Ami Yares writes and performs music rooted in the sounds of the American folk tradition, deeply influenced by the trials and tribulations of living in Israel. Raised in southern New Jersey and currently based in Jaffa, Ami’s music sparked the formation of two bands: “HOLLER!” a colorful collection of musicians, versed in all sorts of Americana; and “The Brothers Yares,” a rootsy acoustic duo featuring a 12 string guitar and an upright bass.
Ami formed HOLLER! in 2006 with Barak Cohen and David Bernay. The band quickly became a mainstay of the Jerusalem local music scene, often playing into the wee hours of the night for bar-goers in search of an uniquely American and musical romp. Ami and HOLLER! earned a reputation for their energetic live shows, which featured Cohen on possibly the country’s only rub board (similar to the old time washboard).In 2009, with the addition of four new members: Jason Reich, Eliran Kononowicz, Zechariah Reich, Tamar Schoppik, HOLLER! recorded its self-titled debut album, featuring Ami’s original songs accompanied by the traditional country sounds offiddle, flat-picked guitar, and shuffle rhythms. The seminal folk music magazine, Sing Out, reviewed the album positively, saying of the first track:
The opening ‘Talkin’ Blues ’BoutYou(s)’ could be at home on an acoustic Jack Johnson record as much as on atribute album to American folk
Just Married, stands out as a favorite amongst Israelis and Palestinians for its plea for peace in the city often at
the heart of the conflict.
In 2011, Ami established a new project featuring his brother, Gavri Tov, aptly dubbed, “The Brothers Yares.”
Taking a pared down approach to their performances, the brothers work their audiences into a foot-stomping
frenzy fueled by the raw voices and instrumentation of the duo. In the short time that they have been
performing together, The Brothers Yares have toured all over Israel and the US. Over the summer of 2011,
The Brothers Yares released a five song album, which featured members of HOLLER! and notable Israeli
singer-songwriter, Lihi Sagi. The music captures the physical and psychological divide of Yares’ past and
present, from the youthful memories and shores of America’s eastern seaboard to the very present and real
urban landscape of life in Jaffa.
Recently, the US Embassy in Israel selected Ami as an artist in residence for 2011-2012. With the embassy’s
support, Ami created FocUS Music, a socially minded project that teaches Jewish and Arab students about
American music and its influence on American society through workshops and performances. Ami is also the
director of programming and education for the Israeli and Jewish world music ensemble, The Shuk, as well as
the co-director of HEARTBEAT, a Palestinian and Israeli youth music project. Ami continues to tour widely as
a solo artist, with HOLLER!, and The Brothers Yares.
Be it on the streets of Jaffa, the venerable World Cafe Live in Philadelphia, or teaching about the power of
music during an artistic residency, you’ll find that Ami’s music is a fresh homage to the age old tradition of
music coming from “the ground on up.”
But don’t take this for your parents’ music, it’s not.
It’s the unmistakable sound of Ami Yares.