Israeli artist Zehavi has emerged as one of the most distinctive voices bridging electronic music and Mediterranean tradition. In this extended conversation, he reflects on his roots, his breakthrough collaborations, and the live concept that will define his next chapter.
Welcome, and thanks for taking the time to speak with us. To kick things off, what would you say were the formative experiences and figures that pushed you toward a career in music?
The person who influenced me the most was my father. He introduced me to music from a very young age and taught me how to play the bouzouki. That connection to live instrumentation and traditional sounds stayed with me throughout my life.
At the age of 29, I was exposed for the first time to electronic music production at a desert event, and that experience completely changed my perspective. I saw how deeply this music could move people emotionally and how powerful the connection between sound and crowd energy could be. That moment pushed me to make a major shift in my career and start building the musical world that eventually became Zehavi.
Your sound brings together electronic production with traditional instruments like the bouzouki. Where did that fusion come from, and how has your sonic identity evolved over time?
The fusion happened very naturally for me. The bouzouki has been part of my life since childhood, so its sound is deeply connected to who I am emotionally and culturally. When I discovered electronic music later in life, I felt a strong connection between the energy of electronic production and the emotion that live instruments can bring.
At first, I was experimenting and trying to understand how these two worlds could exist together in an authentic way. Over time, I developed my own sound by combining Mediterranean influences, live performance, and electronic music into one experience. Today, I see the bouzouki not just as a traditional instrument, but as a voice that can exist inside modern electronic music and connect with audiences all around the world.
Your streaming numbers and social following have climbed considerably over the past year. What does that kind of momentum mean to you personally, and how is it shaping the direction you’re taking?
For me, that momentum is a sign that there’s something real here, something that genuinely connects with people emotionally. I receive thousands of messages from people all around the world, from different cultures and backgrounds, and it’s incredibly moving to know that the music touches them in such a deep way.
It motivates me to keep pushing myself creatively and continue improving both musically and as a live performer. I feel like I’m bringing a new color and energy into electronic music by combining worlds that people don’t always expect to hear together. Seeing audiences connect to that gives me even more motivation to grow and take the project to a bigger international level.
Teaming up with Itay Levi on the release of “Fata Morgana,” can you share the main thought process behind the production and the overall message it conveys?
This collaboration was a very significant milestone for me. The main idea behind “Fata Morgana” was to bring an international electronic music atmosphere into my own world here in Israel, while still keeping the emotional Mediterranean identity that represents me.
Working with Itay Levi allowed us to combine two strong musical worlds in a very natural way. For me, the bouzouki is not just an instrument in the production, it acts almost like another voice in the song. The vision was to create a kind of duet between a singer and an instrument, something emotional, refreshing, and different that could connect with a wide audience.
On that note, could you talk us through your own contributions to the track’s success, and what it feels like to work on a project that resonates on such a large scale?
Bringing electronic music and bouzouki into the world of Mediterranean pop was definitely a challenge at first. I spent days trying to fully understand and refine the combination so it would feel natural, emotional, and powerful at the same time. The goal was never just to make something different, but to create a real hit that people could genuinely connect to.
We brought together a strong team of writers, producers, and composers, and the result became a track that surpassed 5 million views on YouTube. Beyond the streaming success, we also promoted the song through live performances, including performing together at Menora Mivtachim Arena in front of thousands of people. Experiencing that kind of crowd reaction live was incredibly emotional and showed me how powerful this musical direction can be.
Building on the hype around the release, what impact did the official remixes have, and how did they extend or reshape the track’s life?
After the release, I started receiving dozens of new edits and remixes of the track from DJs and producers, which was incredible to see. Suddenly, the song was being played everywhere. I would hear different versions in cars on the street, at weddings, in clubs, and even at festivals.
The remixes gave the track a completely new life and helped it reach different audiences and environments. It created a much bigger wave around the song and pushed it far beyond the original release. Seeing people reinterpret the music in their own way showed me how strong the connection to the track really was.
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?
I’m constantly evolving and pushing myself to grow creatively. Right now, one of the biggest projects we’re preparing is a brand new live concept called “Zehavi Concert” – a full live show that combines electronic music with live musicians performing together on one stage.
The natural fusion between electronic production and ethnic instrumentation creates something very emotional that connects different cultures and people through music. This project is a major step forward for me artistically, and alongside it, I’m also working on a lot of original music that will be released in the near future. I truly believe the next chapter for Zehavi is going to be something special.
