Kacholi, Assaf
Berlin-tel Aviv
The Berlin Tegel airport is crowded as always. Passengers are waiting to board a flight to Tel Aviv. Assaf Kacholi, who found a home both in Berlin and Tel Aviv is listening to music to pass the time. Assaf has a passion for exploring new music. "I really listen to everything - from all over the world - and Im always gathering ideas. I cant listen to music without thinking: I would love to sing that sometime." A few minutes later he boards the plane, already absorbed by the sound of a new discovery. His fascination for the German language grew while he was studying Schubert and Schumann Lieder at the Rubin Music Academy in Tel Aviv. Consequently, he decided to move to Berlin in 2002, to pursue further musical training and expand his vocal artistry. During his stay in Berlin Assaf never lost his connection to his Israeli home, and so the Tel Aviv-Berlin route became part of his regular life. Berlin has an art scene that is, on one hand, influenced by a strong German classical music culture and, on the other, strives to create something new and wild. Tel Aviv is the culture of Assafs origins, a combination of a modern metropolis and traditional, centuries-old Jewish music. Two worlds, very different from each other, but both the subject of constant change. "I spend a lot of time on airplanes, because somehow I feel at home in both cities." Moving back and forth between the two places makes it difficult for him to put his foot down in either metropolis. "When Im in Israel, people say I have a German accent. And here in Germany its the other way around, even though my German is almost grammatically correct." He laughs, but there is a bit of sadness in his voice. "I suddenly noticed that my identity started to dissolve." To grapple with and perhaps make peace with this conflict, Assaf launched the Berlin - Tel Aviv project. "It is a search for my identity. It took a lot of energy and courage to make this CD. And it took a long time until I found the confidence to say: These are my songs."