Remember Yael Naim’s quirky, ebullient song, “New Soul,” from that omnipresent MacBook Air commercial, which gleaned the French-Israeli chanteuse an almost instant surge of celebrity two years ago? On May 10, the petite, 33-year-old folk-pop artist – who this month was awarded France’s prestigious “Victoire de la Musique”award for best female singer – will celebrate the United States release of her new album, “She was a Boy” on the Tôt ou Tard label.
Naim—who was born in Paris to Tunesian parents and raised in Ramat HaSharon before returning to France— created her album, “New Soul,” with percussionist David Donatien, on a computer in her Paris apartment. Reminiscent of work by Regina Spektor, the CD features songs in English, French and Hebrew sung in Naim’s husky, whimsical voice. Apple’s Steve Jobs personally selected the “New Soul” title track for his Mac ad – which helped make Naim the first Israeli solo artist to have a Top 10 hit in the United States.
Naim again has collaborated with Donatien to create “She was a Boy;” here’s a sneak peak of her new single, “Go to The River.”
