Shira Zaluf on Her New Album, Overcoming Doubt and Joining Festigal
Breakout star Shira Zaluf releases her second album "One Foot in the Air" and prepares for the Festigal stage. In a candid interview, she discusses industry pressures, creative storytelling, and overcoming self-doubt.
Shira Zaluf, a breakout star of the hit musical reality show "The Next Star", is releasing her second album titled "One Foot in the Air". The release follows a series of milestone performances, including a torch-lighting ceremony, sold-out shows at the Barby club and the Shuni Amphitheater, and ahead of her upcoming debut on the massive Festigal stage.
The 13-track album reflects the journey of an uncompromising artist who openly shares her ambitions and anxieties in unflinching lyrics. "I want to shine, but not at any cost. Over my dead body will I settle or compromise. I am here to stay, fighting until I run out of breath," she sings.
In an interview with local media, Zaluf opens up about the expectations and disappointments inherent in the music industry. "After 'The Next Star', when we decided to make the album, I had already released several singles. In the modern pop world, the traditional way is to release singles, group them together with a couple of new tracks, and call it an album. But I felt it didn't have to be that way," she explains.
"During 'The Next Star', I realized much of my audience connected with me because I tell a story. Over the past two years, I wrote 80 songs and presented them to artistic director Gadi Gidor. We selected five core tracks, and he challenged me to weave them into a circular narrative with a beginning and an end. I was thrilled—it is like putting together a puzzle, which is my favorite thing to do," Zaluf adds.
Reflecting on the struggles before achieving widespread recognition, Zaluf admits to moments of frustration. "I was angry at everyone who didn't believe in me. When people don't believe in you and you see yourself failing, you question everything. I am 24, working in a bar, while my friends have degrees and stable relationships. I wanted a career too. But taking the exact same song I performed in a small club days earlier and presenting it on a bigger stage proved to me that a song not succeeding initially doesn't mean it isn't good."
Speaking about the pressure of the sophomore album following the massive streaming success of her debut, she notes, "Second-album syndrome is very real in the music industry. It is either a massive catastrophe or a roaring success. Making this record was very difficult; I was terrified it wouldn't be good enough and lived in a state of panic. I told the producers to imagine this is the last song they will ever produce and to make it something we can truly be proud of."
Transitioning from indie club venues to the mainstream theatrical Festigal production, Zaluf initially hesitated. "I was never a Festigal kid, but producer Roi came to the Barby club, liked my performance, and arranged a meeting with director Hanoch Rosen. At first, I didn't think I belonged in that polished, glamorous machine. I told Hanoch my art can be melancholic and that I cannot dance. But I love children and teenagers and wanted the opportunity to bring them joy while sharing a meaningful message.
"Rosen incorporated my personal story into the show, creating a character who was once invisible but wields a special glowing sword. In my childhood, I was a competitive fencer, and fencing was my escape when school life was difficult. Translating that personal background into the Festigal made me realize that children watching will understand it is okay to be yourself. Even if it feels strange, it pays off in the end," she concludes with a laugh.
