Biography
Born in Paris in 1978 to Jewish and Tunisian parents, the singer/songwriter first discovered pop music through the Beatles. After relocating to Tel Aviv at the age of four, she absorbed further influences from Aretha Franklin and Joni Mitchell, which led to stage appearances alongside Winton Marsalis' backing musicians. While completing her required military service in Israel, she formed her initial group, the Anti-Collision. A 2000 charity concert performance then secured a recording contract with EMI. Her portrayal of Miriam in a French production of The Ten Commandments came next, followed by sessions for her debut album that took place on both U.S. coasts. Released in 2001 as In a Man's Womb, the project struck her as a personal failure. She continued performing solely to earn a living until 2004, when an encounter with West Indian percussionist David Donatien revived her interest in writing and recording. The pair collaborated as a duo on her second album, Yael Naïm, which appeared in October 2007 and mixed songs in French, English, and Hebrew, including a cover of Britney Spears' "Toxic." The record earned critical praise along with chart placements at number 11 in France and inside Switzerland's top forty. In 2008 the track "New Soul" received additional attention after its placement in an Apple commercial for the MacBook Air.
Albums
Singles
