician best known for his work as the guitarist for successful Israeli alternative rock
band Eatliz
, as well as a solo folk
/indie
artist.
Around 1998–1999, Erez started writing songs in English, and since then he writes all of his solo material in English. Erez then befriended Omry Levy who worked at Fact Records and just at the time opened The Basement at Fact Records, and suggested to Erez to record all of his material up until then and release it as a full-length album. Amit Erez' first album Wish I Could Make It a Story
was released in 2003. After the album's release, Erez recorded another song entitled "Highways" with Rotem Or.
At the time, Erez performed along with the bassist Dudy Bareket, and also solo at the Balcony club in Tel Aviv
. In the end of 2003, Erez recorded a single with Bareket and Ran Jurgenson under the name The Trickstar Waterfall. The single, entitled "Come Get Your Love" also featured a b-side by the name of "Hazey Days" (sic). Another song Erez recorded by the name of "Oh My God" appeared on the compilation Songs from the Basement which was released in June 2004. The same year, Erez went to study music at the conservatory in Rotterdam
, Netherlands
. After a year of studying, Erez returned to Israel in 2005 and upon returning was asked by Guy Ben Shetrit to join his band Eatliz
as a third guitarist.
In 2005, Erez assembled a solo backing band for himself to back him up at his solo gigs who became from intimate acoustic
shows with just Erez and an acoustic guitar to full bands shows. His solo band included his Eatliz
co-members Or Bahir and Adam Shefflan on guitars, and bassist Dudy Bareket as well as drummer Ran Jurgenson, both of whom Erez collaborated with in his early days as a solo artist.
In 2006, Erez released his second solo release, entitled Black Light EP. The EP was released on EarSay Records and featured only 5 songs. The same year, Erez joined as a backup guitarist to the solo backing band of his drummer Ran Jurgenson who also started playing solo. Also in 2006, a sampler of AnovA Records was released and featured 3 songs by Erez, all three were covers: "My Will" originally by Minimal Compact
, "Blue Moon" originally by Big Star
and "Vogue" originally by Madonna
.
In 2007, Erez was signed to AnovA Records and on December 11, 2007, he released his second full-length album, which was self-titled
, and was the first Erez recorded with his backing band. It was Erez' first album on AnovA Records, the label on which his band Eatliz
also released its debut album Violently Delicate
a month earlier, on November 1, 2007. Two singles were released from this album: "Postcard" and "Clever and Strong". In 2008, Erez was invited to play at the Livorno Lovewave Festival
in Italy
along with his backing band. Later that year, Erez also played at the Popkomm
conference in Berlin
, Germany
.
In April 2009, Erez released his first international release - Summer Conquered by Rain
, a compilation of songs from his two previous albums. The compilation was only release digitally.
On June 1, 2009, Erez released his third full-length album Last Night When I Tried to Sleep I Felt the Ocean With My Fingertips. The album saw an extensive use of keyboards, for the first time in any of Erez' albums, and received mixed reviews. Also, in December 2009, the second release from Erez' band Eatliz was released - Delicately Violent
which was an EP of outtakes from the band's first album. Eatliz entered the studio to record their second full-length album in late 2009, which was recorded until mid-2010, when the band went on to tour Europe through April–May 2010, and then touring Israel through June 2010. The second album, entitled Teasing Nature
was released on December 19, 2010, and the band is set to tour worldwide through 2011 in support of it, putting Erez' solo effort on halt.
Erez won the 7th annual Independent Music Awards
Vox Pop vote for best Folk/Singer-Songwriter Song "Postcard".
and indie
artists as Elliot Smith and Nick Drake
.
Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv , officially Tel Aviv-Yafo , is the second most populous city in Israel, with a population of 404,400 on a land area of . The city is located on the Israeli Mediterranean coastline in west-central Israel. It is the largest and most populous city in the metropolitan area of Gush Dan, with...
, Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
) is an Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
i musician best known for his work as the guitarist for successful Israeli alternative rock
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
band Eatliz
Eatliz
Eatliz is an Israeli alternative/progressive rock supergroup formed as the serious outlet of Guy Ben Shetrit of punk rock band Infectzia in 2001. The band is known for its internationally awarded animation music videos and for reinventing itself in every live show, where the stage is a playground...
, as well as a solo folk
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
/indie
Indie rock
Indie rock is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom and the United States in the 1980s. Indie rock is extremely diverse, with sub-genres that include lo-fi, post-rock, math rock, indie pop, dream pop, noise rock, space rock, sadcore, riot grrrl and emo, among others...
artist.
Professional career
Amit Erez started writing music around the age of 16, but those song, written in Hebrew didn't survive the test of time and since then Erez went on a different direction, although he still plays 2 of those songs sometimes at his shows: "רכבות" (Trains) and "כמו תאונה" (Like an Accident).Around 1998–1999, Erez started writing songs in English, and since then he writes all of his solo material in English. Erez then befriended Omry Levy who worked at Fact Records and just at the time opened The Basement at Fact Records, and suggested to Erez to record all of his material up until then and release it as a full-length album. Amit Erez' first album Wish I Could Make It a Story
Wish I Could Make It a Story
Wish I Could Make It a Story is the debut studio album by Israeli folk/indie solo artist Amit Erez, released on September 20, 2003.The album features early self-recordings Erez has made between the years 1998–2001 by himself at his house, and influenced by such artists as Elliot Smith, Nick...
was released in 2003. After the album's release, Erez recorded another song entitled "Highways" with Rotem Or.
At the time, Erez performed along with the bassist Dudy Bareket, and also solo at the Balcony club in Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv , officially Tel Aviv-Yafo , is the second most populous city in Israel, with a population of 404,400 on a land area of . The city is located on the Israeli Mediterranean coastline in west-central Israel. It is the largest and most populous city in the metropolitan area of Gush Dan, with...
. In the end of 2003, Erez recorded a single with Bareket and Ran Jurgenson under the name The Trickstar Waterfall. The single, entitled "Come Get Your Love" also featured a b-side by the name of "Hazey Days" (sic). Another song Erez recorded by the name of "Oh My God" appeared on the compilation Songs from the Basement which was released in June 2004. The same year, Erez went to study music at the conservatory in Rotterdam
Rotterdam
Rotterdam is the second-largest city in the Netherlands and one of the largest ports in the world. Starting as a dam on the Rotte river, Rotterdam has grown into a major international commercial centre...
, Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
. After a year of studying, Erez returned to Israel in 2005 and upon returning was asked by Guy Ben Shetrit to join his band Eatliz
Eatliz
Eatliz is an Israeli alternative/progressive rock supergroup formed as the serious outlet of Guy Ben Shetrit of punk rock band Infectzia in 2001. The band is known for its internationally awarded animation music videos and for reinventing itself in every live show, where the stage is a playground...
as a third guitarist.
In 2005, Erez assembled a solo backing band for himself to back him up at his solo gigs who became from intimate acoustic
Acoustic music
Acoustic music comprises music that solely or primarily uses instruments which produce sound through entirely acoustic means, as opposed to electric or electronic means...
shows with just Erez and an acoustic guitar to full bands shows. His solo band included his Eatliz
Eatliz
Eatliz is an Israeli alternative/progressive rock supergroup formed as the serious outlet of Guy Ben Shetrit of punk rock band Infectzia in 2001. The band is known for its internationally awarded animation music videos and for reinventing itself in every live show, where the stage is a playground...
co-members Or Bahir and Adam Shefflan on guitars, and bassist Dudy Bareket as well as drummer Ran Jurgenson, both of whom Erez collaborated with in his early days as a solo artist.
In 2006, Erez released his second solo release, entitled Black Light EP. The EP was released on EarSay Records and featured only 5 songs. The same year, Erez joined as a backup guitarist to the solo backing band of his drummer Ran Jurgenson who also started playing solo. Also in 2006, a sampler of AnovA Records was released and featured 3 songs by Erez, all three were covers: "My Will" originally by Minimal Compact
Minimal Compact
Minimal Compact were an Israeli rock band associated with the post punk and indie rock movement of the 1980s.-Biography:Between its foundation in 1981 and its dissolution seven years later, Minimal Compact played a small role in the European rock scene...
, "Blue Moon" originally by Big Star
Big Star
Big Star was an American rock band formed in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1971 by Alex Chilton, Chris Bell, Jody Stephens and Andy Hummel. The group broke up in 1974, but reorganized with a new line-up nearly 20 years later...
and "Vogue" originally by Madonna
Madonna (entertainer)
Madonna is an American singer-songwriter, actress and entrepreneur. Born in Bay City, Michigan, she moved to New York City in 1977 to pursue a career in modern dance. After performing in the music groups Breakfast Club and Emmy, she released her debut album in 1983...
.
In 2007, Erez was signed to AnovA Records and on December 11, 2007, he released his second full-length album, which was self-titled
Amit Erez (album)
Amit Erez is the second eponymous full-length studio album by Israeli folk/indie solo artist Amit Erez, released on December 11, 2007.It is the first real studio recording Erez has made as his debut album Wish I Could Make It a Story was basically a collection of early recordings, and his first...
, and was the first Erez recorded with his backing band. It was Erez' first album on AnovA Records, the label on which his band Eatliz
Eatliz
Eatliz is an Israeli alternative/progressive rock supergroup formed as the serious outlet of Guy Ben Shetrit of punk rock band Infectzia in 2001. The band is known for its internationally awarded animation music videos and for reinventing itself in every live show, where the stage is a playground...
also released its debut album Violently Delicate
Violently Delicate
Violently Delicate is the debut full-length studio album by Israeli alternative rock band Eatliz, released on November 1, 2007.The album was released in a special album release show in Israel on November 8, 2007...
a month earlier, on November 1, 2007. Two singles were released from this album: "Postcard" and "Clever and Strong". In 2008, Erez was invited to play at the Livorno Lovewave Festival
Italia Wave
The Italia Wave Love Festival is an annual music festival held in Italy. The first edition in 2007 was held from the 17th to the 22nd of July in Florence and Sesto Fiorentino, and the 2008, 2009 and 2010 editions in Livorno. In 2011 it is set to be held in Lecce.It mainly presents rock music,...
in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
along with his backing band. Later that year, Erez also played at the Popkomm
Popkomm
Popkomm is an international trade show for the music and entertainment business, and also integrates a congress and festival. It is held in Berlin but has had entries from at least 55 other countries. Popkomm is organised by Popkomm GmbH, Berlin.- History :...
conference in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
.
In April 2009, Erez released his first international release - Summer Conquered by Rain
Summer Conquered by Rain
Summer Conquered by Rain is a compilation album by Israeli folk/indie solo artist Amit Erez, released on March 19, 2009. The compilation consists of 10 songs - all previously released on Erez' first EP Black Light and self-titled album, as well as a Minimal Compact cover that was previously...
, a compilation of songs from his two previous albums. The compilation was only release digitally.
On June 1, 2009, Erez released his third full-length album Last Night When I Tried to Sleep I Felt the Ocean With My Fingertips. The album saw an extensive use of keyboards, for the first time in any of Erez' albums, and received mixed reviews. Also, in December 2009, the second release from Erez' band Eatliz was released - Delicately Violent
Delicately Violent
Delicately Violent is the second release and first EP by Israeli alternative rock band Eatliz, released on December 24, 2009, on the band's live shows, as well as on Anova Records' webstore...
which was an EP of outtakes from the band's first album. Eatliz entered the studio to record their second full-length album in late 2009, which was recorded until mid-2010, when the band went on to tour Europe through April–May 2010, and then touring Israel through June 2010. The second album, entitled Teasing Nature
Teasing Nature
Teasing Nature is the second full-length studio album by Israeli alternative/progressive rock band Eatliz, released on December 19, 2010.The album has been described as being very experimental in comparison to the band's earlier work, ditching the heavy metal elements which were very dominant on...
was released on December 19, 2010, and the band is set to tour worldwide through 2011 in support of it, putting Erez' solo effort on halt.
Erez won the 7th annual Independent Music Awards
The Independent Music Awards
The Independent Music Awards is an international program that honors top-ranked independent artists and releases in more than 50 Album, Song, Music Video and Design categories....
Vox Pop vote for best Folk/Singer-Songwriter Song "Postcard".
Musical influences
Amit Erez' music was influenced and compared many times to such folkFolk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
and indie
Indie rock
Indie rock is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom and the United States in the 1980s. Indie rock is extremely diverse, with sub-genres that include lo-fi, post-rock, math rock, indie pop, dream pop, noise rock, space rock, sadcore, riot grrrl and emo, among others...
artists as Elliot Smith and Nick Drake
Nick Drake
Nicholas Rodney "Nick" Drake was an English singer-songwriter and musician. Though he is best known for his sombre guitar based songs, Drake was also proficient at piano, clarinet and saxophone...
.
Solo
- Wish I Could Make It a StoryWish I Could Make It a StoryWish I Could Make It a Story is the debut studio album by Israeli folk/indie solo artist Amit Erez, released on September 20, 2003.The album features early self-recordings Erez has made between the years 1998–2001 by himself at his house, and influenced by such artists as Elliot Smith, Nick...
(2003) - Black Light EP (2006)
- Amit ErezAmit Erez (album)Amit Erez is the second eponymous full-length studio album by Israeli folk/indie solo artist Amit Erez, released on December 11, 2007.It is the first real studio recording Erez has made as his debut album Wish I Could Make It a Story was basically a collection of early recordings, and his first...
(2007) - Summer Conquered by RainSummer Conquered by RainSummer Conquered by Rain is a compilation album by Israeli folk/indie solo artist Amit Erez, released on March 19, 2009. The compilation consists of 10 songs - all previously released on Erez' first EP Black Light and self-titled album, as well as a Minimal Compact cover that was previously...
(2009) - Last Night When I Tried to Sleep I Felt the Ocean With My Fingertips (2009)
w/ Eatliz
For a full discography, see Eatliz Discography- Violently DelicateViolently DelicateViolently Delicate is the debut full-length studio album by Israeli alternative rock band Eatliz, released on November 1, 2007.The album was released in a special album release show in Israel on November 8, 2007...
(2007) - Delicately ViolentDelicately ViolentDelicately Violent is the second release and first EP by Israeli alternative rock band Eatliz, released on December 24, 2009, on the band's live shows, as well as on Anova Records' webstore...
(2009) - Teasing NatureTeasing NatureTeasing Nature is the second full-length studio album by Israeli alternative/progressive rock band Eatliz, released on December 19, 2010.The album has been described as being very experimental in comparison to the band's earlier work, ditching the heavy metal elements which were very dominant on...
(2010)