Hip Daily Exclusive: Q&A With Meital Dohan
Besides for starring in Weeds from 2006-2012, Meital Dohan has won an Israeli Tony Award, been nominated for 2 Israeli Oscars, and is a chart-topping musician. Meital was kind enough to answer a few questions for us here at Hip Daily:
What inspired you to focus on music instead of acting given you are such a talented actress?
First of all, thank you so much for your compliment! Acting and music are just different mediums of expression for me — I’m still acting and have some exciting acting projects I’m working on... The whole music idea came to me by surprise when I was shooting Dancing with the Stars in Israel and I was advised by a spiritual guide to become a singer. Of course I didn’t believe her, but then it all just happened.
Explain to me the inspiration behind both the song and music video of “I’m Too Sad To Tell You.”
This song was written by Amos Kollek for a movie he directed and I starred in. It’s a song about despair and the intimacy of loneliness. In a deeper way, it’s a song about the human condition because we all feel these things at some point. The creation of the video that accompanies the song was a collaboration with the talented artist Zoobs as part of his portrait video series.
What was it like working with Zoobs?
Zoobs is an artist I admire very much and working with him felt very organic and natural. I like how he combines elements of sexuality, fashion and human experience in his work. We had an immediate bond so it was a special experience working on this together.
What message do you hope to spread with your music, specifically your most recent song “I’m Too Sad To Tell You?”
My art is often centered around love, sexuality and the state of the modern capitalistic world. I’m hoping to get through to people about how we’ve lost the human touch, the human connection. Since this song is part of a soundtrack, I was trying to bring the not so perfect raw feelings we have as humans and bring into this art piece the fragility we all have. I was trying to bring those emotions out. So the message is “It’s ok, we are human, we need to be soft and sad and cry sometimes. It’s part of the experience.”
At what point did you realize that you truly are successful in the entertainment industry? Did that point occur while you were still primarily in Israel, or when you started to reach success in the US?
I had a lot of success in Israel before I ever came to the US — but once I came here I landed the role of ‘Yael’ in Weeds which was really cool and exciting. I think I’m constantly adapting my own ideas of success — for me it’s the privilege to be able to create great art and share it with an audience. This connection is important, and I have so much gratitude every day from just living and receiving love from my fans.
Be sure to check out Meital’s music video for “I’m Too Sad To Tell You” below!
Review Fix Exclusive: Meital Dohan Talks ‘I’m Too Sad to Tell You’ and More
Review Fix chats with actress and singer Meital Dohan who discusses her new music video portrait “I’m Too Sad To Tell You,” as well as how she transitioned from film to music. With 12 million combined page views for her last three music videos, Dohan has set the paper even higher. Collaborating with Sean Kingston, Reflex (Kanye West, Kendrick Lamar, Rihanna), R3hab (Lady Gaga, LMFAO, Calvin Harris) and Che Pope (Kanye West, Jay-Z, Eminem), her star potential continues to soar.
Review Fix: When did you make the switch from acting to music?
Meital Dohan: Well I’m very much both an actress and a singer, but music came into my life at an unexpected time. I was in Israel a few years ago participating in ‘Dancing With The Stars’ and a spiritual guide of mine told me I should make music. Aren’t I a sucker? No, I’m not. I didn’t believe her, but look what happened.
Review Fix: How do you think your acting career helps you as a musician?
Dohan: It’s like transitioning from a sculpture to a painter. It’s a form of expression with different material. Of course growing up performing in theatre, film and TV for big audiences helps when all of a sudden you find yourself singing to them, and making some naughty moves.
Review Fix: Who inspires you?
Dohan: I take inspiration from everywhere — a lot of my biggest inspirations span genre and form. I love artists that aren’t afraid to say “fuck you” and break the rules. I really love Andy Warhol and Godard — all the way to artists like Nina Simone, Madonna, Prince and Kanye West.
Review Fix: How was “I’m Too Sad To Tell You” written? What is the song about?
Dohan: The song was written by Amos Kollek and was written as part of a sound track to a movie we shot together. It’s about love and life almost like every song but with different lyrics.
Review Fix: What’s next for you?
Dohan: There’s so much going on right now, it’s quite exciting! I’m recording new music which is always a blast. I have a film project, and another secret project underway – but mum’s the word until it’s out!
Zoobs’ Warhol inspired film for “Weeds” star Meital Dohan’s new track
London multimedia artist Zoobs has created a striking film piece for singer-actress Meital Dohan’s new track “I’m Too Sad To Tell You” inspired by Andy Warhol’s Screen Tests.
The video portrait format sits beautifully alongside a sparse musical track that showcases Dohan’s vocal talents.
Enjoy!
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MEITAL DOHAN'S "I'M TOO SAD TO TELL YOU" EXCLUSIVE
According to the Meital Dohan camp...
"This exclusive new art piece from international music artist and actress Meital Dohan called 'I'm Too Sad To Tell You' is a music portrait directed by renowned visual artist Zoobs and inspired by Andy Warhol's Screen Tests. This revealing video portrait features an original song sung by Meital, which was recorded as part of the soundtrack for an upcoming film directed by Amos Kollek who also penned the lyrics.
"Meital has toured the world and collaborated with some of the biggest names in music including Sean Kingston, Reflex (Kanye West, Kendrick Lamar, Rihanna), R3hab (Lady Gaga, LMFAO, Calvin Harris) and Che Pope (Kanye West, Jay-Z, Eminem). After taking Israel by storm with two Israeli Oscar nominations and an Israeli Tony award, she quickly gained fame in America with her breakout recurring role in Showtime's Weeds.
"Director Zoobs is a contemporary artist known for his celebrity portraits."
