Jenny Woolworth’s Women in Punk Blog

This is Anat Ben-David, a multi-active performance artists working with video, photography and music. Born in Jerusalem, she studied fine arts and film in both her homeland and the U.K. before settling in London… for now. She has worked with Chicks on Speed and her first proper full length album, Virtual Leisure, was released on the Chicks label in early 2008.

Anat’s latest project, Band, involves video and photography work presenting an imaginary, international, multi-lingual all-girl band with Anat as the sole member. Video clips and audio bits of this project and earlier works are available on Anat’s website. A link to the full length version of Band’s “East” video is below. For the next few weeks, you’ll also find a downloadable version of the title track to her new album - Virtual Leisure.

I met Anat under a rainbow in East London on a typical British rainy sunshine day and she answered my standard set of inquires:

JW: What is one of your favorite sounds and what does it mean to you?
A B-D: My favourite sound is the sound of the sea. Or water in general, moving… it’s the sound of movement, change, but confident not erratic, and calm. Its a base with hi-hats and violin all in one… going again and again but never boring. Perfect.

JW: Tell me about one of your most cherished records and why it is so important to you.
A B-D: I don’t have one but … the one in front of me at the moment, which I love, is The Flying Lizards Top Ten. Its just all bizarre and wonderful at the same time, it has a specific unique style that is nothing like anything else, like a wired lizard. But so simple … There was a pivotal moment in time where The Flying Lizards existed, when aliens arrived for a short moment and then left. This moment cant repeat itself.

JW: Who is a woman that has inspired you in your life, musically or otherwise?
Marlene Dietrich, Edith Piaf,  Billie Holiday - because of their delivery and their not taking any shit attitude. They represent hope and compassion. Also because of the circumstances each one of them happened to be in historically and their personal story. Those ladies rock! And Wendy O Williams. She’s such a strong lady - humorous and ruthless at the same time.

View: Anat Ben-David - East

Download: Anat Ben-David - Virtual Leisure