as1one (pronounced "as one") is a pop group from Israel, made up of mixed Israeli Jewish and Palestinian Arab members.[1][2][3][4][5]
as1one | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Israel |
| Genres | Pop |
| Labels | Thirty Tigers |
| Members | Nadav Philips Niv Lin Aseel Farah Ohad Attia Sadik Dogosh Neta Rozenblat |
| Website | as1one |
History
editas1one was conceived and formed by music entrepreneurs James Diener, who signed and developed Maroon 5,[6][7] and Ken Levitan, who signed and developed Kings Of Leon.[8][9] Beginning in 2021, the pair held auditions across cities and small villages in Israel.[1] After thousands of auditions, they would eventually land on a 6 member vocal and multi-instrumentalist group comprising of Nadav Philips, Niv Lin, Aseel Farah, Ohad Attia, Sadik Dogosh and Neta Rozenblat,[1] who would sing their music in English.[6] The group members come from various backgrounds, encompassing the Christian, Jewish, and Muslim faiths.[3] as1one had been in the works for multiple years, dating back before the COVID-19 pandemic.[1]
In August 2023, as1one traveled to London to record at Abbey Road Studios with Nile Rodgers.[1] The group would later relocate to Los Angeles to continue recording their debut music, flying out on October 5th, just prior to the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war.[10][11][12] Neta Rozenblat said in an interview that the band members "have all lost people in this war" and that "it is really tough to see innocent people dragged into this on both sides." In the same interview, Sadik Dogosh voiced concerns about the band being forced into an "ambassador role" when they are just musicians and not politicians.[5] Since the group’s arrival in America, as1one has collaborated with multiple producers and songwriters, including Jenna Andrews, Stephen Kirk, Danja, Justin Tranter, and Y2K.[1]
On September 13, 2024, it was announced that as1one had signed with the label Thirty Tigers. They also released their first single, "All Eyes on Us" (featuring Nile Rodgers).[13] Listeners criticized the song and the band's branding as disconnected from reality, with regards to the likely genocide amid the ongoing Israeli invasion of the Gaza Strip. Some users highlighted the similarity of "All Eyes on Us" to "All Eyes on Rafah", the viral slogan in reference to Israel's Rafah offensive, and accused the song of drawing attention away from the conflict. Other users defended the band and said they were free to express themselves how they wished.[4][5]
The story of as1one is the subject of a 4-part docu-series launching on Paramount+.[14][3]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f Bain, Katie (2023-11-23). "as1one, the World's First Israeli and Palestinian Boy Band, Plans Its Ambitious Debut". Billboard.
- ^ גיל משעלי (2022-07-11). ""המטרה? להפוך לסנסציה עולמית": להקת הבנים הישראלית המעורבת הראשונה" ["The goal? To become a global sensation": the first mixed Israeli boy band]. Mako (in Hebrew).
- ^ a b c Wang, Jenna (3 September 2024). "as1one on How They 'Lift Each Other Up' as World's First Israeli-Palestinian Boy Band with Debut Single (Exclusive)". People.
- ^ a b "'Wrong direction': Israeli-Palestinian boy band debut met with outrage". Middle East Eye. Retrieved 2024-10-14.
- ^ a b c Brown, Helen (2024-10-09). "The Israeli-Palestinian boyband taking on the West's Gaza hypocrisy". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2024-10-14.
- ^ a b Halprin, Shirley (2022-07-29). "Israel's Music Business Has the Ears of the Majors". Variety.
- ^ דור מאיר מועלם (2022-10-26). "האיש שגילה את מארון משקיע עכשיו בשישה ישראלים: "המטרה להיות הרכב הפופ הגדול ביותר" [Follow us:The man who discovered Maroon 5 is now investing in six Israelis: "The goal is to be the biggest pop group in the world"]. Mako (in Hebrew).
- ^ Halprin, Shirley (2022-10-26). "Sony Music Stakes a Claim in Israel Via New Joint Venture With Josh and Sam Fluxgold". Variety.
- ^ Fitzpatrick, Rob (2013-08-09). "The Roots Of...Kings Of Leon". NME.
- ^ Friedman, Gabe (2023-11-22). "The world's first Israeli-Palestinian boy band makes their debut". The Jerusalem Post.
- ^ גיל משעלי (2023-11-22). "as1one, להקת הבנים הישראלית-פלסטינית הראשונה, בכתבת שער בבילבורד" [as1one, the first Israeli-Palestinian boy band, in a Billboard cover story]. Mako (in Hebrew).
- ^ Aniftos, Rania (2024-02-03). "As1one on The Key To A No. 1 Hit, Spreading Their Message Through Music, Moving to LA & More, Billboard's No. 1 GRAMMYs Party 2024". Billboard.
- ^ Bain, Katie (13 September 2024). "Israeli & Palestinian Boy Band as1one Release Debut Single 'All Eyes on Us': Watch the Video". Billboard.
- ^ Flam, Charna; Franklin, McKinley; Scorziello, Sophia (2023-05-26). "Apple TV+ 'Hijack' Starring Idris Elba Receives First Official Trailer (TV News Roundup)". Variety.