Erel Pilo Works Up An “Appetite for Love”

Erel Pilo Photo by Chris Talamo

Erel Pilo grew up in a house where music was a constant. Her father, who was also a musician, introduced her to the classics at a young age–Pink Floyd, the Beatles and Eric Clapton. VH1 was always on the TV and she grew up loving Debbie Gibson and Paula Abdul. As a teenager, she discovered the strong female artists of the 90s like Fiona Apple and Alanis Morissette, and went through a Billie Holiday phase. Now, her influences are varied. She listened for drum structure in Roberta Flack’s “Killing Me Softly” and the inventive texture in Gotye’s “Somebody That I Used to Know.” and applied those elements to her latest song, “Appetite for Love.”

The song was produced with Phil Carroll, from the non-profit Recording Artist Development organization. The hour-long recording session was a prize Pilo won at the Winter 2014 Open Mic singing contest at Wicked Willy’s in Greenwich Village, hosted by RAD. The organization provides up-and-coming singer-songwriters with recordings of their work, career development and artistic support. Pilo placed in second for her original song “Balloon.”

The Israeli-born, Brooklyn-based singer-songwriter says living in the “Borough of Trees” affects her as a musician in a positive way. She says it’s because Brooklyn is a vibrant musical ground and she senses a strong support of original music in the community.

“I’ve traveled to other cities and performed my originals, and just got the sense that people did not know what to do with original music,” Pilo told Brooklyn Roads “It was only when I started playing covers that I connected with that crowd. In Brooklyn, there really seems to be a hunger for new songs and that helps me as an artist to create new work.”

Brooklyn’s community of musicians is also where Pilo’s other project got its’ start. When she’s not working on her solo music, she’s playing in the band TR3S Leches with pals Lyndol Descant and Dez Gutierrez, a friendship that started two years ago at the Bar 4 open mic scene in Park Slope, which has since closed. Pilo credits it as the place she cultivated friendships with a number of local artists, many of whom she’s worked with and learned from at some point during her career.

Pilo is currently working on new ideas for songs focused on the humanity of living in the digital age with indie synth-pop rock group, Analog Friends. She’s also learning jazz standards and bossa nova tunes to add to her repertoire, as well as new originals. Her newest single, “Appetite for Love,” is set for a March 2015 release.

Editor’s Note:  Adina Bernstein is a Brooklyn born writer, playwright and blogger. You can find her online at writergurlny.wordpress.com and twitter @writergurlny.