Mika Moshe "Give and take"/ Keshet 12
"Eurovision is a serious responsibility this year. There are three minutes to show on stage who the State of Israel is. It's stressful but I believe I can do it. I also really want to do it"
If Mika Moshe wins "The Next Star" (Tuesday, 9:15 p.m. on the 12th) and represents Israel at Eurovision - she dreams of singing a song in Hebrew.
"Obviously I know how to sing in English, but the real dream is to sing on the Eurovision stage in Hebrew," she says in an interview with Walla!
culture.
"Even a song that combines the two languages would bring me great happiness. My vision is to sing a song that will open the heart and move. I want to bring myself, not something dramatically different from the songs I performed in 'The Next Star'."
This year it will be very stressful to represent Israel at Eurovision.
"Every singer in the country dreams of performing at Eurovision and representing the country, and this year it's even more so. The responsibility is crazy. It's a huge honor to do it and I wish I could travel."
How will you deal with all the questions of politics and war assuming you will be sent to Eurovision?
"They are going to look for us completely. If I represent Israel, I will broadcast all my love for the country. I will broadcast the love and the heart of the State of Israel. I will work on it very hard before I fly. I believe I can do it. I will come with our love and I am convinced That can melt the hearts of Europe. I believe in the people, in the country. Love wins, goodness wins. We need to show the world that we don't come with a fighting spirit but with love and our hearts. I will prepare hard and I will be ready for sure."
Iceland calls for a boycott of Israel, in Sweden and Norway there are protests against Israel.
More countries are expected to call for us to be boycotted.
How will you deal with this situation?
"Our very participation in Eurovision is a victory for me. Precisely because they don't want us - we have to come. I don't think Israel will be rejected from Eurovision. It's true that a lot of people don't like us, but the European Broadcasting Union announced that we will participate despite all the calls for a boycott. Listen, this is a serious responsibility this year. There is Three minutes to show on stage who the State of Israel is. It's stressful but I believe I can do it. I also really want to do it. I'm currently focused on winning the competition and if I manage to do it - all my energy will go to Eurovision and prepare myself the best possible".
Even coming to Eurovision a year after Noa Kirel is not easy.
"True, it will be very stressful, but I think I am very different from her engine. If I fly, I will bring something completely different. She has no flaws and is excellent, but our styles are so different, so there is not much of a source of comparison. I think it will be fine."
"I sang to myself as a baby."
Mika Moshe/screenshot, Keshet 12
"I really think that because of the experience I have these years, I feel ready and I really want it. I have my audience, I'm already working - and in March I have a new album coming out"
Mika Moshe is only 16 years old, but despite her young age - she already has several years of musical career behind her.
She began her journey at a "music school" when she was only 12 years old.
Since then she managed to release several songs, the most famous of which is of course her successful duet with her mentor at the time Miri Mesika "You have you".
She was a guest many times at Mesika's concerts and got to sing in front of many diverse audiences.
Since the outbreak of the war on October 7, she divides her time between the studio "The next star" and performances in front of soldiers and evacuees from the Gaza Strip.
She herself, by the way, lives in Kibbutz Kfar Blum in the Upper Galilee, which is not far from Hezbollah's line of fire.
"I always knew I wanted to be a singer," she says.
"My mother and my aunt said that as a baby I would sing to myself in the playpen and later in kindergarten - I would sing and steal everyone's focus. After that, of course, it continued to music school, then I developed, entered the studio, started working on songs, writing and composing songs, I felt That I'm ripe and ready - that's why I came to the next star."
And yet, despite everything, you're only 16. Isn't that too young?
"I really think that because of the experience I've had these years, I feel ready and I really want it. I have my audience, I'm already working - and in March I have a new album and a debut show coming out and I feel like it's my time. I couldn't wait any longer."
If you don't win the next star, what do you plan to do?
"First of all I have an album that is almost ready and a debut show. And of course at the same time I have matriculation and exams that I have to take and complete. I have a big gap to try and complete. The fact that I reached the final of the next star is a victory in itself."
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"People think that being overweight causes a child to be lonely and rejected and to experience bullying, but with my sister this is not a factor. As a child I was not accepted the way she is accepted. She is a queen and it is amazing because she has a captivating personality."
What is it like to live in Kfar Bloom in these days of war?
"This situation is a bit delusional. There is a dissonance between the filming for 'The Next Star' where everything is very glamorous and fun there - and the reality outside. Coming home after a day of filming is a strange feeling. We are only a kilometer from the area that has been completely evacuated. There was a fall not long ago near my house . We heard a crazy boom. It feels like a battlefield."
And how do you deal with this dissonance you speak of?
"Like everyone else. It's hard, it's scary. Sometimes I'm a little hard on myself. The filming of 'The Next Star' is a bubble. I'm going back to the North, and the whole situation falls on me. On the other hand, I'm very happy to be a representative of the North, and especially of those who are not They were evacuated, so that I could put what we are going through there on the agenda."
Your father also became quite a star thanks to the show.
How is he these days?
"Dad is perfectly fine. He doesn't work because the hotel is closed, so he's at home, upset about the situation (Mika's father, Erez Moshe, is the CEO of the Galilion Hotel - New York). So in the meantime, he and my whole family accompany me. It's a bright spot in everything This period".
And your brother just enlisted in the army not long ago.
"He has now finished training and in a week or two he is supposed to enter Gaza. But he will definitely come to see me in the final so I am really happy about that."
In one of the last shows you also talked about your relationship with your little sister Shoham.
"She is nine years old and she is my weak point. She is the most important thing in the world to me and the thing I care about the most. Even though she is my little sister, she is also my back, she is an anchor. She supports me a lot, I have a lot of conversations with her and I am the one who comes out of them Empowered. I talked about her excess weight with the understanding that everyone sees it on TV. It was important to me to show that it is not a factor with her at all. People think that being overweight makes a child lonely and rejected and experiences bullying, but with her it is not a factor. As a child I was not accepted as she is accepted. She is a queen and it's amazing because she has a captivating personality."
What music do you listen to at home?
"I listen to a lot of music in English. Taylor Swift is my favorite singer in the world."
And in Hebrew?
"I love Avitar Banai, Idan Raichel, Yasmin Moalem, Usher Cohen."
With a hand on your heart - were there any friends who distanced themselves from you because of your success?
"I'm in a period of a lot of activities related to music, so now I rarely get to see them. But they really understand the situation and support me. Even if I don't talk to them for a whole week, they will support me and be with me. They are the most supportive in the world."
And on the other hand - are there those who suddenly approach because of your success?
"I have my 4-5 close friends who, regardless of advertising, are my very good friends. I believe that there are those who try to get close to me because of the success, but it doesn't bother me."
"I left confused."
Mika Moshe/Shay Franco
"In my first audition, I received a red from Asaf and it was actually the first time I stood in this position of being judged. It was difficult and I left the audition very confused. I thought maybe I made a mistake when I came"
Where did your moving rendition of Idan Amadi's "It's Over" come from?
"The idea was born a few weeks ago. I went to perform in front of soldiers who were wounded in Gaza and they asked me to sing this song. I uploaded the performance to social networks and people got really excited, so I waited for the opportunity to sing it."
Idan himself responded?
"I didn't get a response from Idan. In my heart, I hope he saw it."
Arik Sinai competed alongside you in 'The Next Star' and he was significantly older than all of you and with tremendous experience.
What did you think of his participation in the show?
"Eric is not only an amazing singer but also an amazing person. I got to talk to him and he was really interested in me. He is a good person and I feel that I had the right to be with him in some kind of competition. It was on the verge of unbelievable that I am in such a position by his side."
Don't you think it's also a bit sad that a singer in his position has to participate in a reality show to get back into the spotlight?
"No, I don't think it's sad. He did it in the best possible way. Everything happened the way it should happen. I think he did himself a huge honor. I think he did it the right way."
What did you think of the judges?
"They were very cute and they really wanted us to succeed."
Who did you connect with the most?
"To everyone. Even those who criticized me built me up."
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Wasn't there anything the judges said that offended you?
Sounds illogical.
"There were many times we gave criticism, but this is the plan at the end. In my first audition, I received a red from Assaf and it was actually the first time I stood in this position of being judged. It was difficult and I left the audition very confused. I thought maybe I made a mistake when I came. They also talked about my age and said that I Too young. They hesitated about me and then I started to hesitate too. I'm glad I was able to pull myself together and bring myself. As far as I'm concerned, I won."
Mika Moshe
Mika Moshe the next star 2024/courtesy of Booking Plus
Mika Moshe the next star 2024/courtesy of Booking Plus
"Yes, Spitz, not Spitz, I don't know, but I don't just choose to do what I choose. I'm very satisfied with my performance"
Do you and the other contestants really manage to keep friendships behind the scenes?
It sounds really unbelievable.
"The experience we are going through is so extreme that it is what connects us. Obviously the competition exists but only we know what we are going through. They are the only ones right now who can identify with me. This is the part that connects us the most. The experience is overwhelming and only we can understand each other."
Is there no natural feeling of jealousy?
"No. There is always jealousy in this profession and I have been in this profession long enough, but the other contestants on the next star have become my family. Only we know what we went through."
you are still in high school
How do you manage to combine both 'the next star' and studies?
"Now it's hard for me to combine because we are preparing the program, so I'm only busy with that. I don't come to school, but the principal and the teachers are involved in this story and are very supportive of me. I believe that once it's over, they'll help me complete everything because it's important."
If you don't win the next star this year, do you think you will try in the following years?
"You never know. It could totally happen because Eurovision is my dream."
What would you like to take from each of the other participants in the final of 'The Next Star' by your side - Eden Golan, Or Cohen and Dor Shimon?
"From Medan Golan I would like to take the professionalism. She knows what she is doing very well. From Maor Cohen I would like to take the creativity because she has original choices. From Dor I would like to take the confidence because he doesn't see anyone from Mater and I miss it a bit. He is also a vocalist Giant".
What do you remember about the music school experience, where you discovered it?
"I was 12 years old. I only remember good things from there. I was very innocent, with a lot of desire and excitement and gratitude that I was participating in the program. It didn't matter to me if I reached the final or not. My very participation there and my meeting with judges that I admire, it was For me the victory."
There was criticism of you that you don't bring Spitz, that you don't go all the way.
Did you understand the review?
"Assaf also told me this and it seems to me that Levy also expected me to open more and more burners. He also asked me if I had it. I explained to him that I could, but I was intentionally going for a smaller one because that's what makes me special. Yes, Spitz, not Spitz, I don't know, but I don't just choose to do what I choose. I'm very satisfied with my performance."
But do you understand that opening burners and going all the way is the one that ultimately brings votes from the audience at home?
"I'm very loyal to myself and what I'm good at. I'm proud of my choices and I don't try to get the votes from home. I hope they connect of course but I don't do anything to please anyone. I'm very content with what I do."
respect.
Eric Sinai/image processing, Keshet 12, screenshot
"At my first audition, the judges said they thought I was too young, but after they saw my performance, they changed their opinion. I feel that it's actually easy for the audience to connect with me because of my age, so that's actually my advantage."
You released a song with Miri Masika that was very successful.
What was it like working with her?
"A very cordial bond was formed between us. I love her very much. I gained experience partly thanks to her and I thank her very much for what she has done for me. She also never stops praising me."
What dream do you want to fulfill?
"To continue performing, to release music and for people to listen to me."
I thought you would say 'a duet with Shlomo Artzi'.
"Wow, that's a really serious dream."
Ella Lee Lahav became famous at your age in 'The Next Star' and said that it made her very bad mentally.
How do you deal with this boom?
"It's not really a boom for me. Since 'Music School', I've experienced prime time and worked and performed. It's true that now it's completely crazy in terms of exposure, but I had an understanding before what it meant. I feel like it's only getting bigger and now it's only doing me good ".
When do you feel that your young age is a limitation and when an advantage?
"At my first audition, the judges said they thought I was too young, but after they saw my performance, they changed their opinion. My age is a limitation when I have to complete my studies and combine things. I feel that the audience actually finds it easy to connect with me because of my age, so that's my advantage Rather."
You have been in the industry for several years.
Were you underestimated because of your young age?
"I never felt that I was underestimated, but sometimes there are people who don't know me and don't want to work with a girl. After they meet me, they change their minds and they want to work with me. What's more, I think we need more women in Israeli music."
Are there not enough women in music in Israel?
"More women are always possible and I'm all for it. They're the most talented and it's important to me that there be even more women. I work with Mai Safdia, Hodia Hayut, I love this female power. It produces wonderful works."
You are launching a new album in a month and a half.
What is expected of him?
"This album is actually a summary of the 3-4 years since I graduated from 'music school'. The songs really speak to me. I am very proud and very excited to release it. It combines both the songs I created 3 years ago and songs from now."
Is it stressful to release an album at such a time?
"Yes, but the songs suddenly take on a different meaning. It's exciting."
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the next star