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The Asaf Effect: The Folk-House remix that took over Europe
Friday 30th November 2012 | Ellen
Asaf Avidan ain’t exactly a household name in the UK, but that could be about to change thanks to a little remix by Germany’s DJ Wankelmut (don’t worry – it actually means ‘fickleness’ in English) of his not-such-a-big-hit ‘One Day’. This is actually a first for both artists; folk isn’t often the go-to genre for remixes and Wankelmut has only just hit the German House scene himself. In fact, this really shouldn’t work, but charts show differently. Despite #30 being its highest chart position in the UK, it took top position for several weeks in much of the rest of Europe. Germany, Belgium, Switzerland and Austria were just some of the nations lapping up the Asaf-meets-Wankelmut magic.
The track itself is über-simplistic, and is probably the key to its success. Repetition of the chorus line ‘One day, baby, we’ll be old’ over a basic snare beat and a slightly upbeat version of Asaf’s own guitar chords make the song frustratingly catchy – although it is a relief not to be accidentally humming One Direction’s formulaic monstrosities for once…
After reaching 52m views on YouTube and receiving platinum record sales in 3 countries, the small time stars have been pushed to the front of the stage. So what next for Asaf Avidan, the diplomats’ son from Israel? Well apart from being likened to Bob Dylan and being responsible for The Reckoning; the all-time best selling record in Israel, he’s been on the road again for his next album Different Pulses which is available on iTunes. Fancy a preview? Listen to the lead track below!
This is, however, a real departure from Avidan’s norm of folksy guitar, sombre lyrics and the occasional howl. His previous work has taken to while a reach the UK, but if you ignore the scattering of British reviews from pretentious broadsheet journalists, you’ll find the man who only started doing what he really loved after he broke up with his long term partner, and still has a lot to give.
Avidan will be playing at trendy Shoreditch venue XOYO on December 16th
Tickets available from www.seetickets.com
Different Pulses: Lead track from Asaf’s latest album.
One Day: The Wankelmut remix that changed Asaf’s career.
by Ellen Kenyon Peers
ehkuhpuddle@hotmail.co.uk
@scatartist
(Photograph source: http://www.karaoke-lyrics.net/photos/asaf-avidan-41978/359825)
