Interview with Anat Porat

What got you into music, and if you had not gotten into music what would you be doing today?

• Ever since I can remember I wanted to sing. Growing up I was too shy to sing in front of others.

  I went to study music in my 20s, and after graduation I was invited to be a backup singer for one of my Idols, Riki Gal who is a very talented and famous singer in Israel.

  She also helped me get an audition for the musical “les miserables”- which she started a few years earlier.

  After I became a mother, my life shifted, and alongside raising my family,  I was working as a group facilitator for parents and young babies.

What do you like to do when you are not playing music and how does that influence your creativity?

• There is so much I do every day - I don’t know where to start… Most of what I experience goes into my songs one way or another. relationships, life’s crises, dreams, and hopes.

  I also enjoy listening to music, going to live music and theater shows, which also inspires me.

How long have you been making music?

• I’ve been making music for many years - started in my twenties, and I came back to it full-time about 7 years ago.

Where are you based out of and how did that influence your music? I am based in Israel.

• I’m not sure how it influenced my music exactly, I guess it influences the way I am going forward with it - keep doing it, not giving up, no matter what happens - because we never know what tomorrow will bring.

  I stay hopeful and use music as my cure.

Tell me about your most memorable shows, if you haven’t played live what is your vision for a live show?

• One memorable show was during the pandemic. there was a gap between one lockdown to another.

  I hosted a show in my back yard as part of a municipal festival of musicians hosting shows in their own homes.

  It was my first live show in a long time, and all the audience had to wear masks - which was weird, but also felt unique to connect like that.

What is your favorite venue to play at, and do you have any places you want to play that you have not already?

• In recent years I had quite a few home concerts.

  There is something very special in that type of show, when there is not distance between me and the audience - it feels close and intimate and I love that.

  Saying that I also really love performing at proper venues - music clubs and such.

  I have yet to perform in England, but definitely looking forward to finding out at which venues I could perform.

What is some advice that you would give to someone who is just getting into making music and some advice that you would give to your younger self?

• My advice would be to be patient and remember it’s a long journey. Also, making music is more than just the music part -

  It took me a long time to realize how much more there is to do and that it’s a business that requires a lot of learning.

  To my younger self, I would say - believe in yourself, no matter how long it takes, and don’t give up.

Of your songs which one means the most to you and why?

• It’s really hard to choose one song that means the most, however, “Day After Day”, the first song I released from my upcoming album “Back To New” is a song that gives me a lot of comforts.

I wrote it a few years ago as a birthday gift to my partner and the man I love.

• I feel that the song is a reminder to myself and to others that life is a journey and not a race and that we should stop from time to time to acknowledge that and enjoy the little things.

Which songs are your favorite to play and which get requested the most? One of my favorites to play is “Forest”.

• I love its atmosphere and the way it takes me in.

  I also love singing it with Shira my daughter who is part of my band.

What is your creative process, and what inspires you to write your music?

• Usually, when I write a song, I sit with my guitar, playing it and searching for the music that will follow, and the words to express what I am feeling. on many occasions, I do that when I need to process some feelings.

  I also get really inspired by composing other people's lyrics and collaborating.

Do you have messages that you like to get across in your music, if so please tell me about them?

• I believe in not giving up and focusing on what is possible.

What are your plans for the future, and do you have anything that you want to spotlight that is coming up?

• I’m planning on releasing more songs in the next few weeks, until the release of the album at the end of July.

  I’m hoping to start touring with the album soon after.

How can your fans best keep up to date with you, any socials you want people to check out?

• I’m inviting everyone to follow me on streaming platforms & social media Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | Spotify

  I also have a website where you can join my mailing list for updates. Anatporat.com