Hailing from Tel Aviv, Noga Erez attracted huge levels of attention during 2016 with the release of her debut single ‘Dance While You Shoot’. And this year looks to be a promising continuation of her vital journey as her new single ‘Pity’ emerges, alongside the announcement of her debut album and subsequent tour.

To a first-time listener, ‘Pity’ is a dark, yet contagious, track filled with stimulating melodies and all sorts of unique traits; but, under the surface this song is trademark Erez, surging with a message. ‘Pity’ addresses events of a sexual assault which was, as Erez explains, “documented by several different people who were there when it happened.”

‘Pity’ captures exactly the dark nature behind the events that occurred; it infectiously wriggles its way into your conscious via your eardrums. It is truly haunting. Visually, the video for the track is just as striking, with Erez highlighting just how virtually impossible it can be to escape from cameras and surveillance, yet equally how violating it can be. The video for ‘Pity’ has a certain feel of Charlie Brooker’s ‘Black Mirror’ series, and Erez undoubtedly achieved what she set out to do – to show how easily things “become shared, publicised and distorted.”

What is so striking about Erez is how she is relentlessly unphased by the notion of pushing the boundaries. She writes about things that should be written about – her songs are not only catchy, but necessary. Although it definitely helps that they are incredibly captivating as well.

Noga Erez’s debut album Off The Radar is out 2 June on City Slang.

James Cummins
@CummyBear