His company has graced Billboard magazine and he has been featured from NPR to USA Today to name a few media outlets; A combination of sounds, Erez Safar known as Diwon has become the change that rappers, electro-beat and world music lovers have been craving." - Music International News

Based out of the stereophonic heart of Brooklyn, Erez Safar - a.k.a. Diwon is one of the most innovative and versatile Producer/DJs performing and recording music today. Safar is the founder, director, and mastermind of Shemspeed, its sister label Modular Moods, and the producer of the wildly successful and annual Sephardic Music Festival.

Safar began as a radio personality at WMUC (Maryland’s campus radio station) in 2003, alongside popular music insider Peter Rosenberg. Soon after, Erez created Modular Moods and his first signed artist debuted on the Top 40 CMJ Music Charts. His entrepreneurial venture then evolved into Shemspeed, a music production group that promotes Jewish identity, diversity and Israel involvement through recordings and dynamic programming. He has since performed across the globe, collaborated with Warner Brothers, Universal and Sony, and continues to sign some of the most dynamic and emerging world and hip-hop artists to Shemspeed Entertainment.

In addition to his music, Safar is dedicated to bringing diverse people together through education workshops and public appearances with Shemspeed artists. Safar collaborated with dancehall artist DeScribe on the music video “Harmony,” which garnered praise from public officials such as Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz. He coordinates workshops at education institutions of all levels, from New York City public schools to universities across the country.

Diwon has been highlighted on MTV for his blend of hip hop and dancehall. Most recently MTVu featured the Shemspeed single “The Takeover” starring Andy Milonakis, which TV Guide recently highlighted as “What’s Hot.” 2DOPEBOYZ & Vibe Magazine's allhiphop.com have also presented Diwon for his rap flips of 80′s inspired sonics.

However, it is Diwon’s unique blend of world music and cultural rarities with beats that give his work its distinct sound. His music can be likened to a hybrid of the best elements of Diplo and Cheb i Sabbah. Diwon’s beats are strongly influenced by the musical traditions of his mother’s family, whose roots lie in the ancient Jewish community of Yemen.URB magazine wrote that "Diwon is something else…in a profound kind of way," calling his sound titillating and “juicy for the ears," while The Village Voice described his productions as “adventurous and banging.”

In the past year Diwon produced Y-Love's "See Me" EP, which boasts club-friendly tracks influenced by Chuck D, Major Lazer and Nicki Minaj. He has also recorded and produced the soaring, cinematic album Serene Poetic with guitarist Dugans under the moniker Dreams in Static. Other works include an EP with Harlem-based rhymester Kyle Rapps that is inspired by Drive, Sabra Sessions Vol. 1, a high-energy Israeli dance club hip hop mix. He also produced the Remix Retrospective album featuring various artists including Akon, Damian Marley, La Roux, and Stevie Wonder.

Safar has been selected by The Forward as one of the Top 50 Most Influential Jews and has been featured in countless publications and TV programs including the New York Times, CBS, and BBC World News. Shemspeed artists have performed with artists as varied as Snoop Dogg, Lou Reed, Idan Raichel and Eminem; they’ve been profiled in Rolling Stone, SPIN, The New York Times and XXL; and they’ve been seen and heard around the world on various TV appearances (Conan O’Brien, CBS and BBC World) and global radio.

For more info, visit Diwon's EPK @ www.shemspeed.com/diwonpresskit
For Diwon Beats, visit www.diwonbeats.com

"Diwon is something else …in a profound kind of way. The New Yorker gets crafty when it comes to beats by extracting world music—mainly traditional Yemenite music-- and fusing it with electro hip hop; creating a titillating sound that’s juicy and for the ears. His musical influence developed from his migration from Yemen to Ethiopia to Israel. Among his myriad of aliases, he is better known as Erez Safar a producer/drummer/DJ/as necessary singer, who champions himself on representing Jewish culture to the fullest. When he’s not on the 1’s and 2’s, he’s busy running Shemspeed (music website) and Modular Moods (independent record label) and a couple of music festivals. Check out Idan Raichel vs. Kid Sister from his remix album That Yemenite Kid. Yeah, it’s fire." - Nicole Dawley, URB Magazine


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