Biography
Erez Safar, who produces music under the names h2the and Diwon, is an LA-based creative machine and gallerist producing video, music and art that pops in a world where popular styles have been left in a state of static. h2the merges 80s synths and layered beats, brought to life through dynamic visuals and sound.
Safar is the founder and CEO of Bancs Media & Studio Bancs, an award winning production company & creative art space, Bancs Wellness, a branding and social marketing company in the wellness and mental health space, co-founder of Elemental Treatment, a telemedicine treatment platform, and the co-founder of Gallery 38 a creative art space and art gallery in Los Angeles.
Safar is also the founder of Shemspeed, an independent recording label and promotional agency devoted to producing and developing dynamic multi-cultural artists and interactive media and is the producer of the extremely successful annual Sephardic Music Festival in New York City and Los Angeles.
Safar produces a slew of musical projects under the name Diwon, including his bands Bonhom, Dreams in Static, Tyrone Gosling and more. His unique blend of multi genre music with beat-driven cultural rarities gives his work its distinct sound. MTV highlighted his work for his blend of hip hop and dancehall. Most recently MTVu featured his single "The Takeover" starring Andy Milonakis, which TV Guide recently highlighted as "What's Hot." 2DOPEBOYZ and Vibe Magazine's allhiphop have also noted Safar's rap flips of 80s inspired sonics. It's the producer as auteur as every track takes you through the emotional space of the artist, like Kanye or Godard.
Safar began as a radio personality at WMUC (University of 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. He has since performed across the globe, negotiated deals with Warner Brothers, Universal, Capitol, Polydor and Sony, and continues to sign the most dynamic and inspiring artists to Bancs Music imprint.
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, BBC and CBS. His businesses have been profiled in Bloomberg Business Week, Time Magazine, and on NBC. His artists have performed with stars such 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 Conan O'Brien, CBS, and BBC World programs. Safar is a global artist. URB Magazine wrote that "Safar 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 addition to his music, Safar is dedicated to bringing diverse people together through education workshops and public appearances with his artists. Safar's eclectic skill set, varied experience, and passion to help others gives him a unique perspective and insight into a broad variety of critical topics affecting today's artists and world culture.
