A stunning slice of uplifting soul and funk energy, ‘Jubilee’ is a surprising record. It grows on you gradually, with Shany Bartal’s evocative, sultry vocals wrapping the listeners into an empowering, wholesome lyrical journey. Written and produced in collaboration with fellow creatives Joseph E-Shine (from ‘Ninet’ and ‘Acollective’) and Ben Goldstein (‘The Voice’), the record showcases the incredible charisma Bartal has to offer, coupled with her eclectic take on songwriting.
Packed with introspection and authenticity, ‘Jubilee’ borrows from Shany’s personal demons, and then strives for a better future. The moment of change is now, a parallel that works well when taking into account that 2025 is indeed a Jubilee year, an important occurrence both in Judaism and Christianity.
Intrigued by the project, we caught up with Shany Bartal to find out more about her artistry and future goals… Interview below!
Hey Shany, how is it going? thanks for chatting with us! The last few years have been rather gloomy on a global level, and more and more people are turning to art as a means of self-expression. What does writing music mean to you?
I’ve been writing music ever since I was a child. Around eight/nine years old. To me writing music is a form of expression where I can disconnect from myself and my thoughts, and fully emerge into the creation. That’s the beauty about writing music, it’s kinda like you’re in a parallel world, where you don’t need to think as much and anything is possible.
Your current work is the result of a long journey; who or what inspired you to express yourself through music?
The soundtrack of my childhood was MTV. Growing up I was mainly influenced by American pop-rock music and culture. Later on, I discovered live music from the ’60s-’70s, lots of blues, funk, groove and it completely blew my mind.
If you had the opportunity to pick any artists in the world for a collaboration, who would be your first choice? (and second choice, perhaps?)
Beth Hart. I think she’s a brilliant musician and performer. I would also love to collaborate with Brittany Howard. In fact, what inspired me to write ‘Jubilee’ was listening to Alabama Shakes (her band) performing. All of a sudden, I felt this rush of creativity and jubilee was born on that day 🙂
You recently released a playful, empowering gem, ‘Jubilee’. Its title certainly makes sense, being 2025 a Jubilee year for both Christianity and Judaism. How much of the lyrical value in the song is tied to a religious theme?
The song speaks about freeing ourselves from the prison of our own minds, and emancipation of the soul, and reflects on individual empowerment. This idea of freedom is my wish for the world for 2025, beyond any kind of religion.
We absolutely love the uplifting, funk-powered production of the single. Can you shed some light on the creative process behind it? Do you feel most at home in such groovy settings?
Definitely! My main theme for this production was to keep the groove alive, creating vibes of a live performance from the 70s while keeping authentic sounds during the recording. If you’ll listen to my single “Ms. Munroe” You’ll see that’s kind of what I’m aiming for the most with my music.
Do you feel more confident writing music alone, or within a team?
Alone. For me writing music is a sacred process where I need to focus on the creation without any distractions. With that said, I am open to writing music with a team if the opportunity presents itself.
What are the next steps for your project? Anything exciting on the horizon?
Yes! I’m planning on releasing my debut album. All the music is already written and composed. Hopefully, it will happen soon 🙂
