Itay Levy

Itay Levi
Background information
Birth nameRaz Alenhorn
Born (1988-01-25) January 25, 1988 (age 36)
Gan Yavne, Israel
Genres
OccupationSinger
Instrument(s)Guitar, piano
Years active2013–present
Labels
  • Singold
  • Liam Productions
  • Ruth Productions

Itay Levi (Hebrew: איתי לוי‎; born January 25, 1988) is an Israeli singer of Mizrahi music. He has released several chart-topping albums and singles, collaborated with prominent Israeli artists, and won the "Breakthrough of the Year" award in 2015. In 2023, he purchased the football team Maccabi Shaarayim.

Biography

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Itay Levi was born in Gan Yavne and grew up in the Sharayim neighborhood in Rehovot, in a family of Yemeni Jewish descent. Levi is the youngest of three siblings.[1]

At the age of 16, Levi's father, who was unfit for parenting, passed away from lung cancer.[2] His mother suffered five strokes, leaving her with permanent physical disabilities.[2] Levi served his IDF service as a maintenance worker at the IDF Paratroopers Training School.[2]

On December 25, 2023, Levi purchased the football team Maccabi Shaarayim, which competes in Liga Alef, as a tribute to his late father, a fan of the team.[3]

Levi currently resides in Ness Ziona.

Career

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2013–2015: "Ma Over Aleicha" (What's Going On With You)

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At the beginning of his career, Levi worked as a demo singer alongside writers and composers Avi Ohayon and Elad Trabalsi as well as musical arranger and producer Asaf Tzurya. Upon hearing the song "Almost a Love Song," Levi asked the creators, Elad Trabalsi and Asaf Tzurya, if he could record the song himself. After two and a half years of requests, Trabalsi and Tzurya agreed to give Levi the song for free. In July 2013, Levi released "Almost a Love Song" as his debut single, and the song was a success.[4]

In 2014, Levi released his debut album, What's Going On With You ("Ma Over Aleicha"). Notable songs from the album include "Almost a Love Song," "What's Going On With You," "No One Else," "Let's Sit and Talk," "Childhood Memories," and "On Cold Nights." Additionally, he recorded a cover version of Yehuda Poliker's song "HaTzel VeAni" (The Shadow and Me).

In January 2015, Levi received an award from the distribution and new media company "Singold" for over 250,000 uses and downloads of songs from his album What's Going On With You.

2015–2016: "Kol HaIr Yodaat" (The Whole City Knows) and other projects

[edit]
Levy in 2015

In early 2015, Levi released the song "Yom Sheni" (Monday), the first single from his new album, which reached one million views on Levi's official YouTube channel. That year, to commemorate Yom HaZikaron (Israel's Memorial Day for fallen soldiers), he released the song "Heroes" in memory of Oron Shaul. The song was part of the "Song and Memory" project by the "Linktone" company. Later, Levi signed with Eyal Golan's production company "Liam Productions," managed by Golan's personal manager, Benny Peretz. Following the high-profile signing, Levi released the single "Strings and Microphones" and then "5 Words" from his second album.

In January 2015, Levi released the duet "Od Yom" (Another Day) with singer Margalit Tzan'ani. In August, he released the duet "For This Day I Waited" with Maya Avraham. In September, Levi won the title of "Breakthrough of the Year" on the Mediterranean music portal "Hafla".

On January 12, 2016, Levi released his second album, Kol HaIr Yodaat (The Whole City Knows).

2017–2018: "Surviving Love" (Shoardim Ahava)

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On July 17, 2017, Levi released the album Surviving Love. The album included the hit single "Mesiba BaHaifa" (Party in Haifa), in collaboration with "The Ultras" and DJ Ilon Matana. The song became the most played song of 2016. The album also featured a collaboration with Eyal Golan on the song "Wedding of the Year." Additionally, Levi recorded a new version of Yehuda Poliker's song "I Wanted."

In 2017, Levi participated in the docu-reality show "Connected" on HOT, which documented his life as a Mediterranean music singer.

On December 4, 2017, Levi released the first single, "Sh'tisaref HaAhava" (Let Love Burn), from his fourth studio album of the same name.

On February 25, 2018, Levi released the song "Mamo," in collaboration with singer and dancer Stephane. That same year, Levi released the single "Here It Comes" (a cover of Eric Sini's "Siba Tova" with lyrics by Ehud Manor and music by Matt Caspi) together with Shlishiyat Ma Kashur and Noa Kirel.

2019–2020: "Sh'tisaref HaAhava" and "Holechet Yechfa"

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In 2019, Levi collaborated with Eden Ben Zaken to release the official Festigal song "Our Time."

During 2019, Levi began modeling for the fashion company "Lee Cooper." As part of this collaboration, the company launched a capsule collection designed in partnership with and inspired by Levi. Additionally, Levi and the fashion company released a new song in 2019 titled "New York City – NYC," which was included on his fourth album Sh'tisaref HaAhava (Let Love Burn).

In early November 2019, Levi won first place in the VIP edition of the reality cooking show "MasterChef" on Keshet 12.

On November 20, 2019, Levi began judging in the seventh season of the show "HaKokhav HaBa Le'Eurovizion" (The Next Star for Eurovision), replacing Harel Skaat.

2020–present: "Sufa Shel Chol" (Sandstorm), "Mechakeh SheTavo" (Waiting for You), "Achat LeDaka" (One in a Minute)

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Itay Levi in 2023

In July 2020, it was announced that Levi had left Liam Productions, owned by Eyal Golan. Following his departure, Levi continued his career under "Ruth Productions," a company he founded in honor of his mother.[5][6]

On March 24, 2021, Levi released his second EP, Sufa Shel Chol (Sandstorm), under "Ruth Productions." It was his first release after parting from "Liam Productions." On December 19, 2021, he released the song "Ani Kvar Lo Bach."

On May 4, 2022, Levi released the song "Hinanim." In the same month, he released the song "Barekha" together with Ido Shoham. On June 13, 2022, Levi released the song "BaGodel Ruach" with IDF reservists. That same month, he released the songs "Aftar Imaleh" and "Umm Kulthum" with Stephane Legar. On June 30, 2022, he released his fifth studio album, Mechakeh SheTavo (Waiting for You). On July 12, he released the songs "Circus," "Raise Your Hands," and "12 at Night." In September 2022, Levi released the song "Lo Oseh Lach Klum." On November 8, 2022, Levi began performing in the musical Kazablan, taking on the lead role of Kazablan alternately with Ofer Hayun, directed by Eldar Gohar Groisman and produced by the Habima Theatre and the Israeli Stage Theatre.

On January 18, 2023, Levi released the single "Lifamim."[7] On February 16, he released the single "Chetsi Ben Adam" (Half a Human).[8] On March 22, he released the single "Me'Abed Shlita" (Losing Control).[9] In April 2023, Levi performed at the annual Independence Day Torch-Lighting Ceremony on Mount Herzl.[10] On May 24, he released the single "Lo Atzarnu," which reached No. 14 on the weekly Media Forest chart.[11]

Discography

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Studio albums

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  • 2014: Ma Over Aleicha (What's Going On With You)
  • 2016: Kol HaIr Yodaat (The Whole City Knows)
  • 2017: Shoardim Ahava (Surviving Love)
  • 2019: Sh'tisaref HaAhava (Let Love Burn)
  • 2022: Mechakeh SheTavo (Waiting for You)
  • 2023: Achat LeDaka (One in a Minute)

EPs

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  • 2020: Holechet Yechfa (Walking Barefoot)
  • 2021: Sufa Shel Chol (Sandstorm)

Awards and Nominations

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Year Award Category Project Nomination
2022 Frogi's Award Winners of the Year Singer of the Year Itay Levi Nomination
[edit]
  • "Meet: Itay Levi". Israel Hayom. November 3, 2015.
  • "Sometimes I Indulge in Showing Off, So What?". Israel Hayom. August 3, 2017.

References

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  1. ^ Nebo, Asaf (October 21, 2013). "Iti Levy: "Everyone Tells Me I Remind Them of Eyal Golan"". Mako.
  2. ^ a b c "Sometimes I Indulge in Showing Off, So What?". Israel Hayom. August 3, 2017.
  3. ^ צנציפר, נדב (December 25, 2023). "Itay Levi Buys a Football Team – Now He Awaits the Derby Against Eyal Golan | Exclusive". Ynet.
  4. ^ "One Song – Behind Each Song, There Is a Story | Kan". Kan – Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved July 8, 2020.
  5. ^ "It's Over: Itay Levi Parts Ways with "Liam Productions"". Mako. July 12, 2020.
  6. ^ "Instead of "Liam Productions": The Company That Will Manage Itay Levi". Mako. July 12, 2020.
  7. ^ ""The Most Important Thing in My Life": Itay Levi Touches Hearts with His New Song Featuring His Mother". Mako. January 19, 2023.
  8. ^ "Itay Levi Opens His Heart: "I'm Half a Human"". Srugim. February 16, 2023.
  9. ^ "Itay Levi Losing Control: "Succumbing to Thoughts, With or Without You"". Ice. March 22, 2023.
  10. ^ "And For Glory: The Official Torch Lighting Ceremony from Mount Herzl". YouTube. April 25, 2023. Retrieved April 25, 2023.
  11. ^ ""Memories, Good and Bad on the Road": Itay Levi in a Surprising Collaboration with Ron Biton". Maariv. May 24, 2023.
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