Odeya and Osher Cohen Reflect on Friendship and Hitmaking
Israeli music stars Odeya and Osher Cohen discuss their close friendship, creative process, and humble beginnings in a candid Hitlist 2026 interview.
Behind the Music: Odeya and Osher Cohen Open Up
It is no coincidence that Odeya was named Artist of the Year and Osher Cohen claimed Song of the Year at the Mako Hitlist 2026 charts. The two Israeli stars share a remarkably similar path and have become very close friends. Reflecting on their parallel journeys, Cohen shared in a special joint interview, "Our personal lives kept overlapping. One of us would go through something, then the other. We were always there for each other, and nothing is more genuine than that."
Odeya echoed this sentiment, noting how their struggles often mirrored one another. Despite finding personal happiness today, both artists emphasize that the creative process demands vulnerability. As Cohen explains, entering the studio means channeling raw emotion and life's hardships onto the table to shape powerful music.
From Stolen Electricity to Chart-Topping Hits
Recalling their humble beginnings, Cohen revealed how they started making music together roughly nine years ago in an improvised container space.
We used to steal electricity out there. The moment the power went out, we would switch to a generator, stepping outside to see sheep and peacocks wandering around. That is where we wrote our first song together.
The Creative Struggle and Dealing with Critics
Crafting a hit is rarely easy. Behind every successful track lies grueling work—hours of writing, recording, and endless mixing. Yet beyond the studio grind, the artists face external pressures, including accusations of plagiarism from the public. Both singers defend the use of legitimate musical references, pointing out that inspiration has always driven the industry.
There is no such thing as entirely new; we are all influenced by what we grew up on. No one is reinventing the wheel here, but you can bring something refreshed.
