Israeli musician Izakman has been described as; the epitome of quirky art prog influenced music – with added glam!" It's as apt a description as any for the award-winning animator, who recently released his second UK single ‘Real Boy’ via SuArt. We sat down with Izakman for a chat about what's going on in his cyber world.
Izakman thanks for chatting to us. Where are you and what are you doing at the moment?
I'm at home writing to you while drinking coffee.
What has lockdown been like for you? Did it help or hinder creativity?
It's been a total game-changer, but it also drove my focus towards production and I’m now working now on a new video clip for the next single – Down The Rabbit Hole with Addart animation studio. Since we couldn't perform live, we spent more time in the studio and completed a full length album.
Your sound has a very 60's trippy, psychedelic feel to it – would it be true to say you've been influenced by artists and bands of that generation?
My sound is heavily influenced by late 60's British bands like The Pretty things, The Crazy World of Arthur Brown and Small Faces. And I'm also a big fan of Monty Python for their surreal humour. My producer, Roy Nizzani, gave the songs their contemporary rock flavour.
Are 'Cyber Love' and latest single 'Real Boy' representative of your sound over all?
They are representative of the overall sound of the album, though It also includes songs with a more acoustic flavour like the ending track “Anglebird”. I always look to expand my musical palette.
The music video for 'Cyber Love' has been selected for the London Lift-Off Online festival and London Music festival 2021! That's pretty cool! How did that come about?
I’m a musician but also an animation graduate from Bezalel Academy in Jerusalem, so the visuals are an important part of my work as a musician. I’ve been working on video clips and sending them to festivals via FilmFreeway, which is also how I got my animated graduation film - "A Night Without" to be shown and eventually win the "best animation award" at "London Beliff film festival."
When can we expect to see an Izakman album?
The album is ready as you already understood but due to Covid we delayed the launch to summer – 2021.
Tell us about the 'Floating Anarchy' movement you are a part of?
It's a group of friends that chose a lifestyle that's closer to nature and embraces freedom over ambition. I very much connect to their spirit and their ability and courage to step aside from
societies comfort zone. We run music events in nature, where I also play with my band.
We've witnessed some crazy politics last few years – do you think this is the last throes of our current market led system into something else (presumably something that will save the planet)
I don't know, but I do think that there's no real back to normal as people would have hoped. "The Social Dilemma" and "A Life On Our Planet" demonstrate that perfectly.
One we're past Covid-19 – do you think you will be touring in 2021?
There's nothing I desire more right now, so I'll do my best to make it happen.
What's the long game plan for you as an artist ? What are your ultimate ambitions musically?
I'm very much enthusiastic about multimedia so I look forward to growing in that aspect too in the future. I dream of creating a rock opera.
Listen to 'Real Boy' here, on Spotify.
I'm at home writing to you while drinking coffee.
What has lockdown been like for you? Did it help or hinder creativity?
It's been a total game-changer, but it also drove my focus towards production and I’m now working now on a new video clip for the next single – Down The Rabbit Hole with Addart animation studio. Since we couldn't perform live, we spent more time in the studio and completed a full length album.
Your sound has a very 60's trippy, psychedelic feel to it – would it be true to say you've been influenced by artists and bands of that generation?
My sound is heavily influenced by late 60's British bands like The Pretty things, The Crazy World of Arthur Brown and Small Faces. And I'm also a big fan of Monty Python for their surreal humour. My producer, Roy Nizzani, gave the songs their contemporary rock flavour.
Are 'Cyber Love' and latest single 'Real Boy' representative of your sound over all?
They are representative of the overall sound of the album, though It also includes songs with a more acoustic flavour like the ending track “Anglebird”. I always look to expand my musical palette.
The music video for 'Cyber Love' has been selected for the London Lift-Off Online festival and London Music festival 2021! That's pretty cool! How did that come about?
I’m a musician but also an animation graduate from Bezalel Academy in Jerusalem, so the visuals are an important part of my work as a musician. I’ve been working on video clips and sending them to festivals via FilmFreeway, which is also how I got my animated graduation film - "A Night Without" to be shown and eventually win the "best animation award" at "London Beliff film festival."
When can we expect to see an Izakman album?
The album is ready as you already understood but due to Covid we delayed the launch to summer – 2021.
Tell us about the 'Floating Anarchy' movement you are a part of?
It's a group of friends that chose a lifestyle that's closer to nature and embraces freedom over ambition. I very much connect to their spirit and their ability and courage to step aside from
societies comfort zone. We run music events in nature, where I also play with my band.
We've witnessed some crazy politics last few years – do you think this is the last throes of our current market led system into something else (presumably something that will save the planet)
I don't know, but I do think that there's no real back to normal as people would have hoped. "The Social Dilemma" and "A Life On Our Planet" demonstrate that perfectly.
One we're past Covid-19 – do you think you will be touring in 2021?
There's nothing I desire more right now, so I'll do my best to make it happen.
What's the long game plan for you as an artist ? What are your ultimate ambitions musically?
I'm very much enthusiastic about multimedia so I look forward to growing in that aspect too in the future. I dream of creating a rock opera.
Listen to 'Real Boy' here, on Spotify.
