“WHAT IS LOVE” By Gideon Unna feat Kaley Halperin

At a time when the world feels more divided than ever, Gideon Unna, an Israeli singer and songwriter, gives a heartwarming and necessary reminder with his new single, “What Is Love,” featuring the talented Kaley Halperin. The song is an ode to compassion and the unrelenting human search to grasp the essence of love, available on Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube. Gideon Unna is expected to release an album comprising singles featuring Halperin, and it is said to juxtapose emotionally honest content with a blend of deep spirituality and craftsmanship in a variety of musical forms.

The song “What Is Love” starts with a charming acoustic arrangement, adding layers of strings and soft percussion. Unna made a valuable contribution to the song's arrangement with the acoustic bass and his multi-instrumental skills, as well as anchoring it with sincerity and emotional depth. Halperin’s uncontrolled and soft lead vocals on the song are masterfully integrated as the main melodic voice in the song. The song’s main theme of love, presented in a vulnerable fashion, is presented in the main voice, placed high in a register, to create an emotional and warm approximation of closeness.

Behind the scenes, Yoav Asif contributes lush keyboard textures, while Yotam Botner’s drumming adds rhythmic soul without overpowering the emotional flow.

The clarity in the song’s production results from the extraordinary attention to detail by its production team. With “What Is Love” having been co-produced by Lior Medan and Gideon Unna, and then mixed and mastered by Yoram Vazan, who has long been affiliated with Firehouse Studio in New York and worked with several prominent artists, Whispered and Sim Shalom had a modern, polished sound with true acoustic warmth. While Oren Tzur’s string arrangements provided some of the heightened and even gothic cinematic depth of the production, Unna’s songwriting and the fuller song structure demonstrated that the message was the primary focus. Each of the song’s components felt like a necessary, thoughtful iteration of the message of the song, which centers on the more reflective and peaceful aspects of the message.

The message of the song in the lyrics was, in a sense, a quiet but strong one. Concerning the song and the war that was dominating Israel at the time, Unna indicated that he was writing “What Is Love” to sort of contrast the hate and increasingly divided world, and to offer a song that speaks to the violence. For Unna, the late George Harrison was one of the prominent influences in the song’s production, and the spiritual musical influences in Harrison’s works are very evident in the simplicity of the song’s melody. It is very similar to Harrison’s works in that “What Is Love” also carries that very warm and even sentimental message that encourages the listeners to love.

In the small studios surrounded by the picturesque sights of Israel, the recordings seem to be imbued with a personal touch due to the atmosphere. Gideon’s production style is a breath of fresh air; he lets musicians play as they wish and gives them the time they need to create. “We don’t always know what will come out, but we search for something we’d like to hear,” he explains. This is why the result, a song, works. It is the product of a search and feels alive and vital. Unna’s worldview is a beautiful extension of love, life, and gratitude.

The single “What Is Love” reflects Gideon Unna’s artistic spirit and Unna’s belief that music is a powerful means of healing. With the glowing voice of Kaley Halperin and the artistic skills of his associates, Unna got to form a very personal and equally universal harmonious piece with “What Is Love.” In modern times, where people make a lot of noise and do not focus on the essentials, Unna’s track helps quiet the spirit and focus on the things that bind humanity together. Stream it now on Spotify, YouTube, Apple Music, and all major platforms, and let this beautiful collaboration remind you that love, even when questioned, remains the most powerful answer of all.

Written by Manuel