Shye Ben Tzur

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SHYE BEN TZUR

Shye Ben Tzur is a New-York born Israeli musician, poet, and singer, based in India and Israel. In the mid 90’s he studied under Ustad Zia Fariddudin Dagar and spent extended periods of time in Ajmer. There at the Sufi Shrine of Khwaja Moinuddin Hasan Chishti, his work on Qawwali devotional Sufi music has begun. For several years afterward, he focused on composing original Qawwali music to Hebrew, Urdu, and Hindi poetries. At his work, he explored and experimented with North Indian music and rhythm in conjunction with Western elements, creating a unique blend of the two worlds. Shye regularly collaborates with Rajasthani folk musicians.

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Shye Ben Tzur is a New-York born Israeli musician, poet, and singer, based in India and Israel. In the mid 90’s he studied under Ustad Zia Fariddudin Dagar and spent extended periods of time in Ajmer. There at the Sufi Shrine of Khwaja Moinuddin Hasan Chishti, his work on Qawwali devotional Sufi music has begun. For several years afterward, he focused on composing original Qawwali music to Hebrew, Urdu, and Hindi poetries. At his work, he explored and experimented with North Indian music and rhythm in conjunction with Western elements, creating a unique blend of the two worlds. Shye regularly collaborates with Rajasthani folk musicians. An avid film enthusiast, he produced and directed some of his own music videos and short films, and composed music for visual media. His first collection of poetry, Souls Expressions, was published in Israel in 1999. His debut album, Heeyam, released in 2003, was recorded in India, Israel, and the US. His second album, Shoshan, was released in 2010 and received critical acclaim from Indian and world music publications. In 2015 Ben Tzur commenced collaboration with British musician Jonny Greenwood of Radiohead. That same year they were invited by the Maharaja of Jodhpur to the 15th-century Mehrangarh Fort to proceed on a multi-cultural creative venture. In a makeshift studio which was constructed at the Fort by Radiohead's producer Nigel Godrich, Ben-Tzur and Greenwood along with The Rajasthan Express, (a collective of Rajasthani folk and Sufi artists assembled by Ben-Tzur), recorded the album Junun.  This collaboration was made into a documentary film by Paul Thomas Anderson who has joined the group on their adventure. Throughout 2017 and 2018 the Shye, Johnny, and the Rajasthan Express toured Europe, South America, and North America as the opening act for Radiohead's international tour. Presently, besides playing live and working on new music, Shye draws inspiration by studying under the guidance of the Dhrupad Maestro Ustad Bahauddin Dagar.

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New Single - Out Now

Halel

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An artistic journey moving from meditation to ecstasy.Filmed and recorded in the Augusta Victoria Church and on the outskirts of Jerusalem's sacred landscape.

During a period of two live sessions Shye stationed a minimalistic "sound laboratory" in the Augusta Victoria Church.

The Sessions were all recorded live as one takes. Shye played short phrases which were sampled into two separate loop stations.
These repeated musical segments produce a mosaic of musical patterns. Melodies serve as a linear narrative changing the perspective of the music on every repeated
looped patterns.

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Shye's new audio-visual project named 'Halel' (meaning 'praise'). During two live sessions, Shye stationed a minimalistic 'sound laboratory' in the Augusta Victoria Church. The sessions were all filmed and recorded live as single takes. Shye played short phrases which were sampled into two separate loop stations. These repeated musical segments produce a mosaic of musical patterns. Melodies serve as a linear narrative, changing the perspective of the music on every repeated looped pattern.

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Releases

Roked - Solo

The song 'Roked (Solo version)' is the 3rd single from Shye's new audio-visual project named 'Halel' (meaning 'praise'). During two live sessions, Shye stationed a minimalistic 'sound laboratory' in the Augusta Victoria Church. The sessions were all filmed and recorded live as single takes. Shye played short phrases which were sampled into two separate loop stations. These repeated musical segments produce a mosaic of musical patterns. Melodies serve as a linear narrative, changing the perspective of the music on every repeated looped pattern.

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To Pray

The instrumental composition' To Pray' is the second single from Shye's new audio-visual project named 'Halel' (meaning 'praise'). During two live sessions, Shye stationed a minimalistic 'sound laboratory' in the Augusta Victoria Church. The sessions were all filmed and recorded live as single takes. Shye played short phrases which were sampled into two separate loop stations. These repeated musical segments produce a mosaic of musical patterns. Melodies serve as a linear narrative, changing the perspective of the music on every repeated looped pattern.

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Haleli

The song 'Haleli' is the debut single from Shye's new audio-visual project named 'Halel' (meaning 'praise'). During two live sessions, Shye stationed a minimalistic 'sound laboratory' in the Augusta Victoria Church. The sessions were all filmed and recorded live as single takes. Shye played short phrases which were sampled into two separate loop stations. These repeated musical segments produce a mosaic of musical patterns. Melodies serve as a linear narrative, changing the perspective of the music on every repeated looped pattern.

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We Shall Overcome

During the weeks of lockdown, while spending time at home, I often found myself humming the song “We Shall Overcome”. I always associated this song with the elevating force of people singing together. Suddenly, in this reality of seclusion, we found ourselves making efforts to reach out, striving to experience each other from a distance.

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Junun

Radiohead’s guitarist joins the Israeli musician and poet on a journey in Sufi devotional music. Ecstatic, brassy and hypnotic, it’s border-crossing at its best." - Sunday Times, 100 Best Records of the Year. The album was also featured in Clive Davis’s ‘World Music/Folk’ picks.

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Shoshan

On 2010 Shye’s second album “SHOSHAN” was released with great response from worldwide media. The album was rated Top 10 at the prestigious "Songlines World Music Magazine (UK)". It was also Top 5 at the album of the year chart (non Bollywood music) of the Times of India Chennai. “SHOSHAN” is a cross-cultural mix of passions, genres, languages and irresistible beats. For this project Shye collaborated with a group of top international musicians: famous Indian singer Shubha Mudgal, the Spanish guitar maestro Fernando Perez, Yossi Fine, Mishko M’ba, Eli Magen, Zohar Fresco, and many others. In India Shye and his group have performed in the most respected venues and music Festivals, singing music in Hebrew, Urdu and Hindi.

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Heeyam

Ben Tzur'S debut album "HEEYAM" (Supreme love in Arabic), was recorded in India, Israel and USA. It was released in 2003 with great acceptance from both audience and critic. In "HEEYAM" Shye worked with traditional Sufi Qawwali (a form of ecstatic Muslim devotional music) singers, who have been learning his compositions and poetry, and sung them in Hebrew. From his personal life experiences Ben Tzur has succeeded to bring his own ancient culture alive into a unique cross cultural work.

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Videos

Future Dates

Selina Kinneret
October 7, 2023
//
Sea Of Galilee
//
Israel
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PAST Dates

Selina Kinneret
October 7, 2023
//
Sea Of Galilee
//
Israel
Tickets

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