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| Netta Barzilai | |
|---|---|
| Name | Netta Barzilai |
| Birth date | 1993-01-22 |
| Birth place | Hod HaSharon, Israel |
| Occupation | Singer, songwriter, DJ, producer |
| Years active | 2015–present |
| Instruments | Vocals, loop station, sampler |
Netta Barzilai is an Israeli singer, songwriter and electronic performer who rose to international prominence after winning the Eurovision Song Contest 2018 with a song that blended electro-pop, looped vocals and satirical lyrics. She is known for integrating vocal looping, sampler technology and theatrical performance into mainstream pop, and for her outspoken public persona in Israeli and international media. Her career spans releases, television appearances, advocacy, and performances at major venues and festivals.
Netta was born in Hod HaSharon, Israel, and is the daughter of parents of Polish and Lithuanian descent; her family background includes ties to communities in Bnei Brak and Central District (Israel). She served in the Israel Defense Forces as part of a service period that has been a common formative experience for Israeli performers such as Miri Ben-Ari and Ninet Tayeb. After military service she pursued music studies at institutions and workshops connected to Israeli contemporary music scenes and participated in talent programs and open-mic venues in cities such as Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. During her formative years she was influenced by televised competitions and reality formats, following predecessors including Keren Peles and Dana International.
Barzilai's early career involved performing covers and original material in clubs and online, using devices such as loop stations popularized by artists like Ed Sheeran and KT Tunstall. She released singles and videos independently before gaining major exposure; her work incorporates production techniques reminiscent of electronic acts such as Grimes, Sia and The Knife. Collaborations and session work brought her into contact with producers and composers active in the Israeli pop music industry, and she has performed at venues and festivals alongside artists from the European pop circuit, the American pop market and the Middle Eastern live scene. Her discography includes charting singles, extended play releases and remixes that have appeared on streaming platforms and radio playlists across Europe, North America and Asia.
Barzilai achieved international breakthrough when she won the Eurovision Song Contest 2018 representing Israel. Her entry, notable for its use of looping, electronic beats and a chorus with catchy hooks, edged out competitors including entries from Portugal and Cyprus. The victory placed her among previous Israeli winners such as Duncan Laurence and Izhar Cohen and the Alphabeta in the pan-European contest's history, and led to invitations to perform at events associated with the Eurovision Song Contest fan circuit and televised galas in cities including London, Amsterdam and Stockholm. Following the win she faced the logistical and diplomatic dimensions that often accompany the contest, engaging with broadcasters such as the European Broadcasting Union and promoters in host cities.
Her musical style blends elements of electro-pop, avant-pop and worldbeat, with a stagecraft influenced by performers like Björk, Lady Gaga and Katy Perry. She frequently uses a loop station and samplers to build multilayered vocal arrangements live, a technique associated with artists including Reggie Watts and Tash Sultana. Lyrically and thematically her songs reference empowerment tropes found in works by Adele and Beyoncé while incorporating humor and satire similar to Gorillaz and Flight of the Conchords. Production-wise she draws on electronic producers and songwriters from the Scandinavian pop tradition and collaborates with arrangers versed in contemporary pop, hip hop and dance trends observable in the catalogs of Max Martin-era pop and modern synth-pop movements.
After her international exposure she appeared on television programs, award ceremonies and variety shows across Europe and North America, and took part in charity concerts and cultural festivals that featured alumni from televised music competitions such as The X Factor and The Voice. She has been invited to panels and interviews hosted by media outlets in cities including Paris, Berlin and New York City, sharing stages with artists and cultural figures affiliated with institutions such as the BBC and MTV. Barzilai has also engaged in fashion collaborations and music videos that involved creatives from scenes linked to London Fashion Week and the Cannes Film Festival fringe events. Her appearances at Pride festivals and youth-oriented events connected her with advocacy networks and entertainment circuits active across Europe and the Americas.
Barzilai's public statements and performances have intersected with social and cultural debates in Israel and internationally, including discussions related to representation and diversity seen in forums alongside activists and public figures connected to LGBT rights in Israel and broader cultural initiatives. She has used media platforms to voice positions on cultural matters and taken part in benefit concerts and campaigns organized by organizations operating within Israel and internationally, sometimes alongside performers affiliated with humanitarian and arts institutions such as UNICEF-linked events and philanthropic concerts. In interviews she has discussed influences from her family background and artistic mentors from the Israeli and international music communities, while maintaining a profile that combines pop stardom with curated artistic projects.
Category:Israeli singers Category:Eurovision Song Contest winners Category:1993 births Category:Living people