Biography
Who is Yasmin Levy?
Background and family
Yasmin Levy was born in Jerusalem on December 23, 1975. Her father, Yitzhak Isaac Levy, was a cantor and composer who researched the history of Ladino culture and Spanish Jewry. He edited the magazine Aki Yerushalayim during his career. He passed away when Yasmin was one year old. Despite his early death, she identifies him as a primary musical influence. Her mother is Kohava Levy. Her parents emigrated to the region from Turkey. Yasmin Levy is a mother to two children, Michael Amir and Manuela Amir.
Musical style and fusion
The music produced by Yasmin Levy centers on Judeo-Spanish songs performed in the Ladino language. She creates a distinct, emotive sound by mixing these medieval roots with modern Andalusian flamenco. Her arrangements frequently incorporate instruments such as the oud, darbuka, violin, cello, and piano. This approach acts as a musical reconciliation of history, bridging the Arab world with Moorish and Jewish-Spanish traditions. She has described this artistic process as a musical path spanning five centuries.
Career and albums
Her debut album, Romance and Yasmin, arrived in 2000. She followed this with La Juderia in 2005. This second release featured covers of songs like Gracias a la vida by Violeta Parra and Naci en Alamo. Throughout her career, she has released many full albums including Sentir in 2009, Libertad in 2012, Tango in 2014, and Mujer in 2024. Yasmin has performed globally in countries such as Turkey, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Poland, Switzerland, and the United States. She has collaborated with artists like Natacha Atlas, Ibrahim Tatlises, and Concha Buika.
Advocacy and recognition
In 2008, Yasmin Levy accepted the role of Goodwill Ambassador for Children of Peace, a United Kingdom charity supporting children affected by the Israeli-Palestinian war. Her professional work has received several accolades over the years. In 2006, she earned the Anna Lindh Euro-Mediterranean Foundation Award for encouraging dialogue between musicians from three different cultures. Her song Me Voy won the 2008 USA Songwriting Competition in the world music category. That same year, she received nominations for the BBC World Music Award and the Edison Award in Holland. In 2009, The Sunday Times included her album Sentir in its list of top 100 albums. More recently, she received the Pomegranate Award for Music from the American Sephardi Federation in 2023.
Birthday and age
Yasmin Levy was born on December 23, 1975, which makes Yasmin 50 years old today. That birthday falls under the Capricorn sign. Yasmin shares the date with 23 other famous people.
Explore more
