Whether secluded in his studio in Manhattan's Upper West Side or traveling the globe with renowned musicians such as Regina Spektor, Rufus Wainwright, Interpol's Paul Banks, Kiesza, Yael Naim or Kishi Bashi, cellist and composer Yoed Nir possesses an artist's touch that has made him a go-to arranger and cellist for many artists and countless projects. Endorsed by Yamaha, Apogee Electronics, DPA Microphones and D'Addario Strings, Yoed has captured a unique voice and musical homogeny showcased in both his debut album, Suspended Hours, and his second solo album, The Next Dream.
Yoed, who was born in a small town in Israel, fell in love with the cello at age 7. His passion led him to study classical music at the Conservatory of Music in Tel Aviv, where he attended master classes and studied under prominent musicians such as Daniel Barenboim, János Starker and Mischa Maisky.
Yoed then branched out, using his homeland and classical studies as a foundation from which to explore pop and rock music, jazz improvisation and arranging. "I had a yearning to explore possibilities in other places such as New York," he explains. "New York is a great place to play all styles of music, and I have developed a lot as a musician by being here."
While many of his contemporaries use a more traditional compositional tool such as the piano to write music, Yoed views the cello as a direct extension of himself. With the help of modern recording technology, he effortlessly moves from inspiration to recorded sound, while using the instrument he has dedicated dozens of years to mastering.
Yoed's impressive touring history and deft ability to arrange music, layer sounds and overdub string sections has garnered him a wealth of experience and recognition within the music world. He has had the privilege of recording with Interpol's Paul Banks, for whom he arranged and performed all the strings on Paul's first two solo albums. In 2008, he recorded with Yael Naim on her Billboard Chart-topping self-titled album. He has also toured extensively with Regina Spektor, including a world tour to promote her What We Saw from the Cheap Seats project.
Yoed has performed in such storied venues as Radio City Music Hall, London's Royal Albert Hall, the Sydney Opera House, Carnegie Hall, Alice Tully Hall and the Rose Theater at Lincoln Center, to name a few. He has also appeared on The Today Show (NBC), The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien (NBC), The Late Show with David Letterman (CBS), Good Morning America (ABC), The Late Late Show with James Corden (CBS), The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (CBS) and Later… with Jools Holland (BBC).
Though much of his time has been invested in supporting world-renowned artists in the studio and on tour, Yoed's own music remains close to his heart. His debut album, Suspended Hours, and his second album, The Next Dream, both display the musical skills which have made him an indispensable part of more than 1000 albums by various artists across multiple genres. Yoed's solo releases showcase his distinctive touch and voice, using a language that bridges the classical and contemporary music worlds.
