“what is love” - Gideon unna Ft. Kaley Halperin
Photo Credit: Artist EPK
There’s something beautifully unpretentious about “What Is Love,” the latest release from Israeli singer-songwriter Gideon Unna, featuring the luminous vocals of Kaley Halperin. It’s a track that radiates warmth and compassion — an acoustic folk piece that feels both intimate and global, like a quiet protest wrapped in melody. In a world where division, violence, and despair seem louder than ever, Unna answers not with anger but with empathy.
This is Unna’s second collaboration with Halperin, whom he first connected with through Facebook. Their partnership feels organic and sincere — her crystalline voice floating gently over Unna’s grounded acoustic guitar lines. Alongside Yotam Botner on drums and Yoav Asif on keyboards, the band crafts a subtle but deeply textured soundscape that feels alive and human. The track was mastered by the acclaimed Yoram Vazan (of New York’s legendary Firehouse Studio), whose touch brings clarity and warmth to the mix without sanding down its raw edges.
Musically, “What Is Love” sits comfortably in the space between folk-pop and acoustic singer-songwriter, with echoes of artists like George Harrison — whose influence Unna openly cites. There’s a spiritual thread running through the arrangement, one that recalls Harrison’s own ability to write songs that felt both personal and universal, political and peaceful. Like Harrison, Unna uses music as both meditation and message: a reminder that love is not naïve, but necessary.
The acoustic guitars shimmer like sunlight through leaves, the rhythm brushes lightly against the pulse of the song, and Halperin’s vocal carries it all with quiet conviction. Together, they make something that feels fragile but resilient — a song for listening, reflecting, and maybe even healing.
Photo Credit: Artist EPK
Unna’s production approach is as humble as it is effective. “My approach of producing is that we don’t know what will come out,” he admits. “But searching for something I’d like to hear.” That openness allows his collaborators to bring their own spirit into the mix, giving “What Is Love” a spontaneous, lived-in quality. Recorded in a small studio surrounded by the natural beauty of Israel, the track feels rooted in its place — intimate, earthy, and real.
Having recently played a gig at his kibbutz, Unna is continuing to grow his live presence, bringing his heartfelt songs to more audiences. But at its core, “What Is Love” isn’t about career moves or spectacle. It’s about connection. “I like it when people react to my music — especially when they love it,” Unna says. “It gives me so much motivation to create more.” That sincerity runs through every note of the song.
Ultimately, “What Is Love” is both a question and an answer. It’s the sound of an artist — and a band — trying to hold onto beauty in a world that feels like it’s burning. And in doing so, Gideon Unna spreads exactly what he set out to: love, life, and a little bit of light.
“what is love” is available now on all major streaming platforms
Follow Gideon unna - Spotify | Youtube | Facebook
Listen to Gideon unna and other similar artists on our Spotify Playlist ‘New Music Spotlight - Indie & Alternative’
