Start Listening To: Oh Imanuela
Unveiling the cinematic world of Oh Imanuela.
We recently spoke with the captivating and multi-talented Oh Imanuela. Born in Tel Aviv, Israel, in 1997, Oh Imanuela is a filmmaker, designer, and musician in the indie folk music scene since 2013. Her unique sound and introspective songwriting have garnered attention, and she has recently released her gorgeous debut LP Cease. Join us as we delve into her artistic journey, inspirations, and the stories behind her music.
For those unfamiliar with your music, can you tell us who you are, where you’re from and about the music you make?
Hey, I'm Imanuela, born 1997 in Tel Aviv, Israel. I am a filmmaker, designer, and musician. I have been making indie folk music since 2013. a photographer from NY described my music the best, I think. He said, “Oh Imanuela makes peppy and languid music”. I kind of like that description.
Can you tell us about your journey as an artist, from your beginnings in Tel Aviv to your current life in London?
I was born just outside of Tel Aviv and lived in Israel until I was 21 years of age. growing up, I was always surrounded by artists, assisting them, putting up shows with them. My mother is a painter too. I started learning singing and playing guitar and piano but did not enjoy it at all! But writing songs, on the other hand, was always there. I remember writing my first song at age 11. I left for London because I wanted to study filmmaking; it was a quick decision to make-after two weeks I arrived in the city with two suitcases and crashed at a friend’s place for a bit. During my studies I’ve been exposed to so much music, I decided to start singing every week in a different pub in the city , to try new material on an unknown crowd. After a year I recorded a single, at home by myself. After 2 years I recorded my first EP, called “Birthdays”, and last summer I completed my first ever LP album, “Cease”.
How would you describe your artistic identity as a singer, writer, musician, and filmmaker?
Music for me, is sort of a blend of metaphors, imagery mixed with connections and interactions. The idea of bringing people together is exciting to me . With my film work, I allow myself to experiment. I am a solo artist, and I work best when pursuing a theme or metaphor that I am imagining, whether it is for a line for a song or a scene for a video. I’d say I’m a bit of an art house type.
What inspired you to pursue a career in music and filmmaking? I took inspiration from certain artists and wanted to follow in their footsteps. I remember watching “Factory Girl” (2006) and, boom – “Until we Bl4ed”, the song by Lykke Li , plays just as the character Edie Sedgwick is screaming at Warhol sitting in a restaurant. I love that film and fell in love with Lykke Li instantly just because of that scene. At this point I feel as if one arm of mine is attached to a camera and the other to a guitar.
Congratulations on your first LP Cease. What can listeners expect from this 9-track album, and how does it represent your artistic growth since your debut EP?
Thank you! I think I’ve overcome a lot of inner conflicts and accepted some changes in my life. I’ve stopped writing about others and more about myself and my own superpowers. It’s miles away from my debut EP, which was basically about a breakup. When people hear Cease, they can expect a stormy album! But also an album with a deep connection to rock, folk and soul.
As a co-producer of Cease, how was the experience of creating and recording the album in studios in Israel and London? Did the different locations influence the overall sound or themes of the album?
The pre-production process took place in London, where I wrote and recorded all the demos alone. In Israel, I worked with my good friend Roee Berezowitz, who is a sound engineer. I came to him with a bunch of demos and asked him to help me record them properly in a studio. I had learnt a lot from the process of recording my EP with my then producer, so I felt this time I could arrange the music independently.
In Israel, we had a band coming in and playing the parts that had been written, but we were very open to instrumental brainstorming in the studio, and we came up with beautiful moments that are now my favourite parts of the album! It was a great feeling to finally combine the two versions of Imanuela –that of Tel Aviv and that of London, and make an album out of it! The two locations were essential for the themes in the album. As an artist I would like to keep exploring and changing even if it’s painful to leave your comfortable realm.
Which artists or musicians have had the most significant impact on your music, and how have they influenced your style and sound?
I think the roughness of Amy Winehouse’s vocals and writing is always on my mind when creating, and the rawness of The Strokes had a massive impact on me. The effortlessness and groove of Conan Moccasin also inspires me. I really enjoy the musicians that bring themselves into the picture and show their layers and complexities, which pop music doesn’t usually do. my song “My Old Friend” is a mix of ballad and rock, softness, and roughness . I think the rapid change between those styles really came from hearing these artists, and others.
What led to your participation in the New Colossus Festival in New York this year, and how was the experience of performing there?
New York was sick, I felt very welcomed. I came with my USA label- “We Were Never Being Boring”, and performed with my band who played on Cease. At the festival I also bumped into my friend, Jesper Munk, who had sung on Cease as a backing singer. I had no idea he’s playing at the festival, so it was a lovely surprise!
Can you share the inspiration behind your song ‘Miss My Old Friend’ and what makes it a standout track on the album?
A lot of people come to me after shows and tell me how much this song affected them emotionally and made them sob. It’s amazing when you touch people with art-it just never gets old. this song is like a cry for someone you want and miss while also saying, “hey, leave my life, stay away!”. That decision to cut off from someone is something almost everyone can identify with, and I think it’s painful and hard but also needed when you know someone isn’t good for you. I think that song stands out because it contradicts itself. It’s a ballad with parts of keyboards , guitar and bells that remind you of gospel music telling a story about how painful it is to be part of a damaging relationship. Everyone’s been there.
How do you approach songwriting, and what themes or emotions do you tend to explore in your lyrics?
It’s funny to say but I really connect to disconnection. Feeling like a displaced character, a fish out of water. I think a lot about distances from people and countries. Even sometimes about my country, Israel, and the conflicts it’s facing.
As a filmmaker, do you find any connections or overlaps between your music and visual storytelling? How do these art forms complement each other in your creative process?
Oh, the connections are innumerous. I’m super into surrealism. For 2 years I had this theme for a film, of being a bird, an observer. I made a 6 minute film about my street in London with some overlapping monologue. After 2 months of making that film, I made a music video for my song, “Dead Dove “ that includes me sitting on a chair with a stuffed dove on my head. I took inspiration for the colour palette from my favourite film, "Valerie and Her Week of Wonder” (1970).
Is there a particular message or feeling you hope listeners take away from your music, especially from the album Cease?
I hope people feel less alone when listening to Cease.
What do you love right now?
My boyfriend.
What do you hate right now?
Y2k fashion.
Name an album you’re still listening to from when you were younger and why it’s still important to you?
Stereotype A by Cibo Matto.
