Shefita שֵׁפִיטָה | |
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 Shefita, September 2020 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Rotem Shefy |
| Also known as | Shefita |
| Born | (1984-09-22)22 September 1984 (age 40) Karmiel, Israel |
| Occupation |
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| Years active | 2011–present |
| Website | shefita |
Rotem Shefy (Hebrew:רותם שפי; born 22 September 1984), also known by her stage nameShefita (Hebrew:שֵׁפִיטָה), is anIsraeli singer and voice actress. As Shefita, Shefy portrays anArabdiva, who has risen to fame by producing cover versions to famousrock songs likeRadiohead's "Karma Police" andNirvana's "Lithium".[1] Her cover renditions have anArabic musical influence.
Shefita was a contestant on Israel'sRising Star television show, in its 6th season, and competed torepresent Israel in theEurovision Song Contest 2019. She came in at 3rd place in show's season final which aired on February 12, 2019.[2]
Rotem Shefy was born inKarmiel,Israel, to aJewish family,[3] her father is ofAshkenazi Jewish descent and her mother is ofMizrahi Jewish (Yemenite-Jewish) descent.[4] In highschool, she majored in theatre and film. In 2002, she joined theIsraeli Defense Forces and served as lead singer in an Israel Air Force Ensemble until 2004.[5][3] After her army service, Shefy studied at Rimon Music School[3] and majored in voice and composition.
Shefy studied voice-acting at NLS studios and provided her voice to shows such asKid and Cat andPokémon and to films such asCloudy with a Chance of Meatballs,The Princess and the Frog andArthur and the Invisibles.
In 2011, Shefy began to perform with a band and her original material.
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Her stage persona, Shefita, incorporates many characteristics of adiva; She wears heavy makeup, wears stylish evening gowns and jewelry and walks with a stylish cane. She was supposedly born inDubai and claims from time to time thatKurt Cobain was her lover who made her vow to sing a cover version to one of his songs beforedying in her arms.[6]
In April 2013, she released a cover version ofRadiohead's "Karma Police".[7]
In July 2015, she released a cover version ofNirvana's "Lithium".[6] In August of the same year, she released a cover version ofNaomi Shemer's "Aleph Bet".[8]
In November 2016, she was selected byTel Aviv municipality to perform the theme song and official video clip to the annualpride events inTel Aviv. She would go on to perform a cover ofAerosmith's "Pink".[9] That same month, she covered "You Oughta Know" byAlanis Morissette, who responded on herTwitter account saying it was "beautiful".[10]
In January 2017, she appeared in an Israeli commercial forhummus.[11]
In late 2018, she began her participation on the sixth season ofRising Star and secured her place in the show's final which aired on February 12, 2019. She finished in 3rd place,[12] with her performances bringing a lot of comments onsocial media, with some accusing her ofcultural appropriation.[13]
In January 2019, Shefita got an impersonation on the popular Israeli showEretz Nehederet.[14] After her participation inRising Star, she has collaborated with more mainstream Israeli artists, especiallyMizrahi musicians. In February 2019, she took part in the production of the debut albumHe-Storia by Israeli band HaHertzelim.
In October 2020, she participated in theTzav HaSha'a project, and performed a cover version of the song "Ma Chashuv haYom" ("What's Important Today") together withMoti Taka.[15] In March 2021, she released a duet with Maor Edri named "Chalik" ("Enough").[16]
In July 2021, she released "Enta" ("You", inArabic), a bilingual cover in Arabic and English of the original song byBalqees Ahmed Fathi.[17][18]
Shefita is in a long-term relationship with the musician Dekel Dvir,[19] the drummer of the bandLola Marsh, who also collaborated with her in the musical production of her songs. The couple lives in Tel Aviv. Her parents are divorced, and she has a younger brother named Omer.[20] In June 2021, Shefita announced she is expecting her first child.[18]
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