Hadar Manor is an Israeli Musician who has been making a stir on the streets of London and getting heard not just by the millions who walk by, but many across the UK and beyond.
Although, the Metropolis of London is famous for its culture of busking, Hadar has been following in the steps of legends like Ehud Banai and whats more; winning awards for her material.
| London's Queen |
|
| Tops at the underground / Or Barnea |
|
Hadar Manor, Israeli singer living in London, wins first prize in contest featuring singers, musicians performing in London’s underground |
| Full Story |
|
|
|
I met with Hadar, just off from Piccadilly Circus, where she had just finished her busk for the day. We walked, talked and then stepped in off the cold winter streets to a famous London bookstore for a coffee amongst the culture.
Last year she won the coveted “Queen of the Underground” award.
“It was nice to win this award, as a lot of people supported me, more than I ever realized. It wasn’t until after winning the competition that it dawned on me when lots of people came up to me at gigs and said that they recognized me from my voice at the top of the escalators”
On winning the prize she was transported around parties and functions, awards and ceremonies across London. She met the mayor of London and actor Kevin Spacey to name but a few and got invited to No. 10 Downing St.
Whilst reflecting on the prime minister’s catering of cucumber sandwiches, cream tea with jam scones over our more humble coffee and doughnuts, I asked Hadar about her musical origins and her upbringing.
“I grew up in a moshav, called Ben Shemen just outside the Judean Hills. It’s a small place and quite different from the huge faceless city of London. Despite this, the crazy thing is that sometimes when I’m busking I occasionally see people from the moshav, it’s strange but sometimes the whole world goes by and you suddenly see people you recognize from home.
Manor. 'I want to be myself' (Photo: Adam Tiernan Thomas Charcoal)
"Previously my material was Middle-Eastern influenced, that were a lot of songs that I brought back from Israel. As for my influences, well I love people who are clever with the lyrics. People like Leonard Cohen as well as musician friends of mine like Vashti Anna, but in Israel it was Ehud Banai. As well as following him as a kid, I had the honor of supporting him at a gig in London not so long so ago and found out that he used to be a busker on Tottenham Court Rd.”
Ehud told Hadar that 30 years ago when he was busking in London he only knew a few songs but was always getting moved on by the police. The next day the policeman would come back and see Ehud playing in the same spot and would ask him his name. Ehud Replied ; “Robert Zimmerman” (aka Bob Dylan’s real name) To which the Policeman replied, “well, Robert, I don’t want to see you here tomorrow!” The next day would arrive and Ehud was standing in the same spot busking. When the same Policeman came round the corner and saw him he shouted “oy! Zimmerman!! I thought I already told you yesterday!!”
Hadar has previously released an EP and has been kept very busy working in lots of different collaborations across the UK. From Dance producers like Sandy Rivera, to bands like Oi Va Voi and touring with other musicians. All this has enriched her music by experience and now it has found its outlet with her recently-released album.
“It involves lots of great musicians that I’ve been working with over the years and some of the stories. But I’ve been here now for a few years so the new material is storytelling and folk styled stuff and not as Middle-Eastern influenced as my EP.
"It has songs like 'Cook a man', 'Nightbus', 'Queen of the Underground' about being a busker and seeing the city move in front of you and seeing the same people twice as even in the city there is no anonymity. But also 'Dror Yikra' and 'Judith' are more than just nods to my Jewish Heart and Israeli upbringing. They are part of me alongside all the noise of the city and the music in my mind”.
Of course, I had to ask the question; where did Hadar see herself in three-years time.
“Life isn’t planned out, but I hope to take the album to tour around the UK and Europe. I’ve had offers for film soundtracks and some high profile jobs as a backing singer but fundamentally I want my material to work for me. I also want to be myself, after all, everyone else is spoken for”
Hadar launches her album “Crossing London” from March 24th at 12Bar, Denmark St, Soho, London. If you want to find out more about her, the music and the gigs, then visit http://www.hadar.co.uk
Gil Karpas
is a musician, concert organizer, DJ and broadcaster, currently based in the UK
RSS
