Swide Magazine by Dolce&Gabbana

At the beginning of July I introduced you to a song that has quickly become one of Summer 2011's anthems. It involves two dashing gentlemen, who go by the name of The Young Professionals, and also included a rather memorable dancer complete with stubble and incredible eye makeup. I was lucky enough to interview the two gentlemen about this project...

  

Could you introduce yourselves and tell us about your backgrounds?

Ivri Lider - I'm a singer/songwriter from Tel aviv, released 6 albums [ all went gold or platinum in Israel ] wrote music for 3 films [ Yossi and Jager, walk on water and the bubble ] Dance works for Ohad Naharin and the NDT and produced albums for other major Israeli singers.

Johnny Goldstein - Up and coming producer in the Israeli scene, worked with big Israeli acts like "hadag nahash" "Avishay cohen" and "dana adini".

 

How were The Young Professionals born?

Ivri : Johnny called me 3 years ago to ask if I wanna take part in a project he was doing with different singers, It didn't work out for this album but we stayed in touch and a year after we started sending some music back and forth between us and writing some songs together . When we felt we are getting serious with the project we both felt we wanted do something a bit different then the usual "band" and because we both felt that music today is not only something you hear but can also be something you see or experience in different ways we decided we'll form a "band" with other artists that are not musicians; a net guy, a designer etc.

 

What different elements do you bring to the collaboration?

We think each member in TYP is influencing the process we do things, we feel the design is influenced by the music and vice versa.

 

Why the name... TYP?

The first song we wrote was called "the young professionals" and when we had more and more songs we realized that they are all kinda connected to the our life as working people living in a big city in the western world, our thoughts about it, loving it and hating it at the same time....

 

The project kicked off with an amazing use of Ottawan D.I.S.C.O and the visuals and choreography had a certain fashion flair represented through the outfits used but also the cold way in which yourselves and the 'band' were presented. What do you want to represent visually?

I think what we do is a lot about Fashion, from sounds and colors in the music to the way our site and video is designed . we like opposites, colorful costumes next to our black and white office wear, hot and sexy Uriel yekutiel next to out "cold" images.  we feel all those opposites is something in our everyday life. Next week we're playing in a fashion show in Tel Aviv for the big Israeli brand Castro.

 

What was it like working with Uriel Yekutiel the male dancer, who shows off some mighty amazing dance moves in the video?

 It was a lot of fun working with him, he's such a cute and talented guy, we and Guy Sagi [ the director ] felt that his image is super strong and works really well with this song and what we were trying to do in the video.

 

Will we see you dancing in the future? 

hehehe, it'll have to involve some alcohol first...

 

I have read that you create something new always based on something old. Does this have any limits?

We feel that today everything is based on something... we have huge respect for stuff people did in the past and we are proud when we can be a part in that big chain of creativity. Like using the great Ottawan sample to make something new.

 

What message do you want to communicate throughout Israel? and do you have a particular audience in mind?

We wanna be able to look at ourselves with some humor next to the professionalism we try to bring into what we do,  anyone who's interested in what we do is welcome to the party.

 

Does the sound that you have created fit within in Israel is it considered 'new'?

This sound is def new in Israel, on our sec single [ a song called 20 seconds ] we try to the take that sound and some of the regional sounds and mix them together.

 

What, apart from music, excites you creatively?

Fashion, print, net design , food, naked people.  

 

What can we expect from you in the future? 

The unexpected. 

 

When you think of Dolce&Gabbana, what music do you imagine?

We are big fans, love the clothes and everything around it.   we imagine passionate music, a bit glamorous but edgy. Maybe we can play in a D&G show... (said with a cheeky smile)  

 

There you have it. An introduction to two cool guys who are shaking up the Israeli music scene, and if they keep producing disco stompers like D.I.S.C.O., I think are going to do good things.

For more information about The Young Professionals, click here, or visit their Facebook. 

For music on Swide:

Interviewed by Ben Taylor

TAGS: dolce&gabbana dolce & gabbana d&g fashion magazine d & g stefano gabbana domenico dolce online luxury magazine the young professionals typ d.i.s.c.o ivri linder johnny goldstein israel music band uriel yekutiel