Watching Israeli singer Ofri on stage for the first time leaves you with that rare sensation of feeling that you have just witnessed something very special, precious and unique.
No wonder, as Ofrin comes with a sultry voice of velvet and music that is hard to categorize...some kind of avantgarde pop that easily combines nostalgia and modernism and simply makes everybody in the audience listen up and swoon.
25-year-old Ofri Brin, Ofrin's singer, seems completely at ease and in her natural element when performing, exuding lots of energy und bewitching with her souly-jazzy and distinctive voice. She possesses qualities seldom found in pop music today: class,
grace and warmth, enveloping everybody in her presence, bending, shaking, twisting her endless long red curls up and dropping them once again, in time with the music. Her appearance - somewhere between fairy and temperamental beauty from another era - adds to the timeless quality of Ofrin's music. But there is no arguing that it is today, here and now, that Ofrin is about to enter a career in pop, as it is Eddie Stevens, Moloko and Zero 7 keyboarder, who is about to produce Ofrin's upcoming album.
But let's start at the very beginning. Ofri Brin's love affair with music started early, back in Israel, where she was picked after a strict series of auditioning to sing in a choir for the army. Ofri, self-trained and having no classical background,caught the attention of KD (Oded Kaydar), who played piano in the same band. When Ofri left Israel for a stint in the UK, they lost sight of each other, only to be reunited after KD visited Ofri in Brighton and musical sparks flew. Ofri packed her bags and joined her musical partner in crime in Berlin, where he had moved to study. Since 2005, the two have been writing songs and producing under the name of Ofrin, KD composing, Ofri writing the lyrics and performing. "KD is my perfect musical match," Ofri says, "he uncovers sides of me that I never even knew existed,"
They gather a band of German musicians: Marco Bruckdorfer, Dirk Homuth, Sven Mühlbrandt and Susanne Ocklitz. The two Israelis love Berlin's creative and free atmosphere and when working with their band stress the "family" aspect of Ofrin.
Their first album, "Rust and Velvet", becomes an instant respectable success, the band tours through Europe, Israel and quickly finds a fan following. Their key to success - apart from their musical quality - are what they stand for - deep-rooted values and a strong belief in what they do is what triggers Ofrin
and makes the band so authentic. Apart from Eddie Stevens, other music industry heavyweights become interested: Marc Chung, renowned German
music industry executive and formerly of bass player fame of legendary band "Einstürzende Neubauten" as well as PR strategist and networker Birgit-Linda Müller and last but not least manager Dominique Golbach in Berlin seem a guarantee for Ofrin's success.
Ofri says that writing the songs is what she finds most rewarding, even when having to write the songs beforeher partner KD writes a single note can sometimes be stressful. She takes her inspiration from life as such; the lyrics of her last album, "Rust and Velvet" had a lot to do with the experiences she made when living abroad for the first time and coming to terms with new experiences in a foreign country. Living in the vibrant and buzzing German capital of Berlin now, she feels as if she had come up from the water to finally breathe through, "so "Coming Up From The Water" is what I hope the new album will be called." Often, Ofri takes her finding metaphors from water, her favourite element. "I just love it, especially the sensation of being submerged in it and the quiet and peace you find below the water surface", she says. Even though a liquid quality runs through her lyrics and her being, her goals are very down-to-earth: "All I really want is to be able to live respectably from my music." The first step, obviously, has been made in sealing the deal with Zero 7-keyboarder Eddie Stevens, an absolute music pro who has already worked with renowned and exceptional female vocalists such as Sia or Roisin Murphy (Moloko). But it is a male music legend who is supposed to bring Ofrin success: Leonard Cohen, whom Ofri adores, and she has come up with a wonderful version of his "I'm your man" ("I'm your girl") which is due to be released as single. Personally, Ofri loves to be creative in every which way she can, be it by trying her hand at stage design, creating Ofrin's own logo, or painting. Generally, self-confidence and standing on her own to feet are values taught to her by her parents that she still adheres to. Asked about her wishes for the future, she simply says: "Carrying on with being creative. I feel that there is this fountain inside of me that still has a lot of water to give."
©Annette Franklin-Stokes
Tango
Ofrin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Is it leading me?
Should I turn my head now
Or count one, two, three?
I am carried away
By the lyrical play
Sway darkly
If there is such a thing
What should be the next step?
We're the charged entry
Who decides where to roam
Are becoming unknown
When you find
Tango, oh, let's tango
Pace by pace
Tango, ohh
Every hair on my body stands
Oh, blissed by a curse
Is it bold?
But of course
There's no good without bad
They're happy and sad
Come together, my friend
I'll be here until the end
'Til the end
Tango, oh, let's tango
Pace by pace
Tango, ohh
Every hair on my body stands
Badababa
Badababa
Ahh
Tango, oh, let's tango
Pace by pace
Tango, ohh
Every hair on my body stands
Am I leading me?
Is it leading me?
Should I turn my head now
Or count one, two, three?
I am carried away
By the lyrical play
Sway darkly
In Ofrin's song "Tango," the singer is struggling to determine who is in control - herself or the seductive tango rhythm. She questions whether she is leading or being led, and whether she should resist or give in to the tempting dance. The lyrics also explore the juxtaposition of happiness and sadness, and the idea that neither can exist without the other.
The opening lines "Am I leading me? / Is it leading me?" set the tone for the song, questioning the balance of power between individual agency and external influences. The singer is grappling with the idea that although she may feel in control, there are larger forces at play that are guiding her actions. She then asks if she should turn her head or count to three, implying that these actions could either help her regain control or succumb completely to the tango's hold.
The chorus of the song is a call to embrace the tango - "Tango, oh, let's tango / Pace by pace / Tango, ohh / Every hair on my body stands" - suggesting that despite the singer's reservations, she is ultimately drawn to the rhythm and the passion it inspires. The lyrics of "Tango" showcase Ofrin's poetic writing style and her ability to explore complex emotional themes through vivid imagery and metaphors.
Line by Line Meaning
Am I leading me?
Is my own willpower guiding me?
Is it leading me?
Or is something else controlling me?
Should I turn my head now Or count one, two, three?
Do I need to change direction or keep moving forward?
I am carried away By the lyrical play Sway darkly
I am being swept away by the music and dancing in a mysterious way
Oh, it's winning the game If there is such a thing What should be the next step?
The situation is unpredictable and unclear and I'm not sure what to do next
We're the charged entry Who decides where to roam Are becoming unknown
We are full of energy and ready to go, but we don't know where we're headed
When you find
Once you discover
Tango, oh, let's tango Pace by pace Tango, ohh Every hair on my body stands
Let's dance the tango slowly and intimately, making every moment intense and electric
Oh, blissed by a curse Is it bold? But of course There's no good without bad They're happy and sad
Despite the challenges, we still find joy and beauty in life. Good and bad are intertwined
Come together, my friend I'll be here until the end 'Til the end
Let's stay together through thick and thin, until the very end
Badababa Ahh
Vocalization with no specific meaning
Tango, oh, let's tango Pace by pace Tango, ohh Every hair on my body stands
Let's dance the tango slowly and intimately, making every moment intense and electric
Am I leading me? Is it leading me? Should I turn my head now Or count one, two, three? I am carried away By the lyrical play Sway darkly
Uncertainty and mystery remain as I am carried away by the music and dance, not sure of my direction
Contributed by Noah E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
john ingamells
love it , voice and mood
Jozeffff
Really beautiful ... looking forward to see you in Trencin SVK this weekend :))
anywayberlin
Beautiful! Very nice! I especially like the Ernie and Bert Shirt!
Gina Duque
omg, i dont know why i never listen you before, but i love you!!. Greetings from venezuela :)
oferuny
Loved Your Tango dear!!
Emine Evci
beautiful ...
Billy MF ANT
love mood
Andrew Demetrius
GOLDFRAPP RIP OFF!