Group Izabo for Israel
Today, the national broadcaster of Israel (IBA) has selected internally the rock-pop band Izabo to represent this country in the forthcoming Eurovision Song Contest with the song ‘Time’. Izabo’s entry, ‘Time’, was written by Ran Shem-Tov and Shiri Hadar. The song is described as pop with oriental flavour.
Izabo’s music has been described as a ‘brilliant, action packed combination of psychadelic rock, disco, punk and arabic spices’. Featuring high-to-ultra-high vocals, twisting and expressive Arab-flavoured guitar work, powerfully funky basslines, arrogantly catchy keyboards and intense disco beats, Izabo have established themselves as one of Israel’s most absorbing live acts.
Izabo’s debut LP, ‘Fun makers’, was released late 2003 to great critical acclaim. The songs ‘Morning hero’ and ‘Cook me’ became significant radio hits in Israel. In the following months Izabo signed on to Sony BMG, which released their British debut, The ‘Morning hero’ EP. The release was accompanied by a concert tour which took Izabo to England, Scotland and the Netherlands.
The band is made up of Ran Shem-Tov (vocals and guitar), Shiri Hadar (keyboards), Jonathan Levy (bass guitar) and Nir Mantzur (drums).