As we were all obliviously cheering on our representative to the Eurovision song contest, Noa Kirel was feeling uneasy as she lost her voice just a week before leaving for Liverpool. "I simply woke up in the morning without a voice," Kirel recounted nonchalantly. "I felt cold and there was a strain on my body. But during that time, I did dance rehearsals," she told Ynet from Liverpool.
Oh well, rest is for the weak.
"It did come from exhaustion and weakness, and I also had a birthday party before with music and noise, and I spoke loudly. So it was a combination of everything. I didn't sleep much during those days. I just arrived back from Los Angeles and wanted to perform in Jerusalem."
Rihanna also tried to fly in straight for a show in Israel. It didn't work out.
"I met one of her managers, Jay Brown, not long ago, and he explained to me why they were late to Yarkon Park. He said they miscalculated the local time in Israel. They were on a helicopter to Greece and didn't know that Israel had a different time zone at all. It wasn't intentional."
How stressful is it to speak without a voice?
"Very stressful. It's always stressful because it's the essence of who I am, my voice. But it's not the first time it has happened and I'm less stressed now. I know what to do at that moment. It's clearly a sign that my body needs to stop, so I listened to it. I stayed silent for a few days, didn't sing, barely spoke, and my voice completely returned to normal. I decided that I needed to sleep a lot, at least seven to eight hours a night. I really made an effort to do that. I also take all kinds of natural herbs. Now, even when I rehearse singing, I don't give it my all. I calmed down a bit even before performances on Independence Day, in order to perform as well as possible. I'm not worried, my throat is strong. I've been developing my voice for years. The vocal cords heal quickly and withstand pressure."
Your number requires a combination of intense singing and movement. It is a high level of difficulty. Do you finish with any air?
"I continue to train with functional exercises on a very high pulse rate. I worked hard toward the Eurovision to improve my lung endurance, which is an important basis for success there. We built the number in a smart way so that I should have enough air. I dance throughout the song, and until the final part, I can say I focus a bit more on the vocal performance. During the 'money time,' I perform the dance without singing, so I can give it my all on stage."
Sounds exhausting.
"It's tough for me. There's a lot of movement to the left and right, forward and backward, while singing. But on the other hand, I gained confidence at the performance at Yarkon Park. I gave an hour-and-40-minute show there with a costume change. What I need now is to do the number again and again and again. Until it reaches perfection."
Don't you get tired of rehearsals sometimes?
"I need to bring my body to its prime ability, and I want everything to be perfect, so nothing is enough for me. The solo dance will be hard. It's literally on the floor. Splits, a lot of flexibility, sometimes I don't know how I get to those movements. As you can see, there are already quite a few blue marks on my legs and shoulders. It hurts at night."
On Tuesday, Noa Kirel will take the stage of the Eurovision semi-finals in Liverpool, with the song "Unicorn," perfoming ninth for the night. The semi-final will be broadcast on May 9, and the final on May 13, on the public broadcaster Kan 11. Expectations are high for Kirel, unanimously chosen to represent Israel in this international competition.
"I totally see it as a national mission, representing an entire country, in an official delegation, on a flight where we are all coming from Israel. I have been interviewed a lot by the international media and talk about Israel. It's all new to me. These are things I haven't done before. Being with diplomats, ambassadors, officials, interviews with BBC, El Al issuing a special flight. So how could I possibly not feel that it's a national mission?" she says.
You even managed to visit President Isaac Herzog before the trip.
"I met with the president and with Michal Herzog. He invited me for lunch at the President's residence ahead of Eurovision, and I was very moved by the way he spoke to me and the respect I felt he gave me."
Would you like to be president someday?
"Yes. That's an aspiration, a kind of dream. There has never been a female president in Israel. I toyed with the idea after visiting President Herzog, and he said everything is possible."
I'm all for it. How much would it hurt you to lose in this mission?
"It's all a matter of how you define victory and defeat."
Simple. First place is a victory, not reaching the final is a loss.
"So, I define victory not only as being in first place but also standing on this stage, representing my country with pride, giving the best performance that I can, exposing myself to more than 100 million people at the level that I expect of myself. It's the biggest thing I've ever done and I also want to show myself that I am capable. Of course, I am very ambitious and competitive and want to come in first place.
I can sense a 'but' coming.
"But in the situation of Eurovision, there are many things that are not dependent on me and there is nothing to do about it. If exposure is also a victory, then people have started to book performances for me in Europe, which was not the case before Eurovision. For example, in June, I am performing in Monaco at a private event."
Not making it to the finals would be really frustrating, and I hope that's not what will happen. How much will it hurt?
"It will hurt very, very much, of course. But it's a career, there are ups and downs. You grow from it."
There's a prediction from the experts that your position in the betting odds is dependent on the rehearsals on the stages in Liverpool.
"I've heard about it. I get it. Performance is my forte and it's my time to give it my best and hope it will be enough, but I'm not sure. I've been on this rollercoaster for ten months. I started with the approach that I must be in first place."
And let's recall that you hesitated whether to go or not.
"At first I thought maybe it's not right for me to go to Eurovision because I always have to be in first place, and the Eurovision is a very tough competition. But slowly I let go and understood and defined for myself what victory means to me. I understood the power of the Eurovision, the exposure – and I understood that it's much more than just being in first place."
I don't want to pressure you, but we haven't sent such a big star to the Eurovision in years.
"And there are more expectations, but it's a good thing because it means that everyone is relying on me and believes that I will do the best I can. I think it will open the door for more of our artists to want to go to the Eurovision. I can understand that it's scary, there's a lot to risk. There are artists who may be afraid because it's a situation where there's something to lose, but maybe after this Eurovision there will be those who want to go because they will see that it contributes a lot to their career. I hope so."
Kirel on her competition – 'Sweden is a Eurovision powerhouse. Israel has soul.'
To bring home the European trophy to Israel, Kirel will compete against a serious Eurovision competitor – Sweden's representative, Loreen, who is consistently ranked first and has a clear advantage in betting agencies with her song "Tattoo." Loreen has an additional advantage over Kirel: she has already competed on the Eurovision stage, and won the competition in Baku in 2012 with her song "Euphoria," one of the Eurovision favorites.
But Kirel is not intimidated by Loreen. "Even if she wins again, it's okay. Sweden is a Eurovision powerhouse, but when you come from such a Eurovision empire, sometimes there is something robotic in the songs you bring. Israel brings soul.
"Don't forget that she (Loreen) already has an audience and support. She won the Eurovision with one of the strongest songs ever, one of the songs that I love the most from the competition. I can understand why she is such a strong candidate and it's legitimate that she's ranked first. It's like Netta Barzilai coming back to the competition, for example. Who wouldn't bet on her first?"
Is it intimidating that there is a favorite for the win or is it actually calming?
"Not intimidating. She is who she is, and she brings herself, and I bring myself. I applaud Loreen, she's definitely an amazing singer, and Sweden is Sweden. Good luck to her. I went to a restaurant a few days ago, and a group of guys came in, they were very nice, and I took a picture with them, and they said good luck. Then one of them said to me, 'Noa, I love you, but Sweden will win.' It was funny."
"Politics could affect and harm our score. I have been giving interviews to foreign media for four weeks now, almost every day. They don't ask about politics at all. I have instructions from the Shin Bet not to speak if there are protests against me, and that is understood and what I will do. If there is provocation? Smile nicely and move on."
A week prior to the competition, do you look at the odds? At the experts' ratings?
"Certainly not. Sometimes people tell me what's going on, but once you start getting into it, it's a waste of time. I'm constantly rehearsing anyway. Once you realize that it's not something you can control, why waste energy? Long before we know the results, there's already a packed schedule of upcoming shows."
What will you do if you win Eurovision? You'll have to cancel some plans.
"That's a good question, I don't know. You could say that I am not building my future on winning, and we'll have to decide accordingly. Even if I win, we won't bail on those who have already booked us for a performance."
Kirel is traveling to Eurovision with the Kan 11 delegation during a difficult period for Israel, as the foreign media reports extensively on the protests against the government's judicial reform. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not yet been officially invited to the White House since winning the election and forming as government, Israeli representatives abroad are generally not popular, and protests accompany them to destinations such as Berlin, New York and London. It's not that Israel enjoys a great reputation anyway, but this time it seems that the international sense of animosity is higher than usual.
"I don't know how much it really matters, but I suppose it does. Politics also have an impact on Eurovision. People need to understand that this is the reality and that, regardless of my performance, politics may affect us and could harm our scoring. It's a concern that I have in my mind."
There are people in the world who currently see Israel as a country on its way to becoming a dictatorship. And you are its representative.
"Politics could affect and harm our score, but what's amazing about Eurovision is that I'm an artist, not a politician, and I come to represent Israel with my music."
What is your answer to questions about the situation in the country regarding judicial reform?
"I have been giving interviews to foreign media for four weeks now, almost every day. They don't ask about politics at all. Once they asked about a topic that could be regarded as political, and it was about Ukraine. It is possible that during the Eurovision, journalists will ask me about what is happening in the country, and I prepared myself for this. I have help, I consult with strategic experts."
What is the game plan?
"The idea is not to get into that. I am not a beauty queen making declarations about world peace. I represent the country with pride and I say that I am not a politician."
And if they try to provoke you? BDS activists usually come to protest against the Israeli delegation.
"It will definitely happen, if we rely on evidence from the past few years. I have instructions from the Shin Bet not to speak if there are protests against me, and that is understood and what I will do. If there is provocation? Smile nicely and move on."
So let's try it live – What do you think about the judicial reforms, which a large part of the public sees as a regime coup?
"I am very hopeful for a good period, I see what is happening on social media and on the streets. I will not get into politics. At least we can say that the song 'Unicorn' and the trip to Eurovision have provided some relief, and there is something in both the song and in Eurovision that unites the people during such a time. So I am very happy to play a part in this."
Balancing business and pleasure
Kirel talks about fun, but it's hard not to question at what cost, emotional and physical, she is living this crazy lifestyle. Aside from losing her voice, she experienced weakness that led to hospitalization at a past performance in Israel.
I've had the privilege of accompanying her almost from the beginning of her career, somewhere in 2015. She's reached outstanding heights, and each time we think Kirel can't go up from here, she proves us wrong and wows us yet again. Her work ethos, at the age of 22, encompasses several pillars: always be the first, the strongest, the best, the most beautiful, the most innovative. On one hand, this is the fuel that drives her to extraordinary achievements. On the other hand, the pressure of the pursuit may interfere with the pleasures and joy of life along the way.
"It can happen," she nodded. "I'm really learning to create this balance and always think about enjoying myself. It's true for Liverpool now too. I work very hard on myself so that I can enjoy the journey."
What do you do to make sure you enjoy yourself?
"Up until a year ago, I knew less about how to enjoy myself, I was just in a work mindset. But working on myself gave me a different perspective on things. Today, when I take on a new project, I think about where the fun will be. I come to enjoy work. And if I don't find that it can be fun, maybe I won't take on such a project."
Does that also mean that you devote more time to vacations at the expense of work?
"That's not entirely true, but there is something in me that sometimes wants to take vacations more than there was a year or two ago. I used to hardly take weekends abroad, for example. Today, it happens. I was in Greece with friends a month ago, and that's something I've never done before. I've never been abroad with friends, only with partners or family."
"I didn't know Eurovision was coming my way. It's clear that I still intend to have an international career, which also means Europe. It will grant me a wider audience who will stay with me. Things also stalled in the U.S. because I replaced all my American management. Listen, it takes a lot of patience to succeed in the American market, you have to do things there quietly and differently."
In your song "Panther" you sing – "They say I'm weird, I say they're normal." Who told you that you're weird?
"And who said this is forbidden? No one. I said I am."
In what ways are you weird? You're more of a super-successful class queen, and also beloved and good-hearted. Where does the feeling of being an outsider come from?
"At the beginning of my career, I was seen as a weirdo by many people, unequivocally. The majority around me were against me, and didn't really accept me. After all, I had to work hard to prove myself. They said I was a passing gimmick, that I couldn't sing, that I wouldn't hold on for long. There was talk about my weight and comments and more comments. But alongside that came achievements, which came from hard work, and then they began to accept me. But even at this point, I always have to prove myself. So yes, I felt weird in the field of music. I'm also not a normative 22-year-old girl. I did things differently than people my age do. So that's also that weirdness."
Kirel's international career may receive a significant boost with a good performance in Liverpool, even if she doesn't win the competition. Atlantic Records, the American label that signed Kirel, supports her participation in Eurovision for this exact reason. Additionally, Coca-Cola invited her to produce cans with her signature, a move usually reserved for big names like Madonna or Taylor Swift, demonstrating her potential.
"I was in Los Angeles now, recording three songs. I worked with Johnny Goldstein on one of them. Atlantic was very interested in Eurovision from the start, because they know it opens doors. Not that they had to convince me to go, but they did support it very much. It had weight in my decision, because it is very important to know that they are behind the move."
It's not the turning point you expected for your international career.
"I didn't know Eurovision was coming my way. It's clear that I still intend to have an international career, which also means Europe, but I didn't think it would even come up, and it's amazing that it did. It will grant me a wider audience who will stay with me. Things also stalled in the United States because I replaced all my American management, also the type of things that happen in a career. Listen, it takes a lot of patience to succeed in the American market, you have to do things there quietly and differently."
In what sense?
"I am half Austrian and half Moroccan, and I think these colors should be present in my music. In other words, I want to move away from general pop and toward music that expresses me and my uniqueness. It's not an easy process to find this sound, but it's also very interesting. All of the sudden, I find myself sitting with a producer in the U.S. who made songs for Selena Gomez and I say to him, 'you have to put the darbuka (goblet drum) here.' And that producer asks, 'what?' he was in shock. I explain that I'm half Moroccan and I want to use that in my music, and he brings in the darbuka. That, for example, is something I haven't done in my music before."
Do you regret that?
"No. When you sign with a very big record company, you give them a moment to bring themselves and do what they know, and it's a process. Okay, now I feel like bringing more of my culture, and the process is amazing. It's about exploring and discovering and integrating. I recorded many demos with vibes that haven't been heard to this day."
You're going back to Festigal (the annual Israeli song and dance musical show for children) this year. Isn't this a step backward to the national scene?
"Why a step back? It's the biggest show in Israel today. No doubt."
For other artists, sure. Isn't it easy for you after four times?
"I don't look at it like that. It's an experience that I really love. I enjoy being there, and it's about maintaining a connection with the young and Israeli audience alongside the attempt to develop an international career. The Festigal is my home."
They made a big deal out of the fact that Anna Zak will also perform there.
"Yeah, but what's the big deal?"
You tell me.
"It's a show where the biggest stars in the country perform. So it's amazing that everyone is on one stage and that I'm part of it."
You're supposed to perform at the 30th-anniversary celebration of Galgalatz (a broadcast radio station in Tel Aviv). Mergui (Israeli singer and Noa's ex) will also be there.
"So what? I didn't even know about it. Who has time to deal with this? It's not relevant. Everything is good. I'll perform, and everything will be fine. We're not in touch, but it's clear we'll say a nice hello."
How's your boyfriend Tomer Hacohen?
"Today he saw the number and cried, went to the side to wipe his tears. He was very emotional, it was really cute."
Is there talk of moving in together?
"Less relevant at the moment, because I'm busy with Eurovision, but yes. There are thoughts about it."
What do your parents say?
"They're supportive and say they'll come live in the same building."
Seriously?
"For me, yes. Will they agree to it in the end? I don't know."
How do you find time to have fun when you're taking a psychology course at Reichman University?
"Behold. There have already been ten lessons, including on Zoom, since I started last month. I'm really persistent, but now during the Eurovision, I'm a bit less present. In the end, it's two hours a week and when you want something, anything is possible. A bit of normalization. I still don't know about a bachelor's degree, but for now it's about enriching my knowledge. A degree will require much more."
Right before the competition, what encourages you?
"There's something cute lately. More and more, the numbers 1 and 2 or combinations of them appear around me. For example, if I stop a conversation, then the display of the phone will be on 1 minute and 11 seconds or 2 minutes and 2 seconds or similar things that happen in FaceTime with timing. Listen, it's crazy. I told Doron Medalie (Israeli songwriter) about it and he explained to me that it's called angel numbers and it turns out that he also sees it, as do people on my team. Yesterday, a bowl broke when the time was 11:22."
Does all of this mean we'll win?
"It means I'm in the right place, at the right time, and it indicates that it's right that I'm doing Eurovision."