Noga Erez Recounts Overcoming Boycott to Perform at Coachella

Israeli indie singer Noga Erez and her life and work partner Ori Russo have given their first interview to Hebrew media in years, as reported by The Times of Israel. The duo, who perform together, had achieved international recognition before October 7, 2023, collaborating with global artists and performing with Robbie Williams in Tel Aviv. Following the Hamas attack, their performances were canceled, industry contacts became unresponsive, social media engagement dropped, and they faced increased online harassment. Russo described the period as "really confusing" and felt "everything was over." Erez announced on October 9, 2023, that she was leaving social media, a hiatus that continues, with content now managed by someone else.

Despite the challenges, Erez and Russo performed for October 7 survivors, evacuees, and at hostage support events. They decided to continue their work, which ultimately led to renewed success. In 2024, Erez opened for Pink and performed at German festivals. When they released tickets for a new tour, demand was unexpectedly high. Erez noted that while she felt like an "outcast artist," the ticket sales indicated otherwise, with many shows selling out. They subsequently toured smaller venues across North America and Europe, often adding dates due to full capacity.

A significant turning point came with an invitation to perform at the Coachella festival in April 2026. Erez stated that Coachella was "one of those places that first turned away from us, and then came back." She interpreted their inclusion as a sign of overcoming adversity, attributing it not to a change in political reality but to their ability to sell tickets, suggesting that "money solves everything" and that drawing an audience makes artists less susceptible to cancellation.

The pair enhanced their show with eight dancers and video elements. Their performance was nearly jeopardized by the Iran-Israel conflict in late February, which led to the closure of Israeli airspace. Erez and Russo, who were in Israel with family, incurred significant costs to evacuate them to the U.S. via alternative routes.

Following their Coachella success, they are scheduled for larger venues in North America and Europe for their spring 2027 tour. The interview also touched upon the documentary "Noga" by Austrian filmmakers Jono and Benji Bergman, which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York in mid-June. The film explores their personal lives, including a separation during the COVID-19 pandemic and their decision to have a child. Their young daughter, Toni, now travels with them. Erez revealed that her perspective on motherhood shifted after October 7, stating, "The strangest thing is that I always wondered: why bring a child into such a terrible world? But then the world became so terrible that I felt I had to. I had to do it."