On a recent evening at Tel Aviv’s Barby Club, Israeli pop artist Nunu marked five years in the music industry with a sold-out show that doubled as a birthday celebration. The performance featured surprise guests including comedian Guri Alfi and musicians Static and Guy Mazig, drawing an enthusiastic crowd that echoed Nunu’s rise from underground club act to mainstream success.
Nunu, the stage name for 27-year-old Noemi Aharoni-Gal, first gained widespread attention in 2022 with a high-profile opportunity to open for international band Maroon 5 at Yarkon Park. Reflecting on the experience, she described it as a career-defining moment that thrust her avant-garde style onto a massive stadium stage, a stark contrast to her previous club performances. Despite the tension and the tight security protocols surrounding headliner Adam Levine, Nunu recalled the thrill of the show as a euphoric breakthrough in her early career.
However, the trajectory of her ascent has not been without significant challenges. The outbreak of conflict in Israel on October 7, 2023, brought music production and promotion to an abrupt halt. For Nunu, the human and professional impact was profound, including the difficult decision to shelve a completed album titled Haganuz (“The Shelved”). Having invested a year of work and substantial resources into the project, she chose to delay its release until the national situation stabilized, prioritizing the integrity and reception of her art. The album was eventually released earlier this month to positive critical response.
Unlike some artists who distance themselves from their early-persona or stage identity over time, Nunu embraces her moniker as an authentic extension of herself. She rejects the notion that the name is a corporate mask, emphasizing that her work directly reflects her personal experiences. “To me, Nunu is my name,” she said, underscoring her commitment to artistic sincerity.
In the wake of renewed industry activity, Nunu’s team is accelerating efforts to regain momentum. Due to overwhelming demand, a second anniversary show has been scheduled for early December, and plans are underway for a broader Israeli tour extending beyond the Barby Club. Upcoming appearances include performances at prominent regional festivals such as InDnegev, the Smilansky Festival, and the Eilat Piano Festival. Creatively, Nunu is entering a reflective phase aimed at crafting new material for her next commercial release.
As she approaches her 28th birthday, Nunu expressed determination to outlast the notorious “27 Club” superstition often cited in the music industry, focusing instead on long-term growth. Looking ahead to her 10-year career milestone, she joked about her hope that Maroon 5’s Adam Levine might once again appear—this time with a birthday cake in hand.