Biography
Ilay Elmakys (עילאי אלמקייס, born May 7, 2000) is an Israeli singer, songwriter, and actor.
Breakthrough
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He first gained attention through TikTok covers of Mizrahi and Israeli songs, building a following with millions of likes. He rose to national prominence in 2023 as a contestant on X Factor Israel (the Israeli version aiming for Eurovision), reaching the quarter-finals. His performances, especially strong vocal covers, earned significant YouTube views (over 8 million during the season).
Music Career
After the show, he signed with Gaga Management and began releasing original singles and covers.
Notable tracks include:
“מכל הלילות” (2022) – one of his biggest early hits
“הטיפש הזה” (2023)
“תרקדי איתו”
“פרק אחרון”
Later releases such as “עדיף לך בלעדיי” (2025), “מוצרט”, “שוב פרידות”, and “ילד מטומטם” (2026)
He has also collaborated on tracks and continues to release music regularly in the Israeli pop/Mizrahi scene.
Other Work
In addition to music, he has acted in the Israeli drama series Hooligans (חוליגנים) on Kan 11.
Elmakys remains active as a performer and recording artist, known for his vocal ability and growing presence in Israeli popular music.
Biography text from Last.fm, available under CC BY-SA.