Odeya Azulay goes full diva with 360° Tel Aviv takeover
After selling out three nights at Tel Aviv’s Menora Arena, the 24-year-old singer-songwriter proves she’s not just riding a wave of hits , she’s building a legacy.
It’s official: Odeya is no longer just a breakout artist, she’s a phenomenon. In an era where many Israeli pop acts fade after a few viral songs, Odeya Azulay’s trajectory continues to rise. Her three back-to-back shows last weekend at Menora Mivtachim Arena in Tel Aviv, including a 360-degree stage setup typically reserved for Israel’s biggest stars, were the ultimate display of her artistic growth.
Just three and a half years ago, Odeya made her debut at Caesarea Amphitheater, a move many saw as premature. Her song catalog was thin, forcing her to fill the set with covers. The performance lacked cohesion, and while her ambition was clear, the readiness wasn’t. Still, in the Israeli music industry, when an artist is hot, the label pushes hard and fast. Flashy gimmicks, like live song-writing onstage or surprise guest appearances, masked the absence of a solid musical core.
Today, everything has changed. There are no gimmicks, only detail-oriented production and hit after hit, all written by Odeya herself. From a Chanel bag featured on stage referencing a lyric, to a stage bed setup and custom pants displaying messages from her songs, each element was meticulously crafted to serve the performance’s story. Whether or not these were her ideas, they reflect an artist deeply involved in the creative process.
A Perfect Career Moment
The timing of the shows couldn't have been better. Odeya is riding a wave of success:
Her debut album “Yalda Shel Emunah” (Child of Faith) was a commercial and critical hit. Her EP “Kol HaLachanim Nigmeru” (All the Tunes Are Gone) offered original takes on Israeli classics. She scored hits like “Reshimat Kniyot” with Nes & Stilla, and penned “Malkat HaDor” (Queen of the Generation) for Omer Adam. Now, she’s dominating again with a double release, “Papi” and “Alice”, both already going viral.
Odeya's hunger is evident, but it’s not only ambition that sets her apart, it’s her evolution as a storyteller. While catchy hooks may draw listeners in, it’s her ability to craft emotional, multi-layered narratives that keeps them coming back. With “Yalda Shel Emunah,” she seems to have undergone a personal transformation. Her latest work reflects more patience, depth, and artistic maturity.
Even when she plays into the clichés, like the joke that “every song sounds the same”, she embraces and subverts them. “Papi,” for instance, lives in the same playful cinematic universe as her earlier hit “Chanel Azulay”.
A New Stage Persona
This maturity has birthed not just better songs, but a more confident performer. Odeya is increasingly comfortable letting her charisma shine onstage and in her lyrics, a natural step for a 24-year-old woman. Still, it doesn’t come at the expense of her spiritual connection. In fact, Odeya embodies the uniquely Israeli balance between the sacred and the secular. While some might take issue with a singer invoking both God and nightlife in the same breath, for many fans, it feels like authentic coexistence.
More Than Music: A Cultural Moment
Above all, Odeya understands the internet, not just as a platform, but as a language. What began with cryptic “Unit 8200-style” riddles on Instagram has evolved into viral TikTok commentary. Instead of forced influencer-style content, she engages with fans organically, sometimes answering random questions with a simple “I just have nothing to say anymore, and it’s 10 AM.”
Her fluency in memes and trends translates into musical intuition. She doesn’t just post online; she channels the web’s rhythm into her songwriting. Odeya speaks the culture and that’s a rare gift.
At a time when most hits seem to come from faceless artists, Odeya is building a persona, even with all the drama that entails rumored romances, alleged family disputes, and viral gossip. But even these tabloid moments fuel the mythology. The proof is in the fans: three sold-out nights at Menora Arena, screaming every lyric back to her. At one point, she had to ask permission just to resume singing.
If that’s the worst problem in her career right now, she’s in a very good place.