Transvocalizers — Aderet

By Pamela DeGroff

Every so often we bring you a Transvocalizer — a TG performer who sings in their own voice and often writes the music, too. Our music reporter Pamela DeGroff has already covered Jackie Beat and Lady Bunny. This week she brings us a profile on and interview the Israeli pop/dance sensation, TS singer Aderet. (Pronounced Ah Dare it.)

“Israeli pop singer Aderet has seen a spike in her popularity with an unlikely audience. Her newest single ‘Say No More’, produced by DJ Dvir Halevi, has been a favorite…with Lebanese listeners around the world. Aderet, who is a transsexual, seems to have tapped into the power of music. Indeed, it appears that Arab audiences care more about her hit song than they do about her religion, nationality, or sexual identity.” (from an article by Nate Sugarman on forward.com)

While it’s not totally unusual for one writer to reference another writer’s work, using an entire paragraph for an introduction might seem like the result of a lazy streak on my part. Truth is, this paragraph gives about the best encapsulated introduction to Aderet I could think of.

There obviously must be something in the water in Israel. They have the world’s best air force, and now they can boast about having two of the best internationally known transsexual singers in the world. While Dana International has been around since 1993, Aderet has been professional going on 10 years. Her first real concert was in Jerusalem in 2000, which was followed by the release of her first album, The Evil Eye, in 2001. This album, along with 2005’s Tenth Floor, were sung in Hebrew. (She’s also fluent in English and French.)

Aderet doesn’t wish to focus so much on her personal life, but it’s significant to say that a trans person in Israel faces a much different road than here in the U.S.

“When I was on 18 years old, I served in the army for 2 years,” she said. “It was a fascinating time. I’m so lucky that my service was only 2 years and not 3 years as men. For me it was a sign from God that I’m going to be what I want the most-being a woman. Before I got my sex change, it was very important to me, doing all my obligations to my beautiful country, Israel. One of them is to be a soldier.

“I’m not a spokesman of the transgender community in Israel, but I can tell you that I had no experience of any prejudice, and I know that it can surprise you. I have lived in Israel like a regular woman, and nowadays the Israeli communications media are barely mentioning my past. They represent me as a regular singer that sings in English. Israel is a free country with wonderful liberal people, and it changes in that case to a positive way all the time.”

What’s probably even more wonderful and positive is the fan base Aderet is developing among Arab people. While she says she has no immediate friends who are Arab, she has Arab fans. “A fan is a fan,” she said. “It doesn’t matter where he comes from or which state he belongs to. I like people, and my personal interaction is the same level with all my fans. It’s so exciting to see allthe publicity that I’ve gotten in Arab countries lately, and Arab DJs who play my music in their clubs. I’ve discovered that Arab audiences are very updated about pop music and it’s great to see it. I was surprised when ‘Say No More’, with the remix by DJ Dvir Halevi, took first place in the Lebanese charts.”

Say No More is the first single from Aderet’s upcoming album, Jewish Girl, sung in English, to be released soon. There will be yet another single released from the album later this month (September), but what song it will be has yet to be shared with the press.

Aderet did learn how to play keyboards at a young age, and admits to five years of voice lessons, bu she says that her music is usually created without playing anything-it comes from her mind. All the music, the lyrics, and the production are Aderet’s. She uses DJs to give her music the final mix that makes it appealing to the club audiences, such as the pulsating trance of Say No More. Besides DJ Dvir Halevi, she also works with DJs Oren Eitan and Victor Libersky.

All of these various producers, and what they bring to the mix, will be hard on the upcoming Jewish Girl. “It’s going to be a collection of all styles of club music,” she said. “It’s going to be interesting.”

Jewish Girl will probably be the album that takes Aderet to the international level. While she has performed some in Europe, those gigs have been mostly clubs and some private functions. She’s even planted seeds for her career here in the U.S. with a mention on Good Morning America:

“An Israeli singer is breaking boundaries. Her hit song is not only topping the charts of Israel, but also in nearby Lebanon. But there’s a real twist to this unlikely new ambassador for peace.”

“Lately, my last songs in English brought me fans from the club scene in Israel,” Aderet said. “In the last few months, from abroad and even from the Middle East. I can tell you that officially I do the first steps of my music career to the international market and I’m going to do my best to succeed more.”

Aderet is keenly aware of her position, especially with the fact that she has a large Lebanese following. But, she emphasizes that the music comes first. “I’m interested in politics, but I won’t involve my music and politics together,” she said. “For me, music is something clean and pure, so I prefer to keep my music without the stains of politics.”

Hopefully very soon, American audiences will get to experience Aderet up close and personal. Until then, there are her Hebrew language albums and the upcoming Jewish Girl release to tease all those in search of good club music.

In closing, Aderet wishes to admonish the transgender community and her fellow entertainers to: “Stay united. Be yourself, believe in your art…and never be afraid.”

The name Aderet has a couple different meanings. Originally, it comes from Ezekiel 17:8, meaning “glorious”, and a symbol of reborn Israel. It’s also the name of a village in the Judaen foothills, known for its vineyards. “Aderet” is sometimes used as a reference to the viticulture of the area.

Aderet herself said this about her name: “All that you mentioned about my name is correct, but the certain meaning is that ‘Aderet’ is a coat for kings in the Bible. When the kings came to their public, they put on the ‘aderet’, and then they spoke.

“I’m going to use only the single name. I can tell you that in England we will use maybe my other name, ‘Hadar’, because we found that it’s difficult to pronounce ‘Aderet’ there. We will see what it will be and let you know.”)

 Aderet’s Hebrew language albums are available at www.Israel-music.com/aderet, or directly from her management company at:Hit Records and Promo
P.O. Box 449
Giv’at Haiyim 53103
Israel (email hit_rec@netvision.net.i)
Singles are $10, includes delivery
Albums $20, includes delivery.
Also, check out www.myspace.com/djaderet
So far, there is no U.S. label involved with distribution.

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Category: Transgender Fun & Entertainment