Singer Nunu Breaks Down Recalling Father's Death During IDF Service

Israeli singer Nunu, known for her energetic and humorous hits, revealed a deeply personal struggle in a recent interview with Ynet's N12 "Ra'iti, Shama'ti" podcast. While discussing her father, a maxillofacial surgeon who passed away from cancer during her military service, the artist became emotional. Nunu described how her father's illness drastically altered her daily life, involving frequent hospital visits and caregiving.

Despite the hardship, Nunu emphasized the positive aspects of this period, including increased family time and closeness. She found solace and escape in reading the Harry Potter series, which she began at age 19. Nunu explained that the books provided a magical refuge during her difficult reality, allowing her to feel transported to Hogwarts while accompanying her father to treatments. She noted that she did not read to her father from the books, as his illness progressed rapidly.

Nunu reflected that her later attraction to Harry Potter, a character who also experiences parental loss, might not have been coincidental. Her grief over her father's passing has influenced her music. In December 2024, she released a duet with Gidi Gov, "Hey At," written and composed from memories of conversations with her late father. The collaboration was particularly meaningful as Gov's music was the soundtrack to her childhood family trips.

Another song, "Layla," from her latest album, was born from a vivid dream about her father in 2022 during a trip to Greece with producer Eilai Ashdot. Waking up crying from the dream, she immediately heard a melody in her head, leading to the song that blends her signature humor with her experience of loss. This occurred as she was achieving professional success and navigating financial and career decisions alone, acutely feeling her father's absence.

Her album "HaG'nuz," released in August, was largely written in 2022 but delayed from a 2023 release due to the events of October 7th. The album revisits her early upbeat pop style while also incorporating more personal and vulnerable moments, reflecting the enduring grief that lies beneath her colorful persona.