PRESS RELEASES
Sivan Arbel | “Oneness”
Vocalist, Songwriter and Arranger Sivan Arbel’s Oneness Draws from a Childhood Steeped in Multiculturalism
A Journey of Self-Discovery, From Her Roots in Israel to Her Vibrant Musical Life in Brooklyn
Available via December 6, 2024 via Adhyâropa Records
Album Release Show December 18, 2024
One Set at 8PM
Nublu, NYC
62 Loisaida Ave, New York
At its heart, Oneness, available December 6, 2024, is Israeli-born vocalist/songwriter/arranger Sivan Arbel’s musical response to the divisions she sees in society. Through a transcendent symphony deeply rooted in jazz, where her rhythmic ingenuity and angelic tone seamlessly blend Eastern and Western influences, she invites listeners to embrace their cultural and ideological differences and yet recognize the universal connections that bind us all.
An effervescent talent on the international jazz scene, her original music opens a window into a rich inner world, layering her love for jazz with diverse musical influences from her Israeli roots, her vibrant New York community, and global travels Arbel’s transformative journey began in childhood, shaped by life in a small village in Israel where she attended the Neve Shalom, a unique elementary school where Muslims, Jews, and Christians studied together. Immersed in this multicultural environment from an early age, .
“We shared and learned about each other’s holidays, songs, dances, and ethnically diverse food,” Arbel reflects. “It was part of my day-to-day. To this day, I feel that attending that school was a gift that has left a huge imprint on my view of the world and has influenced how I create music.”
Oneness echoes this hopeful idealism by envisioning what is possible. Growing up in an environment where diverse cultures coexisted fueled her lifelong curiosity and desire to explore and integrate different musical influences. This exploration is fully realized in Oneness, her follow-up to 2016’s Broken Lines and 2019’s Change of Light, which was selected as Best Vocal Disc of the year by Jazz2K.
The concept for Oneness started to take shape in 2022, during a week-long residency at Avaloch Farm Music Institute in New Hampshire, where Arbel and her band — pianist Nick Hetko, bassist Sam Weber, and drummer Evan Hyde — were awarded a retreat. The week without distractions from the outside world deepened the band’s collaborative chemistry, and subsequently coalesced since then, allowing them to bring rhythmic playfulness, improvisation, and emotional depth into the music. The result is an album that captures Arbel’s lifelong exploration of unity through diversity, drawing from her experiences both in Israel and Brooklyn.
“I’ve remained curious about different cultures, and that resonates in my music,” Arbel says. “Normalizing equity between people doesn’t just make us better human beings—it brings so many beautiful flavors to anything we create.”
While making the album, Arbel delved into studying classical Indian singing which led to studying and collaborating with her Brooklyn neighbor, Jay Gandhi—a master of the bansuri flute and member of the Brooklyn Raga Massive. Their collaboration helped Arbel develop a distinctive sound, blending Indian classical music with contemporary jazz, most evident in the track “Dreamland.”
In Oneness, Arbel takes listeners on a journey through various emotional landscapes, with each track reflecting a distinct part of her artistic exploration. The album opens with “Dreamland,” an ethereal piece inspired by Arbel’s fascination with dreams. She creates a meditative soundscape that invites listeners into the subconscious world of imagination. Gandhi, adds to the dream-like atmosphere with his hypnotic bansuri flute, enhancing the track’s otherworldly feel.
As the album unfolds, Oneness moves into lighter, more playful territory. “Black Feet” offers a joyful reminder of the importance of reconnecting with our inner child. Arbel reflects on the way adulthood often dulls our sense of wonder, and this track serves as a call to let go and see the world with fresh eyes. The Middle Eastern rhythms, featuring percussionist Tripp Dudley, are interwoven into the composition, a nod to her Israeli roots, infusing the song with an infectious energy and playful charm.
Switching gears, Oneness then moves into the contrasting energies of “Yin Yang.” This track, featuring a captivating drum solo by Hyde, reflects on the dualities of life—light and darkness, joy and sorrow. The vibrant rhythm and introspective melodies encourage listeners to embrace all aspects of existence,and find balance in life’s inherent contrasts.
In a more introspective turn, “The World of The End” draws inspiration from Ofir Touché Gafla’s novel of the same name. This contemplative track explores the cycles of life, meditating on the nature of endings and beginnings, encouraging isteners to consider their own personal journeys and the inevitable changes that come with time.
Arbel again infuses her rhythmic and harmonic flair to the classic Tears for Fears song “Everybody Wants to Rule the World.” Her fresh, soulful interpretation of the iconic tune reflects on timeless themes of power and ambition.
“Let Go,” addresses the challenges of navigating interpersonal conflict. The song’s soothing melody is a call to release the ego and approach disagreements with compassion and empathy, aligning with the album’s overarching theme of unity and connection.
“The Pit (Between)” delves deeper into the emotional complexities of relationships, exploring the barriers that arise from miscommunication and fear. With dynamic instrumentation and evocative lyrics, Arbel paints a vivid picture of the unspoken tensions that can pull people apart, while also offering a path toward understanding and reconciliation.
Arbel’s connection to her homeland is most evident in “Second Floor Beloved,” a deeply moving narrative about the Tel Aviv boardwalk. This track, sung in Hebrew, tells the story of a homeless man who finds solace in fantasies about a loved one living on the second floor. As the only song in her native language on the album, it adds a layer of intimacy and emotional depth, inviting listeners to experience the story through Arbel’s cultural lens. The theme of love and imagination, even in difficult circumstances, is a poignant reflection of resilience and hope.
The album closes with title track “Oneness,” featuring rich polyrhythms and harmonies. With contributions from Hetko, and vocalists Aubrey Johnson and Daniel Fresco, the song embodies the album’s central message: despite the superficial divides of race, gender, and religion, we are all connected. “Oneness” is a sonic testament to the unity within diversity that defines Arbel’s musical vision.
About Sivan Arbel
A critically acclaimed Israeli vocalist, composer and arranger, Arbel’s live performances captivate audiences with her distinct blends of rhythm and groove with scat improvisations, movement and dance. Her upcoming release, Oneness (2024), reflects the groundbreaking continuation of her previous work, transforming the language of jazz in completely unexpected directions, and weaving together her decade-long musical journey in New York City. Arbel has performed at prestigious festivals and venues including the Montreal Jazz Festival, Lincoln Center, and the Bratislava Jazz Days Festival, as well as premier venues in New York City including Nublu, which will host the album release show on December 18, 2024 at 8PM.
Sivan Arbel • Oneness
Adhyâropa Records • Release Date: December 6, 2024
For more information on Sivan Arbel, please visit:
https://www.sivanarbel.com/ | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube
For media inquiries, please contact:
DL Media · (917) 929-4910
Roberta Lawrence · roberta@dlmediamusic.com
Don Lucoff · don@dlmediamusic.com
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