Musician Tuval Haim Honors Slain Brother With Debut Show

Musician Tuval Haim premiered his show "Achim" (Brothers) this week in Kibbutz Be'eri, based on his first album. Haim's brother, Yotam Haim, was abducted by Hamas on October 7th and was later mistakenly shot and killed by IDF forces while attempting to escape captivity with fellow hostages Alon Shamriz and Samer Al-Talalka. In an interview with Kan News, Tuval Haim spoke about the significance of performing in his childhood region and his creative process amidst loss. "I'm really excited about the performance," Haim stated hours before the show. "It's very special for me, especially because I'm from the area and grew up in Kibbutz Gvulot. This show is about healing and coping through music, and how music allowed me to view my story differently, in a way I choose for myself."

Haim shared that music helped him channel his intense anger and maintain a connection with his brother. "The music managed to pull me out of a very angry place I was in," he said. "I was very angry and the music helped me release it. It also helped me continue my connection with Yotam and communicate with him through music." He revealed that the "Achim" album incorporates Yotam's singing and playing, describing the creative process as a form of communication, "I even wrote it together with him, because I really felt we were communicating."

Tuval Haim recently released a new single, "What I Didn't Get to Say," from his upcoming second album. The "Achim" project also includes a documentary film, set to air on Kan 11 on October 7th, which delves into the stories behind the songs and the bond between Tuval and Yotam. "The film goes in-depth and explains what's behind the songs. It brings you more into my world and Yotam's world, and it also talks a lot about coping through music," Haim explained.

Regarding his second album, Haim described it as more personal. "The next album is a bit more me. First of all, in 'Achim' there were many collaborations and I really didn't think I would sing. The next album is more me in the front, and I sing all the songs I wrote. It's about my connection with Yotam, but it will also have things that are more just about me and the experiences I've gathered since October 7th, and things that are more about me, about Tuval."

Despite moving to Tel Aviv, Haim maintains strong ties to the Gaza envelope communities where his family and friends still reside. He described returning home as particularly difficult, stating, "It's not the same at all. The hardest part is coming home, to the house. I feel Yotam the most, as if he's about to walk into the house any moment. That's the hardest part." Tuval Haim's show "Achim" is scheduled for October 6th in Tel Aviv, and the documentary "Achim," co-created with director Vadim Mekhona, will air on October 7th.