Meet Udi Damari: The Music Producer Who Connects Through Melody

Getting to know Udi Damari.

"My name is Udi Damari, I'm 41 years old, married, and a father of two. I'm a music producer, songwriter, composer, and arranger. My clients include well-known figures in Jewish music such as Avraham Fried, Yaakov Shwekey, Chaim Israel, Yaniv Ben Mashiach, Benny Friedman, Avishai Eshel, and many others."

Are you where you imagined you'd be professionally?

"I don't really plan my life; I let it happen. I hope my creativity continues to flourish and improve. For years, I've been writing, composing, and arranging songs, which I then sell to well-known musicians in the industry. Initially, I sing them a demo version to guide their performance, and often, they tell me my delivery feels genuine and touching. Interestingly, my wife and children think the same. It's natural for the person who felt, thought about, wrote, composed, and arranged the song to perform it most authentically.

"Besides, six months ago, I embarked on a personal music project featuring diverse styles. I feel blessed to sing nicely, so I decided to perform a few songs and compile them into a single project where I present my unique perspective—Udi Damari. I can't define its musical style because it's highly varied in lyrics, compositions, arrangements, and vocal styles.

"Industry insiders and public relations people have advised me to focus and standardize my style to avoid confusing the audience. I chose not to heed their advice because I'm naturally diverse. Just as I create fitting songs for Avraham Fried or Yaniv Ben Mashiach, or a big Yiddish album production, such diversity exists within me, as showcased in my personal project."

Childhood memory that sticks with you?

"I had a very musical childhood. Even as a young child, I had a small tape recorder where I repeatedly listened to four cassettes of Western singers. At seven, I attended a Chanukah party where a family member played the accordion. The sounds captivated me instantly, and I sat next to her, observing her play.

"After a while, I asked to play. The accordion was too heavy, so I offered to press the keys—essentially how I began playing, with no forewarning or rehearsals. It just flowed within me. My mom, in her wisdom, recognized my love for music and innate talent, and promptly bought my first keyboard the following day. Since then, music has been part of my life."

Childhood inspiration from the world of Judaism?

"My grandfather, Rabbi Shlomo Damari (of blessed memory), was the regional rabbi of Matte Yehuda, revered among the Yemenite community in Israel and globally. He was a simple man and a great Torah scholar, never seeking honor or status. When he sang Shabbat songs at the table, it was like a taste of the world to come. His love for melodies was profound. His singing was genuinely for the sake of heaven. I frequently recall his tunes, and they still pierce my heart. His devotion to Hashem through song and melody was unlike anything I've seen.

"My grandfather's picture remains in my studio as a reminder of my roots. A significant portion of my musical life is derived from him, whether I'm currently producing pop, jazz, rock, or Mediterranean music. My guiding principle of creating music genuinely stems from the deep impact my grandfather left on me."

Share a meaningful experience from performing a mitzvah.

"Until two years ago, I owned a 1996 Suzuki Baleno. It had a cracked engine block and numerous other issues. Despite this, it resiliently continued to operate. My mechanic couldn't understand how it survived and even said it was illogical. But only I knew why—it was doing mitzvot constantly, giving rides to learned elders and transporting prayer books and pamphlets without expecting anything in return. The blessings I received from them were invaluable.

"After ten years of 'faithful service,' I decided to purchase a new car. Selling the old one was quite difficult, and I ended up giving it to a metal dealer. However, the value of the mitzvot achieved with the old car is beyond measure, far surpassing the worth of any worldly possessions. There's no limit to the reward for a mitzvah, especially those related to acts of kindness."

What are your open and hidden dreams?

"My dream is to create a positive change in people's lives worldwide through my words, melodies, arrangements, and performances in my personal project and in the music I create for other artists. As for my secret dreams—let's leave them as they are, secret."

How present is Hashem in your life, and how does He influence your work?

"Very present. I speak to Hashem throughout the day. Since most of my clients are based abroad, I spend many hours alone in my studio, conversing freely with Hashem about my concerns and even the smallest details. Beyond that, leading a life of solitude and reflection is a way of life for me.
I never believed that lyrics, melodies, or arrangements originated solely from my intellect. I see myself as an empty vessel enjoying the infinite divine abundance flowing through me. Since I'm not trained in music theory, living this way comes naturally to me."

What brings you the most happiness?

"Hearing that my song has positively transformed someone's life. For instance, the song 'King of the World,' which I wrote, composed, arranged, and sang with Chaim Israel, resonated widely in Israel and made it to many radio playlists. The song addresses Hashem's presence in the world, and it thrilled me to learn that even children in public schools danced and sang these ideas, grounded in the Zohar and the Sages' teachings.

"Another classic example of immense privilege and happiness I experienced was 'The Special Tune of Tikkun Haklali.' It's a unique musical arrangement of ten Psalms assembled by Rabbi Nachman of Breslov, recorded with cantor Erez Yachiel. This piece gained international exposure, and I started receiving calls saying, 'Thanks to this melody, I've embraced Torah and mitzvot.' There's no greater joy than that."

Something people might not know about you?

"I don't know how to read music notes or chords and have no clue about music theory. A few years back, I was tasked with composing music for a major show in New York, performed by an American band in front of 18,000 people. They needed sheet music, but I couldn't provide it. I turned to one of Israel's talented musicians, Chaim Hadad (of blessed memory), to transcribe it.

"When he heard my compositions and asked who wrote them, I told him I arranged and played the parts but needed it notated. While he was impressed, I wasn't. I told him that to create music, one doesn't need notes or intellect; they need to feel it.

"Furthermore, I mentioned that in the Book of Genesis, it states 'Jubal was the father of all who play string instruments and pipes.' He was the world's first musician, performing excellently without a teacher for his instruments. He was gifted, connected to his source, and simply played. I'm not against learning music formally, but anyone truly wishing to play must first connect to their inner source. That's my mission in this world, and I strive and pray daily to elevate and connect with the root of everything—our Father in Heaven, the King of Kings, Hashem."