Hot new single and Ne-Yo collab just the beginning for Behani

With a new single and a collaboration with R&B legend Ne-Yo, Behani’s international music career is off to a cracking start. Will she be Australia’s next big name?

AUSSIE society figure Rebekah Behbahani has started the New Year on a high note, launching her international music career alongside her collaborator, R&B legend Ne-Yo at Juicy Fest.

Performing under her artist’s name of Behani, she launched her single Real Man at Sydney’s Accor Stadium on Saturday, after bumper gigs on the same bill as Nelly and Ja Rule in Brisbane and Melbourne.

“I am beyond excited. It’s my first tour in my home country, so I can’t tell you with words what it means to me,” she told Confidential.

Singer Behani pictured at the Crown in Barangaroo ahead of Juciy Fest. Picture: Damian Shaw

“Truthfully, I’m very tired. I’m literally sitting on the studio floor with blisters on my feet.”

Behbahani, who is engaged to Melbourne rich lister Alex Waislitz, says her finance inspired the debut track, which has already reached #2 on the Australian Shazam chart: “He’s my best friend first of all. We can talk about everything. I was able to embody all the elements that are sentimental to me in a man, and capture that with Ne-Yo.”

Behani collaborated on her debut singer Real Man with US singer Ne-Yo. Picutre: Damian Shaw.

Behbahani met Waislitz over a cheeseboard at a friend’s house party, where the 64-year-old investor said ‘Hi beautiful,’ to her in Farsi.

“I’m half Persian, half Italian, so I absolutely didn’t make the first move,” Behbahani said. “I wasn’t looking for love at the time.”

She credits the pandemic for her introduction to world-famous music producer Scott Storch, who sent her music to Ne-Yo, and has worked with the likes of Dr Dre and Beyonce.

“Zoom helped a lot. Producers were really open to working with new artists,” Behbahani said.

“After we finished writing the song together in Miami, it was a surreal moment where Ne-Yo loved it so much that he asked to jump on and sing a verse. You learn a lot working with someone at his calibre.”

Aussie singer Behani and her collaborator and friend Ne-Yo at Juicy Fest. Picture: Supplied

Behani is set to release two more singles with Ne-Yo in 2023, as well as collaboration with world-famous DJ Khaled. Picture: Supplied

With a cache of new singles ready to drop in 2023, Behani is ready to make some noise in the year ahead.

She also counts record executive DJ Khaled as a “dear friend,” whom she immediately bonded with because of their “cultural synergy”.

“He doesn’t really open up to new artists, so that was a dream come true.

“I’m just trying to live in the moment.”

Originally published as Hot new single and Ne-Yo collab just the beginning for Behani