“It was strange for me that I have to clarify my position that I denounce murder and the horrible, heinous acts that happened on October 7," says Valerie Hamaty. "To be in a place where you have to prove your innocence, when you've done nothing wrong – that makes you wonder: do I belong?”
Valerie Hamaty is a Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel-born musician and actress of Middle Eastern descent who is passionate about fusing conventional Middle Eastern music with other subgenres. Hamaty has gained notoriety in the international music arena for her mastery of the oud, a traditional Middle Eastern stringed instrument.
In a new episode of "Song of Hope," Hamaty speaks about the questions of identity and belonging that the war raises, and about the hope that singing in Arabic brings her. She performs Pe'er Tasi's "Until After Eternity," a song that accompanies her during the war and echoes her personal loss.
This song was written and composed by songwriter Eytan Darmon. The song is a woman's monologue addressed to someone who has passed away. The narrator draws hope from the anticipation of their meeting in the ever after.
