Oren Lavie
Encyclopedia
Oren Lavie (born 1976) is an Israeli singer, songwriter
, playwright
, and theatre director. His music video for "Her Morning Elegance" earned a 2009 Grammy Award nomination for "Best Short Form Music Video". On March 10, 2009, Oren released his debut album, The Opposite Side of the Sea
, in the United States. He revealed on his Facebook page that he has a second album in the works, with a possible release date in September or December 2011.
and spent his youth in Israel
. In 1997 his play Sticks and Wheels and his production of it were awarded the main prizes at the Acco
Festival of Alternative Israeli Theatre. The production played in Tel Aviv during 1998. In that year he went to London
to study theatre directing at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art
(LAMDA). After his graduation, two of his plays were produced in various London theatres. They already contained several songs written and composed by him.
In 2001 Lavie moved to New York
where he directed several workshops on his plays, and gradually shifted his focus to songwriting. In 2003, he relocated to Berlin
and began recording his first album, The Opposite Side of the Sea, which he self produced. The album was released in Europe in January and February 2007, and in the United States in March 2009.
In 2009, his stop motion
style music video, "Her Morning Elegance," featuring Shir Shomron, an Israeli born actress/model, achieved significant popularity on YouTube
, receiving over 20 million views. Lavie produced and co-directed the video, which was shot in 48 hours without a break. Celebrating the Grammy nomination, the video was broken down to the original still frames, which are now exhibited online at www.hmegallery.com.
Singles
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
, playwright
Playwright
A playwright, also called a dramatist, is a person who writes plays.The term is not a variant spelling of "playwrite", but something quite distinct: the word wright is an archaic English term for a craftsman or builder...
, and theatre director. His music video for "Her Morning Elegance" earned a 2009 Grammy Award nomination for "Best Short Form Music Video". On March 10, 2009, Oren released his debut album, The Opposite Side of the Sea
The Opposite Side of the Sea
The Opposite Side of the Sea is the debut studio album from Israeli singer Oren Lavie. It was released in January/February first in Europe without major success but then was released in the USA on 10 March 2009 by his own label A Quarter Past Wonderful, named under the song of the same name...
, in the United States. He revealed on his Facebook page that he has a second album in the works, with a possible release date in September or December 2011.
Life and career
Lavie was born in Tel AvivTel 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...
and spent his youth in Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
. In 1997 his play Sticks and Wheels and his production of it were awarded the main prizes at the Acco
Acre, Israel
Acre , is a city in the Western Galilee region of northern Israel at the northern extremity of Haifa Bay. Acre is one of the oldest continuously inhabited sites in the country....
Festival of Alternative Israeli Theatre. The production played in Tel Aviv during 1998. In that year he went to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
to study theatre directing at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art
London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art
The London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art is a leading British drama school in west London. LAMDA's president is Timothy West and its new principal is Joanna Read, who recently succeeded Peter James...
(LAMDA). After his graduation, two of his plays were produced in various London theatres. They already contained several songs written and composed by him.
In 2001 Lavie moved to New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
where he directed several workshops on his plays, and gradually shifted his focus to songwriting. In 2003, he relocated to 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...
and began recording his first album, The Opposite Side of the Sea, which he self produced. The album was released in Europe in January and February 2007, and in the United States in March 2009.
In 2009, his stop motion
Stop motion
Stop motion is an animation technique to make a physically manipulated object appear to move on its own. The object is moved in small increments between individually photographed frames, creating the illusion of movement when the series of frames is played as a continuous sequence...
style music video, "Her Morning Elegance," featuring Shir Shomron, an Israeli born actress/model, achieved significant popularity on YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
, receiving over 20 million views. Lavie produced and co-directed the video, which was shot in 48 hours without a break. Celebrating the Grammy nomination, the video was broken down to the original still frames, which are now exhibited online at www.hmegallery.com.
Directed by Oren Lavie
- 1997 - Sticks and Wheels (Première: Acco Festival, Israel)
- 1999 - Lighting the Day (Première: Bridewell Theatre, London Stage Company)
- 2000 - Bridges and Harmonies (Première: Bridewell Theatre, London Stage Company)
Others
- 2006 - The Empty Princess, German: Die Prinzessin mit dem Loch im Bauch (Première: 2007-05-25 at Staatstheater Oldenburg)
Discography
Studio albums- 2007:The Opposite Side of the SeaThe Opposite Side of the SeaThe Opposite Side of the Sea is the debut studio album from Israeli singer Oren Lavie. It was released in January/February first in Europe without major success but then was released in the USA on 10 March 2009 by his own label A Quarter Past Wonderful, named under the song of the same name...
Singles
- 2008 - "A Dance ‘Round the Memory Tree" was featured on The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince CaspianThe Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian (soundtrack)The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian is the soundtrack of the film of the same name. Harry Gregson-Williams is the composer of the soundtrack, which was released on May 13, 2008 ....
movie soundtrack.
External links
- Official website of "The Opposite Side of the Sea"
- Website (MySpace) of Oren Lavie
- Gallery Website of 'Her Morning Elegance' frames
- Review of "The Opposite Side of the Sea", Katie Probert (on Subba Cultcha, 2007/02/05)
- Oren Lavie on Channel One News\
- Oren Lavie Exclusive Interview and Review of "The Opposite Side of the Sea"