Fast-rising Israeli artist Gali Givon returns with her vibrant new single 'Scared' + 'Lolita', out May 19th through Universal Israel
WATCH THE MUSIC VIDEO FOR ‘SCARED’ HERE
LISTEN TO SCARED & ‘LOLITA’ HERE
THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST SIGNED TO UNIVERSAL ISRAEL
Following on from the enormous praise for her genre-bending debut single ‘Show Me Love’ earlier this year, which was supported by the likes of Wonderland, Earmilk, and Record Of The Day, as well as landing on seven New Music Daily playlists on Apple Music and onto every major pop playlist around the world, fast-rising Israeli artist Gali Givon returns once again with her vibrant double A-side release ‘Scared’ + ‘Lolita’.
Bringing back more of that raw and pulsing alt-rock-inspired aesthetic she is cultivating for herself, ‘Scared’ sees her deliver a fresh and alluring new delight. Accompanied by a tongue-in-cheek horror movie-inspired official video, she is once again breaking down the preconceptions about her sound, and delivering something bold and compelling from start to finish.
Speaking about ‘Scared’, she said, "'Scared was written at a time when I felt like I had two very contradicting sides within me. The one being soft and empathic, and the other- borderline dangerous. It helped me accept what I’ve been feeling for a long time."
And adding about the new visuals, "Shooting Scared’s music video was one of the most unique experiences I’ve been through, being such a fan of thrillers and horror movies. It truly felt like making my own horror film- two days of straight messing with fake blood and body parts, and hanging out with my creepy masked girlies."
The flipside of this new offering, ‘Lolita’, acts as almost a contrast to her work to date. Co-written with fellow Israeli artists Noga Erez, Ami Nir & Ori Rousso, with the latter on production duties, she retains plenty of dark and atmospheric energy, but residing more within an alt-pop guise, showcasing more of her broad and adventurous range.
Adding about ‘Lolita’, "Lolita was co-written with Noga Erez, Rousso and Ami Nir- it is my own personal rebellion against former partners who tried to fit me into what they thought I should be. For me, this song is like a trash bag filled with a lot of shit I’ve been carrying- allowing me to finally throw it out."
One of the first acts signed to the newly established Universal Israel, this Tel Aviv-based musician is living proof of why you should never judge from appearances alone. At first glance, Gali is the perfect pop star: a young woman carving out radio-ready jams that could easily sit alongside hits by Billie Eilish, Olivia Rodrigo and co. But dig a little deeper and you’ll discover a different side to Gali, whose early releases channel the quintessential heroes of rock’n’roll, from Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd to Audioslave and Pantera.
Born to a surgeon mother and father who worked as a CEO in the film industry, Gali herself admits that her chosen path might be surprising to some. But both her parents are classic rock fans, and she was raised on a diet of Bowie, Queen and Pink Floyd. Later, she realised she gravitated towards heavier rock – grunge and metal, particularly – as a means of coping with her father’s health issues.
“My dad used to go in and out of hospital, so I’d spend a lot of time at home, alone,” she says. “I remember the silence being so loud… I had to fill it up with something louder. I needed something to fall into, and rock music was what caught me.” She picked up the guitar, aged 10 and began composing her own songs around the same time ("I really thought I was Axl Rose", she laughs). Other children her age attended after-school groups; she stayed at home and let her feelings pour out.
“It was almost painful, this inclination to write… it came from somewhere within,” she says. “I don’t think I was born a musician. I feel like this path chose me.”
DISCOVER GALI GIVON