DJ Skazi: "Performing for Soldiers in Their Final Moments Haunts Me"

Asher Swissa, better known as Skazi, appeared at the health conference hosted by ynet and Yedioth Ahronoth and shared his experiences from the recent war. Although he is not a combat soldier, Skazi used his musical talents to support the fighters and the wounded, turning his performances into a personal mission. "I'm not a combat soldier," he admits, "but my music is a combat tool—it reaches the battlefield to lift the spirits of the fighters."

During his tour, Skazi visited numerous bases around the Gaza border and elsewhere in Israel, connecting soldiers to music in the midst of their difficult struggle. "I couldn't sit at home and do nothing while our soldiers were fighting," Swissa recounts. "I put my gear in the car and went from post to post with a friend. I played for them and lifted their morale. I think it was important not just for them, but for me too—it healed me."

Skazi proudly describes how he managed to bring the energy of the world's big stages to the small bases, even amid mortar shelling. "More than boosting morale, it was about showing everyone that we're not afraid," he says. "My music gave them a moment of joy, a brief respite from the war."

The deep connection between the music and the soldiers left a significant impression on Skazi, but also brought difficult moments of loss. He recounts that some of the soldiers for whom he played did not return from battle. "I performed at incredibly surreal posts, hugging the guys about to go on a mission," he shares. "The next day, I received the list of the fallen, and that's something that haunts me. I know I was there in their final moments."

Despite the challenges and hardships, Skazi remains committed to his Zionist mission through music. "They need someone to lift them before going into battle, and I'm there to give them that. I believe my music connects them to the Israeli spirit we're fighting for."