Yosefa Lazen (born January 13, 1971, as Yosefa Dahari, ) is an Israeli singer born of Yemeni-Jewish and Moroccan-Jewish parents. Her style blends world beat electronic dance music beats, rap and soul with traditional singing styles of Morocco and Yemen.Yosefa, marocaudio.com She lives in Israel.Indopedia, List of Jews from the Arab world, http://www.indopedia.org/index.php?title=List_of_Jews_from_the_Arab_World
Early life Yosefa's parents introduced her to the music of the Middle East and North Africa when she was growing up. Her Jewish father was from Yemen, while her Jewish mother was from Morocco.
Dahari began singing during her Israeli military (IDF) service. Once, while stationed near the Lebanon border, she performed Arabic folk songs and received praise from the other side of the border. Such responses prompted her to pursue her Arabic musical roots, and after completing her military service, she became a professional singer.
Music career Her recordings include Middle Eastern instruments such as the kanun, oud, zourna, darbouka and tin drum, as well as European instruments.YosefaAll Things Considered, NPR, November 14, 1995, Israeli Singer Offers Wide Range in Debut Release Her style has been characterized as following in the tradition of the late Yemeni-Israeli singer Ofra Haza.Houston Press, Bob Burtman, Soundcheck, March 26, 1996 http://www.houstonpress.com/content/printVersion/217716/ Most of her songs are in Hebrew, while she also sang in Maghrebi Arabic and English.
Discography Yosefa (Trolika, 1993) The Desert Speaks (EMI Hemisphere, 1996) Lullaby Composed - Martin Kennedy (UK) Single (Unknown, about 1997)
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