Noam Banai Opens Up: "When My Dad Found Faith, I Was Angry and Afraid"

Late morning at a stylish recording studio on the outskirts of Tel Aviv. In the background, track after track plays from Noam Banai's new and fifth album, 'Good Eyes', set to be released in about two weeks. Frequently, Noam pauses the playback to share with the gathered media the behind-the-scenes of his album creation. Once everyone departs and it's just the two of us, Noam sheds a few more layers and dives deeper into the soul that birthed the reason for our gathering.

"I really don't know how to write a song," he admits candidly. "I don't just wait for inspiration and try not to let it happen spontaneously; I actually devote considerable planned resources to creation, yet this process is still very elusive. My most successful songs are those that, after writing and composing them, I set the guitar aside and said, 'Wow, where did that come from? Thank you, Hashem, for the beautiful song you wrote.'

"In fact, I believe that creation involves the revelation and exposure of spiritual worlds. In recent years, after some internal changes I've undergone, I naturally seek to convey meaningful, deep messages through my music, rather than just writing light love songs. I wish to discover aspects of myself and become more aware of my actions through songwriting. To me, writing music is genuinely part of a spiritual process, a kind of *teshuva* in the profound sense of the word. Drawing closer to Hashem and to myself, aiming to be a better person and work on my character traits, are two parallel paths for me. Overall, the process of writing and composing songs sometimes puts you face to face with difficult questions, and this can be very empowering."

Conversations with Dad

"I was born into a musical family," says Noam, 33, a married father of two living in Tel Aviv, musician, creator, and singer. "This is true both for the extended family and my immediate family, as the son of Meir Banai. I grew up in Moshav Tal Shahar, and my dad tried not to bring his profession home so my sister and I wouldn't get any ideas. Ironically, I found music fascinating, and from a very young age, I would go to the caravan outside our house where my dad worked and try to play the instruments there. I recall that even in elementary school, I began writing songs in a notebook, and it made me happy."

When did you start realizing you were 'Meir Banai's son'?

"It was present from the day I remember myself. It felt usual to walk with him on the street and have people stop us and start conversations. On the other hand, something within me found it unnatural, sparking a desire to be someone known and loved on my own terms. Now, as an adult, I recognize it as something ingrained in me from a young age: a wish to be famous.

"In fourth grade, my parents divorced, and my sister and I moved to Tel Aviv with our mom. Three years later, my dad embraced faith, both life events heavily impacting my life. When they told us about their separation, it shocked us. Now, I understand its influence, and I knew from an early age that I wanted to 'correct' their marriage issues and find a lasting home for myself. Thank you, Hashem, my wife and I have been together since I was 23, and I became a father before 30.

"After my military service, I started working as a waiter at Zappa, which allowed me to meet many people in the music industry and watch numerous performances, gaining experience and insight. After saving enough money, I traveled to the East with a close friend, where I wrote many of my early songs. Upon returning, I kept working at Zappa, and fortunately, the connections I made helped me release my first album with NMC. Meanwhile, my dad fell ill, which was very tough for me. He heard my debut album, but not the others that followed."

I presume your father's passing influenced your artistic journey greatly.

"Yes, such a significant event naturally impacts all life aspects. He and I were very close, making it incredibly hard to lose him. Though he was ill for two years, and we had time to process it, imagining it is entirely different from its reality. That being said, experiencing such adversity so young also strengthens you because you've lived through the hardest thing that can happen. His death also forced me to assume responsibility for myself and my family at a relatively young age, which matured me immensely. I realized I couldn't live in his shadow anymore. While it's a dreadful card to be dealt by Hashem, I strive to embrace the positives and learn from this unexpected journey. Overall, I'm still discovering the path his death has laid for me.

"In this regard, I can mention 'Never Alone', a song initially written as if it were a duet with my father. In the verses, I talk to him, and in the chorus, he replies: 'Talk to me, I'm listening'. After I finished the song, I thought it might work well as a duet with Ehud, my dad's cousin. My father sang the famous line with him, 'Birds of angels hover above you, accompanying your steps', and I knew it would be a touching closure for us all. I visited Ehud's home, played the song for him, and he was incredibly moved, suggesting we change the chorus from first person to third so people wouldn't confuse him for my dad. That's how we did it."

The Heart on the Table

As mentioned, Banai's new album is due soon, marking a significant event for him. "It took about two years to work on my new album, and I'm excited about its release. Raviv Plotnik provided artistic guidance, and I believe he contributed significantly. In many ways, it feels like my first album, as it's my first time working on a full album before releasing singles from it. This new album will have 12 songs, a first for me. I'm especially excited because it's the most vulnerable album I've released. I'm really putting my heart on the table and discussing issues I never dared to tackle before.

"Additionally, and this is very significant for me, the new album deeply involves elements of Judaism and my ongoing spiritual journey. In recent years, beyond the Torah study I do alone, I regularly study twice weekly with Rabbi Itamar Elad and Rabbi Shlomo Katz. This learning profoundly influences me, and naturally, much of what I experience finds its way into my songwriting. A lot of my Torah study relates to my self-awareness and refining my character traits. This seems basic, but without setting dedicated times for Torah, it's challenging to achieve this."

It's evident that you are deeply connected to your spiritual path. When did spirituality start playing a significant role in your life?

"We always had some tradition, but spirituality became more prominent once my dad found faith. Initially, I was angry and afraid he'd change and prioritize religious observance over me. Thankfully, those fears quickly faded. Towards the end of high school, I became more observant myself, and my friends worried they might lose me, which scared them greatly.

"For me, the growing connection to Hashem and Torah is an ongoing journey. Along with my learning, I try to take on more mitzvot, always ensuring to balance my character refinement with my religious commitments. I don't want to wake up one day and find that I focused too heavily on commandments between man and God, neglecting those between man and fellow man, or vice versa. Balancing these two aspects is crucial, and it's always a delicate dance.

"I also want to say that my music is tightly connected to this. Ultimately, writing a song is a form of seclusion. The challenging days we face as a nation lately have heavily influenced my work. Recently, topics such as the people of Israel, the land of Israel, the battles we face, and broader themes have become central to me. These subjects are new in my musical creative process, but I'm eager to explore them further and see how they'll manifest in my future songs."