If chill were a song and the Mediterranean a single sound: Summer 2 by Nadav Peled blending his deep roots in jazz with the expressive articulations of Ethiopian and Malian music that shape his signature guitar style. Read our discussion with the talented artist below!
Describe your sound in 3 words
Melodic/ soulful / vibey
Was there a specific moment or memory that sparked the concept for Summer 2? What is the story behind it?
There isn’t a specific moment I can think of that led to the tune’s creation. I had an idea of what I wanted my music to sound like and the moment I set out to write I immediately felt a spark of inspiration. During my writing process I sat down most days with the intent to create something, anything. Once I got into a flow, I found it hard to stop working until the song came to life.
With Summer 2 the main melody came to me the moment I sat down to play. I quickly recorded a demo and then I noticed there was a mistake with the drum programming which led to a beat drop moment that we ended up adding to the final arrangement. Out of all that, coupled with just genuinely missing the feeling of writing and the hunger to create something of my own, Summer 2 was born.
Artists and people that have influenced you?
I came up playing and studying jazz and I’ve had a strong affinity for jazz music most of my life. Some of the artists that have heavily influenced me include jazz legends, Charlie Parker, John Coltrane, Bud Powell and Wes Montgomery. I’m also a massive fan of James Brown, Charles Bradley, and The Budos Band. The following artists really resonate with me musically and have shaped that way I play and make music; Ali Farka Toure, Mahmoud Ahmed, Mulatu Astatke, and Fela Kuti. I connect with the music of these artists most, however, my music taste varies greatly, whether it’s an obscure song from Nigeria in the 70’s or an Ariana Grande song, I can appreciate and find inspiration from a wide range of music.
You’ve shared the stage and studio with a great range of artists, from hip-hop royalty like Fatlip to Ethiopian jazz legend Hailu Mergia. How do these diverse collaborations feed back into your own music?
I have a general appreciation for good music regardless of the genre, like Duke Ellington said, “There are simply two kinds of music, good music and the other kind”. I think every musical collaboration has added to my artistry and has widened the range of my musical abilities.
Specifically- getting into music from Ethiopia and Mali really expanded the range of articulation in my playing and people seem to really react to that.
If the music of Nadav Peled was a film, which film would that be?
Interesting question! The first thing that comes to mind is something in Jim Jamusch’s movie collection. I discovered one of my biggest musical influences, Mulatu Astatke, from his film Broken Flowers. I’m a fan of his movies and I think he has incredible taste in music.
You maintain a presence across both the New York and Los Angeles music scenes. Pros and Cons for each place?
I have a soft spot in my heart for NY and feel really at home there. I think the creative energy and the fire/hustle culture is unmatched. It’s a tough place to live as an artist, however, I do miss the competitive nature and the strong sense of community. It’s also where I started my first project Anbessa Orchestra, which was a pivotal moment in career.
Since moving to LA I’ve learned to love it, it takes time to find your people out here since it’s so spread out. However, I’m fortunate to have found many amazing people who are not only collaborators but also friends and the abundance of vegan food out here is also a plus.
In which place or state of mind do you imagine people might listen to your music?
Any state of mind really, this upcoming EP is a vibey collection of songs, I’d add it to a road trip playlist I think it sets the mood for the road. It also works well in a social setting while having a little drink or something. Probably not great hype music for the gym but if you’re one of those Zen workout types it could work haha.
Summer 2 is a hazy summery car trip to ..?
The broader answer would be, into your own consciousness. The tune has a lot of room in it to vibe with and to look into yourself. The more straightforward answer is that it’s a good travel song in general. I listened to the mixes while touring Europe in February and most of the time it was in a van/ plane/ ferry, and it seems to really suit the open road.
What is the story behind your name?
My name (Nadav) is a form of the word generosity in Hebrew, it may sound cliche, but I try to live up to the name in my life.
What does success mean for you going forward?
I would love to reach more people with my new music, continue making more solo records and hopefully tour this music in the near future. Other than that, I do really enjoy recording for other artists and playing live with different bands. I’d say success for me right now means a balance between consistent touring and live performances, free time to create and write my own music, and recording for other artists.
Thank you!
Follow Nadav Peled
Instagram/Facebook
Follow our playlist Nomadic Echoes feat. Nadav Peled in all platforms
