Tal Yisasharov - a hero with a cause Let's face it: these days, Real heroes are few and far between. Written by Matt Gee Tal Yisasharov, a musician from Eilat, is quite modest when we come to talk of survival… but his tenacity is priceless, given the circumstances.

 What's in a word?
When Tal Yisasharov's parents gave him his first name, they haven't predicted his occupation for years to come; yet the aforementioned combination of characters is here to remind us that sometimes, a coincidence is unavoidable. "Tal" is the Hebrew word for morning dew, and like those shiny drops of water seen on the leaves at the dawning of a new day, his music sparks and sparkles. It reflects one's struggle to express emotions in a pictorial way. On the other hand, his struggles and battles in life may not come to conclusion without music.     

  History
Whilst a tourist resort like Eilat isn't short of opportunities, two of the main issues facing local musicians appear to be the abundance of beginnings, and the lack of continuity.
Having seen his semi-pro combo "Toysband" dissolving in 1997 due to ego clashes, Tal was soon on the move, attempting to establish himself as an out-and-out singer-songwriter.
His quest was fairly simple, yet effective, and finding like-minded musicians he did, with whom he formed the Hangover band and played the pub route in Eilat and Tel Aviv for three years.
In between, he recorded a healthy number of original songs in Hebrew, and released them as private pressings. In turn, copies of which were sent to radio stations nationwide, with only local radio outlet Voice of the Red Sea showing immediate interest.
Undeterred, Tal tried his luck again in Tel Aviv in 2006. With a bunch of focused players on his side, a new path was chosen, or at least that is where he was heading towards… and then a problem arose, in the form of unsuccessful facial operation; the results of which sent him into a four-month state of coma, and any musical venture had to be put on hold.

The Music
About three years after the coma, Tal is bound to be serene but there's no rest for the hero. As the body is unwillingly sitting comfortable, the mind is designed to break into new territories. At the same time, it brings back the pre-coma days, which are portrayed in the recordings made earlier in the decade.

 "In a world of void, in a world of emptiness, a fondling tinge came out of the blue / after the pain inside, and a blurry sound, something slowly fills you".
Is that the girl he is on about, or is it he?

Tal's compositions are based on personal experience, and are divided into two sub-groups, namely "relations with girls" and "the individual vs. the world".
Whilst songs about relations were each written about an individual girl, and-therefore-are-each-dedicated to a different girl, the impression is that every let-down in the love field may encourage one to seek condolence in other fields, rather than with a series of one night stands.

 Whilst success in other fields (with emphasis on music) may win you a new, and hopefully better relationship, there is a sheer reciprocity between these two elements, and one can't help but questioning the liaison between songwriting and love life: If the two affect (or perhaps, feed) each other to such extent, would a poet be able to complete a new creation without risking his relations? And once a dead-end is reached, only there and then does one realize just how much he loved his other half… and the cycle may never end.

  "Insane, by the light of the moon / having fallen asleep out of crazy craving for a hidden element / you want to fly time in a hot air balloon / ash is scattered from your palm, and something is breaking inside".
Is that the girl he is on about, or is it he?

The present
At the moment, our hero may not be able to confirm or deny my above-described speculation, with the reason being the results of that unsuccessful operation..
As we go to press, Tal is still unable to play any instrument or to sing; yet he is on a long process of rehabilitation. Fully guided by close support from his family and friends, however, he expects victory and music to go hand in hand.
We are crossing our fingers in hope, truly longing to clap our hands to his music, once the worse is behind.
 
Oh, and as for stability in love life, aren't we all waiting?


Check Tal Yisasharov on Myspace!


Written by Matt Gee