Israeli pop-rock artist Guy Kopelman is carving out a unique pathway as a collaborative songwriter and performer. His repertoires in the studio and on the stage are swiftly expanding, in both versatility and quantity, and we were blessed with the chance to interview him to talk about the process of building a career as a live performer. Here’s how it went.
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Guy – it’s a real pleasure to interview you, thanks for the opportunity! For those new to your music, what first inspired you to get into music and production?
Thank you for having me. To be honest, I initially wanted to become a soccer player. However, I grew up with three of my best friends (who are still my best friends to this day); one played the piano, another was a drummer, and the third played the bass. I felt the need to pick up an instrument to maintain our friendship, and the only option left seemed to be the guitar. Since then, I’ve been hooked. This happened when I was around 12 years old.
On the other hand, production came much later, around the age of 20. I remember a talented friend showing me how a song he produced looked in a DAW. At that moment, I was instantly drawn, thinking, ‘That’s it! That’s what I want to do.’
You’ve had immense success with singles you’ve produced for the likes of Noam Bettan and Raviv Kaner – how did you connect with these artists, and what do you think is the crucial aspect in creating the perfect chemistry between artist and producer?
Noam and I met at the start of our musical journey through mutual friends. We initially created our first songs together, which were really bad at first. However, gradually, they improved until we hit the ‘jackpot’ with our song Buba. There’s no better feeling than creating music with the people you love.
Raviv is a well-known singer in Israel, whom I met after years of experience. We’ve wanted to work together for a long time, and it finally happened.
“I believe the primary aspect of a great artist-producer relationship is to maintain a judgment-free environment—a safe space to explore and freely express oneself.”
How easy or difficult has it been to break into the Israeli music scene and the global pop-rock realm at large – what’s been the biggest lesson you’ve learned?
I believe that you can be the best producer or musician in the world, but if you don’t know how to simply be a fun, kind, and relatable person to be around, you won’t achieve real success. Creating music exists within a vulnerable space, and you want the people you work with to feel as comfortable as possible around you. This way, the next time they want to create something, you’ll instantly come to mind.
The most significant lesson I’ve learned is that the moment I think I’ve figured something out, it simply means I’m ready to learn the next thing. Learning never, ever ends.
Tell me about your solo work as Kopelman – how different is your writing process when it’s personal, and do you enjoy the performance aspect in a different way when it’s your own song?
When I’m writing for myself, it’s a whole different story. While writing and producing for others, I aim for catchy lyrics and melodies, but when it’s for myself, I simply let out whatever comes to mind without concerning myself about how it will be perceived by others. Having experienced both worlds, I can confidently say that I prefer to remain behind the scenes as the writer-producer rather than stepping into the frontman role. The pressure that comes with it takes away the fun for me.
Which song from your repertoire would you recommend to new listeners, and why?
If you want a fun track to dance and lift the energy in the room listen to Buba by Noam Bettan.
As an organic musician, do you sit down to write at the guitar or head straight to the studio and software?
It depends on the mood that day, but I’d say that most songs I do start on the guitar.
In your professional opinion, how do you know if a hook has mainstream potential, and were the songs that did well for you the ones you expected to, or did this come as a surprise?
Success, particularly in today’s landscape, is unpredictable, especially with songs randomly going viral on TikTok. However, most of the time, when something great is created, there’s a distinct energy in the room, and everyone can feel it. That’s when you know it’s something special.
I had no idea that the songs I worked on would succeed; I simply gave it my 100% and hoped for the best.
Given your vast performance background including numerous festivals and support slots, what’s been one of your most euphoric and inspiring experiences on the stage?
Hands down being the opening act for Bruno Mars, in my home land, in front of 60,000 people. It was a feeling like no other.
What’s your biggest ambition right now?
To be able to keep doing what I’m doing at a bigger scale and to always enjoy the ride and stay humble.
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Find Guy Kopelman on Instagram.
