Asaf Avidan () is a singer and songwriter, born in Jerusalem, Israel, raised in Jamaica and currently resides in France.
From 2006 to 2011, he was part of the band Asaf Avidan & the Mojos, independently releasing three studio albums. Their debut record, The Reckoning, was certified Gold in Israel following release, and a 2012 remix, One Day / Reckoning Song by Wankelmut, was certified Gold and Platinum in multiple countries.
In 2012, Avidan started a solo career.
Life and career 1980–2006: Early life and career Asaf Avidan was born in Jerusalem. Avidan's grandparents emigrated from Romania to Israel. He spent 4 years of his youth in Jamaica.
He completed mandatory army service in the Israel Defense Forces, and studied animation at Jerusalem's Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design, with his final project short film "Find Love Now" winning an award at the Haifa Film Festival that year. Subsequently, Avidan moved to Tel Aviv and worked as an animator. In 2006, after breaking up with his long-time girlfriend, he moved back to Jerusalem, releasing his first EP Now That You're Leaving later that year.
2006–2011: Asaf Avidan & the Mojos
In late 2006, while on tour in Israel, Avidan and Ran Nir decided to put together a band, who would consist of Nir on bass guitar, Yoni Sheleg (Johnny Snow) on drums, Roi Peled on guitar and backing vocals, Hadas Kleinman on cello, and Avidan on lead vocals, guitar and harmonica. The group's original name was Asaf Avidan & the Mojo Jive Cats, but it was soon after shortened to Asaf Avidan & the Mojos.
The group released their debut studio album The Reckoning independently in March 2008, founding Telmavar Records with Avidan's brother Roie. The album was met with critical and commercial acclaim, reaching Gold status in Israel. It was aided by two singles — "Reckoning Song" and "Weak" — as well as by a tour throughout Europe. Later in 2012, a remix of "Reckoning Song" by German disc jockey Wankelmut — retitled into "One Day / Reckoning Song" — would attain widespread commercial success, topping the charts and being certified Gold and Platinum in countries including Germany, Italy and Netherlands. The single's attention would lead to The Reckoning entering the record charts in various European regions in 2012.
Poor Boy / Lucky Man, the band's second album, was released in Israel in September 2009 to favorable reviews. For promotion, the band embarked on a worldwide tour from 2009 to 2011, during which they had appeared and performed on several notable occasions in Germany, France, China and the United States. Meanwhile, Asaf Avidan and the Mojos premiered their third and last record Through the Gale in November 2010. In 2012, following the group taking a short break, Avidan announced the group would disband to allow him to pursue a solo career.
2012–present: Solo career
In 2012, Avidan released the single "Different Pulses", followed by the release of his debut solo studio album of the same name. For promotion, the singer embarked on a European tour where he also performed during the 2013 Sanremo Music Festival in Italy. Different Pulses entered record charts in various countries and was awarded a Platinum certification by France's Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique (SNEP). The singer's follow-up record Gold Shadow (2015) was also attained Gold status in France. The album was also aided by several venues, including in Boston, United States. The Study on Falling followed in 2017. In the same year, Avidan was featured on the song "Baila Leila" from Goran Bregović's Three Letters from Sarajevo (2017).
Debate In a March 2015 interview conducted by French newspaper Le Monde, Avidan stated: "I don't really feel Israeli. As Israelis, what unites us is the fear. We are always the persecuted, and that is why I am no longer interested in living in Israel, to not feel that fear". The singer's statement sparked controversy and received widespread commentary and media attention in Israel, prompting Avidan to respond by saying: "In every interview I gave from the first second I always said I am not an Israeli artist, but an artist from Israel. I am not coming to represent Israel. I am not a politician. I am not a diplomat. And as a son to diplomats I never wanted to be one".
In 2023, Avidan applied for Romanian citizenship, because his grandparents were Romanian Jews. On June 12, 2026, he was granted Romanian citizenship.
Discography As part of Asaf Avidan & the Mojos Studio albums Title Album details Peak chart positions Sales Certifications AUT BEL(Fl) BEL(Wa) FRA GER ITA SWI The Reckoning Label: Telmavar, Columbia Released: 2008 (Israel) / 2012 (Europe) Formats: CD, digital download 31 91 93 26 23 70 33 ISR: +20,000 IFPI ISR: Gold Poor Boy / Lucky Man Label: Telmavar, Columbia Released: 2009 (Israel) /2011 (France) Formats: CD, digital download — — — 108 — — — Through the Gale Label: Telmavar Released: 2010 (Israel) Formats: CD, digital download — — — — — — — "—" denotes an album that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
Singles Title Year Album "Reckoning Song"(Only in Israel) 2008 rowspan="2" "Weak"(Only in Israel)
Solo Albums Studio albums Title Album details Peak chart positions Certifications BEL (Fl) BEL (Wa) FRA GER ITA SWI Different Pulses Label: Telmavar, Columbia, Polydor, Universal Released: 2012 (Israel) / 2013 (Europe) Format: CD, digital download 82 24 5 — 10 39SNEP: Platinum Gold Shadow Label: Telmavar, Columbia, Polydor, Universal Released: 12 January 2015 Format: CD, digital download 102 24 3 75 54 12SNEP: Gold The Study on Falling Label: Telmavar Released: 3 November 2017 Format: CD, digital download — 39 11 — — 18 Anagnorisis Label: Telmavar, Embassy of Music Released: 11 September 2020 Format: CD, vinyl, digital download — 48 21 100 — 11 Unfurl Label: Telmavar, Embassy of Music Released: 10 October 2025 Format: CD, vinyl, digital download 168 154 — — — 65 "—" denotes an album that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
Live albums Title Album details Avidan in a Box Label: Telmavar / Columbia Released: 2012 (Israel) / 2013 (Europe) Format: CD, digital download
Extended plays Title EP details Now That You're Leaving Label: Telmavar Released: 2006 (Israel) Format: CD, digital download
Singles Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album AUT BEL(Fl) FRA GER ITA NLD SWE SWI UK "One Day / Reckoning Song"(Wankelmut Remix) 2012 1 1 2 1 1 1 8 1 30BEA: Platinum BVMI: Platinum FIMI: 4× Platinum GLF: 3× Platinum IFPI AUT: Platinum IFPI SWI: 3× Platinum SNEP: PlatinumThe Reckoning(re-release) "Different Pulses" — 88 44 — — — — — — Different Pulses "Love It or Leave It" 2013 — 122 103 — — — — — — "Over My Head" 2014 — — 107 — — — — — —Gold Shadow "Gold Shadow" 2015 — — 114 — — — — — — "My Old Pain" 2017 — — 36 — — — — — — The Study on Falling "—" denotes a single that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
References
External links
Official Soundcloud profile