Ahead of her performance at Manchester Jewish Museum, we speak to Noga Ritter about her debut solo album, Ima.
Following on from her sold-out 2022 Synagogue Nights show, Noga Ritter is soon to return to Manchester with a newly released album, Ima. With songs sung in both Hebrew and English, Noga weaves intimate and personal stories into a compelling narrative of social-global issues. Her performances are passionate and energetic, getting any audience to dance and join in on her soulful journey!
Having already performed at the Manchester Jewish Museum, Noga is excited to return to the venue, as she told us: “There’s just something about the venue itself. Everything is really embracing; you have the opportunity to engage with everybody there and the museum feels very real. Last time I was there we collaborated with the song writing community a few weeks before I performed my concert. I shared a bit
of the songwriting process for one of my songs, and then inspired by the theme of that song we created a new song together and they came up on stage and played it with the band, which was really special.”
Ahead of this performance, Noga has also held a different kind of creative workshop before the show: “This time, we were inspired by the process of making the cover, which was me working with an amazing body painter.
I basically just sent her the music and a translation of the lyrics and she got inspired and did her own thing. At the workshop they did the same thing. We chose one song and I explained the meaning of it and the story of how my grandma appeared in my dream after she passed away, which the song is about, and then there was drawing and painting on a massive piece of paper, which people will be able to see at the show.”
The album, Ima, which means mother in Hebrew, is Noga’s debut solo album dedicated to her mother: “It’s been a journey and long in the making. I was really fortunate to have funding from Arts Council England. While I was recording it, life turned around at me when mum was diagnosed with cancer while I was in the studio. It was a really violent one that progresses very quickly. I stopped everything to do with the album and went to Israel to spend time with her there. Then she passed away and I decided to call the album Ima and dedicate it to her.”
Ima takes influence from Noga’s life and travels, combining her life experiences together: “I think the album represents my journey, which started growing up in Israel, with influences from the Jewish and Palestinian cultures there. And then I moved to Berlin when I was 21, where I got into jazz, and then was inspired by West African music when I moved to London. It’s a mix of encounters and stories.”
Noga Ritter Trio will be performing at the Manchester Jewish Museum on 10th March. Be prepared to join in singing and dancing! Book tickets here: Manchesterjewishmuseum.com