Yuval Raphael is heading to Eurovision to represent Israel, with her grand ballad ‘New Day Will Rise’.

A rising star

To find their hopeful for Basel 2025, Israel put on another edition of music contest The Rising Star (HaKokhav HaBa) . Yuval Raphael was one of the artists who made the final, competing against three other singers. Once the judges and public had cast their votes, she was the clear favourite, and got that ticket to Switzerland secured.

Throughout the contest, Yuval showed off her vocals in a number of songs, including Mon Amour, which was Slimane Eurovision entry for France in 2024, and Dancing Queen by Eurovision winner ABBA.

She also sang alongside last year's HaKokhav HaBa winner Eden Golan, performing Feeling Good, written by Anthony Newley and Leslie Bricusse and made famous by a number of singers including Nina Simone, Muse, and Michael Bublé.

Keeping her feet on the ground

Yuval lives in the city of Ra’anana, on the outskirts of Tel Aviv. It’s been her life-long dream to be a singer, and she especially loves soul and R&B. She spent her childhood listening to classic rock bands and pop divas; with Led Zeppelin, Scorpions, Beyoncé, and Céline Dion being her go-to artists.

The Eurovision Song Contest won’t be Yuval’s first visit to Switzerland, however. She lived in Geneva for three years as a child, and loved skiing and playing tennis while she was there.

Yuval has kept up her love for active hobbies. She enjoys horse-riding, dancing, and hanging out with her friends. She says that family is the most important thing to her, and that they are by her side every step of the way.

Eurovision inspiration

Yuval has fond recollections of Nadav Guedj’s performance of Golden Boy for Israel at Vienna 2015, citing it as her earliest Eurovision memory; in particular, those slick dance moves.

Her Eurovision hero is Netta, who won the Contest for Israel in 2018 with TOY. Yuval says: “Netta was unapologetically herself, which is the end goal in life – to always be the authentic you.”

The music behind her dream

Yuval has today continued her love for rock and pop that she consumed so much of as a child. Some of her favourite songs include Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody, Estelle and Kanye West’s American Boy, and Eurovision legend Måneskin’s cover of Beggin’.

She has plenty of R&B influences too, and can often be found listening to RAYE’s Oscar Winning Tears and Justin Bieber and Chance the Rapper’s Confident. For good measure, she also loves Gipsy Kings’ Bamboléo. Well, who doesn’t?!

When she gets a chance to work her vocal chords at karaoke, Yuval’s songs of choice are Hopelessly Devoted To You, sung by Olivia Newton-John in Grease, and Shallow sung by Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper in the film A Star Is Born.

If Yuval could choose any three famous people from throughout history to have dinner with, she would be heavily inspired by her taste in music. She’d choose Freddie Mercury, Ariana Grande, and Lady Gaga.

A new day in Basel

Two months after her HaKokhav HaBa win, Yuval revealed her Eurovision song, New Day Will Rise. The song was written by Keren Peles, a highly-respected Israeli singer, composer, and performer, who also co-wrote Eden Golan’s Hurricane.

Travelling to Basel will be special for Yuval; Switzerland was a big part of Yuval’s childhood, and she misses the family who still live there. She also remembers the incredible food.

She says she’s looking forward to visiting her old hometown, reminiscing over old memories, and breathing the fresh air of Switzerland.

Listen out for Yuval on the Official Eurovision Song Contest Podcast .

You can learn more about Yuval Raphael from Israel right here .