A four-part docuseries concerning the Israeli/Palestinian boy band As1one will probably be launched Dec. 3 on Paramount+.
Known as As1one: The Israeli Palestinian Pop Music Journey, the collection follows the creation of the world’s first Israeli/Palestinian pop group, previous to and amid the continued battle in Gaza, monitoring the group’s founders and members by way of the audition course of, the group’s arrival in Los Angeles on Oct. 6, 2023, and into the current.
Cameras began rolling throughout the group’s formation in 2021 in Israel. The documentary crew was enlisted after individuals near the group’s founders Ken Levitan and James Diener steered the group they had been forming “may simply be historic,” Diener informed Billboard final November.
Finally, the native Israeli digital camera crew was changed with a crew from Paramount+, which has since shot a whole lot of hours of footage for the docuseries. “It’s by no means a actuality collection,” Levitan mentioned in 2023. “That is one thing way more considerate and cinematic.”
The docuseries will function authentic music from As1one, together with their debut single, “All Eyes On Us,” that includes Nile Rodgers, their subsequent single “Stranger,” coming Friday, Nov. 15, and extra songs. The challenge is a collaboration between The As1One Manufacturing Firm in affiliation with Greatest Manufacturing Firm for MTV Leisure Studios. The collection was produced by Levitan, Diener, together with Ami Nir and Kevin Bartel alongside Bruce Gillmer for MTV Leisure Studios.
Information of the documentary comes two months after As1one — the pop group made up of six Israeli and Palestinian musicians — launched their debut single.
“All Eyes on Us” is a collaboration with music legend Nile Rodgers that showcases the group’s tight harmonies and excessive vitality. Watch the peppy, poppy, sun-soaked music video for the track, that includes an look from Rodgers on guitar, under.
The track and video got here in tandem with the September information that As1one had signed with Nashville’s Thirty Tigers, an impartial label providers firm that gives advertising, distribution and publishing providers.
“Thirty Tigers was a essential choice for As1one,” the group’s founders James Diener and Ken Levitan informed Billboard in a joint assertion on the time. “An actual consideration was that Thirty Tigers is famend as a house for profession artistry. Their roster – as musically numerous that it’s – at all times represents a dedication to true artists. That’s important to us, for as1one to be acknowledged in comparable mild and privileged to be in such artistic firm. Thirty Tigers offers us all of the assist that we want. Furthermore, their ardour and dedication to as1one is the invaluable service that may’t be replicated elsewhere. We’re so happy to be working collectively.”
Diener and Levitan introduced As1one collectively after an in depth search, working with Israeli and Palestinian casting administrators to carry auditions in cities and villages all through Israel in 2021. The intention wasn’t essentially to convey Israelis and Palestinians collectively in the identical group, however that’s what occurred because the expertise pool was narrowed right down to the six who made it in.
The group is comprised of Ohad Attia, a Jewish Israeli from Tel Aviv; Sadik Dogosh, a Palestinian Bedouin Muslim from Rahat; Palestinian Christian Aseel Farah from Haifa; Niv Lin, a Jewish Israeli from a desert city in southern Israel; Jewish Israeli Nadav Philips; and Neta Rozenblat, a Jewish Israeli from Tel Aviv.
The fellows arrived in Los Angeles from Israel to work on their debut album on Oct. 6, 2023, getting information of the Oct. 7 assault in Israel on their first evening in L.A. As1one has since made music in L.A. whereas the battle has continued in Gaza.
“It’s been an emotional curler coaster,” Philips says of the group’s trajectory. “I’m so enthusiastic about our first single, ‘All Eyes on Us,’ but additionally how we shaped into one large household this previous yr. We’ve been by way of rather a lot collectively and our bond is stronger than ever.
“I actually hope that the world will embrace it and see the nice in it,” he provides. “In spite of everything, we’re actually right here to make music that may convey individuals collectively. That is what it’s all about. That is what we got here to do.”
The group will launch its second single later this yr, across the launch of the docuseries. Diener and Levitan say to anticipate “way more music” in early 2025. The founders add that present occasions as they relate to the battle “usually are not a consider our single launch plan; as1one are centered on their music. Nevertheless, as1one and their songs will hopefully be a pure inspiration in present occasions.”
The group has been working with not solely Rodgers, however producers and songwriters together with Jenna Andrews and Stephen Kirk, who collectively have credit on megahits corresponding to BTS’ “Butter” and “Permission to Dance,” together with Danja (Nelly Furtado’s “Say It Proper,” Justin Timberlake’s “SexyBack,” Britney Spears’ “Gimme Extra”), Justin Tranter (a go-to co-writer for Justin Bieber, Selena Gomez, Maroon 5 and Think about Dragons) and Y2K (Doja Cat’s “Consideration”).
“The final 10 months dwelling in L.A. have been intense,” says Farah. “We’ve been engaged on new music that we’re actually enthusiastic about that has introduced us collectively as a band like by no means earlier than.” However naturally, alongside the thrill concerning the group, Rozenblat says “it’s been laborious with the battle again residence. We’ve misplaced buddies and have been grieving for the victims caught on this battle. We’re actually fortunate we have now one another for assist.”
“It’s been a whirlwind of feelings, with moments of each happiness and disappointment,” provides Lin. “However crucial factor we’ve realized is easy methods to keep collectively as one.”
“We’re right here to make music and unite individuals,” says Attia. “It doesn’t matter the place you might be from, what your background is or your beliefs are. We will like the identical music and get pleasure from the identical track. We will hug one another, and expertise the identical feelings. That’s what makes us human. We’re right here to indicate individuals we’re nonetheless collectively despite the fact that we might be completely different.”
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