Singer Noy Fedlon on financial collapse: "I took a loan of 300,000 shekels to buy back my freedom"
Noy Fedlon, the creator behind Israel's biggest hits, opens up about a dark period in her life, the financial collapse during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the dramatic decision she made to reclaim her career and rights.
Singer and composer Noy Fedlon, the talent behind hits like "Sweater", "You Have No End" and "What's With You?", has recently launched her new album, NOY 2.0. In recent years, she was forced to step away from the spotlight following an unplanned pregnancy and a decision to prioritize a stable job over the dream of conquering major stages.
In an interview with journalist Bar Zaga for the "Pnai Plus" website, Noy Fedlon reflected on the dark period that began with the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, which paralyzed the cultural world. Instead of performing across the country, Fedlon faced severe financial struggles and had to adapt to a complex reality, working as a sales agent for milk substitutes and matcha for coffee carts to support her family.
Alongside the challenges of motherhood, Fedlon spoke about her creative journey: "Musically, I wrote and arranged all the new feelings, this growing up in a moment, this new status. I barely made music or sang. I shared content related to motherhood on Instagram and gained a loyal audience of mothers. It was a period of war and hostages; everything felt terribly sad and gloomy. There was no atmosphere for anything."
Addressing her relationships within the industry, Fedlon mentioned a brief crisis with singer Eden Hason, noting that they are now good friends. "I don't ask him for duets or guest appearances. He has an office and business decisions to consider, and I know that when the time is right, he will offer it himself. I don't want to put him in a corner."
Fedlon later recalled the financial struggle that defined her life during the pandemic:
"The whole system stopped. I had no one to turn to. I had to take a loan of about 300,000 NIS and eventually pay almost the entire amount to get my rights back so I could continue to perform. I literally bought myself back. I also had to deal with payments to suppliers who were waiting for their money."
She added: "I expected to have a professional team that would know how to handle a crisis like the coronavirus. In practice, I felt left to deal with things alone. The situation became very unpleasant, and I suffered from terrible anxiety. Throughout the pandemic, I was just trying to survive. Looking back, I realized that the agreement I signed gave the other side broad control over my career, and I only received my share after expenses were covered. I can't blame anyone, because I signed the contract. It was a long, tedious, and unpleasant story. But in the end, I managed to get out of it, and I am happy about that. This was tuition at the highest level."
