By Yoav Friedman, Ynetnews.com
Jewish reggae singer Matisyahu‘s new album “Light” will be released in Israel on August 24. Meanwhile, the first single from the CD, “One Day” has already garnered nearly a million plays on MySpace.
Ahead of the launching of the album in Israel Matisyahu gave an interview to Ynet about his music, inspiration and faith.
Matisyahu has worked on the album for two years, a large part of which he dedicated to the study of Torah, and especially the teachings of Rebbe Nachman of Breslov and “The story of the seven beggars.”
According to Matisyahu, Rebbe Nachman “writes a lot about the tzimtzum, or retraction of godly light, in order to make room for this world to exist with him having to withdraw his presence.
“Being that man is a reflection of God, this means that we too have a void or empty space within. True creation must come from this place. Most of our lives we spend uncomfortable with this void and trying to fill it but if a person can get in touch with this quiet place within and live there, they can tap their creative potential. I have spent much of the past few years trying to come to terms with this and the new record is the product of this work.”
Rebbe Nachman’s writings have inspired not only the creative process, but also the content of the songs, said the singer: “Rebbe Nachman speaks a lot about insanity and that in order to reach heights a person must go through this process of allowing oneself to be low.
“Humility, insanity for the sake of authentic experience, taking chances, courage, following ones heart, emptiness: these are many of the themes that I deal with on the new record.”
– What significant changes are there between the new album and your earlier ones?
“With the new record I didn’t use one specific band or group of musicians to play and write. Instead I brought together many different friends with different musical backgrounds and sort of put it all together to create a new sound.
“Lyrically in the past I sort of wrote with a free association; this time I spent quite some time developing ideas and writing lyrics and then revising.”
Conversations with God
In the song “Silence”, Matisyahu addresses God and asks him to talk to him. When asked what he thinks God would have told him, the musician said: “My question to God is, why do you kill us? His answer is, continue to question. This world is about finding the authentic questions that resonate in your soul, next world will be about answers.”
– Two years ago the religious Jewish media reported that Matisyahu has changed his religious affiliation, abandoned Chabad and joined the Karlin Hasidic stream. Was this really the case?
“I am glad you are asking this so I can clear things up a bit,” he said. “I davened at a Karlin Shul a handful of times and mentioned that to a reporter. All of a sudden it makes me a Karlin Hasid. I am many things. Sometimes I am none of them.
“Why are we so quick to be one thing or the other? Happy or sad, high or low, good or bad, this or that. Perhaps things are more complex. Perhaps we are happy and sad, high and low, etc all at the same time. Things are a mixture more often than purely one thing or the other.”
One of Matisyahu’s well-known sources of inspiration is Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach, “the dancing rabbi”. How is his music different from Rabbi Carlebach’s?
“Its apples and oranges,” he replied. “Shlomo’s music was not for the masses. It was beautiful, soulful, and deep but it was mainly in Hebrew and was born out of Jewish experience. My music is coming out of the non-Jewish world and therefore it resonates in the world at large.”
– Then is there a difference between singing to Jews and to non-Jews?
“No, no, no. God forbid. My music is for whoever chooses to listen and it is for them to get out of it whatever they choose. Once it leaves me and goes into the world it is no longer mine to choose who and what and how.”
– Do you think of moving to Israel sometime?
“I will definitely move to Israel, God willingly. In the meantime I try to visit Israel every chance I get.”
Audio Clip:
Can’t listen? click here
I dont think we hve the right to jugde others so eisaly. Perkie Avos and and spacificaly Chassidus teach us that you can not attempt to judge sombdy else until you walk a day in thier shoes, so to speak.The only being who has the right judge is Hashem. We need to try to judge others favorably for the good and look with in our selfs for further self improvment( I’m speaking to myself here as well). Weather Matisyahu wants to “wear ” the Chabad hat today or the Karlin one,that is his prsonal bussiness between himself and Hashem. May… Read more »
I have been noticing that this generation of Jewish children are lost, why don’t all the nay sayers go out of their closed homes, and take care of just the CH young men, and women who have lost their way.
Matisyahu does amazing things ofr yiddishkeit! not in the way the Rebbe insturcted us and while he was ‘officialy’ a lubavitcher the FOOLS who runs this site and chabad.org thought the kiddush hashem was that he is a lubavitcher, instead of the kissuh hashem of 1000’s of lubavitcher who know the masechta gemoro of that yr by heart. THAT was the wrong msg for the youth not soming he did wrong. and for who ever wrote the rebbe encrouraged piamenta the rebbe wrote to piamenta about their concerts before they began:ONLY IF THEY R SURE NO ONE WHO DOES NOT… Read more »
sometimes these comment forums can be a platform for losh. not all opinions need be published? beautiful beautiful song. i can hear neshoma loud and clear
MAYBE HE HAS A VALID REASON FOR DOING THIS OR WHATEVER THE CASE IS!!! DON’T GO BUTTING INTO OTHER PEOPLES LIVES!!! JUST BECAUSE HE LEFT IT DOESNT MEAN U HAVE TO POUNCE ON HIM!! HE’S ANOTHER JEW AND HE’S NOT LIKE A MISNAGID OR SOMETHING SO JUST BE QUIET!!!! MIND UR OWN BUSINESSES!!
Oy vey, you just dont get it. Matisyahu’s music is all angry its the way he sings its supposed to be angry, its supposed to make you angry angry a million times yaba ya ba bab ababab a
HES HONEST AND SHABAD FOLKS OF CH CANY HANDLE TOO MUCH HONESTY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! KEEP GOING MAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!
As far as I was aware of this section in the website, it is written, “What’s Your Opinion?”
This is where people express their opinion and it is totally legitimate to voice their opinion and so are you… but going about and being angry that they said what they felt is just being selfish.
Hello?? Matisyahu is doing what he said he was doing all along: Reaching out, and spreading light to, the goyim and Yidden who know little about Yiddishkeit. He is being a light unto the nations. Period. When non jews are singing for Moshiach (as they were at a recent concert) and Fry Yidden are listening to Matis make a bracha on a drink on stage, its beautiful. Simply put: 1)Yidden are feeling “cooler” about being Jewish and Jew and non-Jew alike are being exposed to a deeper, higher more meaningful way of life than they ever knew existed. Music is… Read more »
It’s a shame some of us feel the need to blame our troubled youth on something like mattisyahu’s music, who’s lyrics speak of searching for truth, connecting to Hashem, and being real.
All other things being equal, no child will leave yiddishkeit because he heard music that doesn’t sound traditional.
Maybe our terrible negativity, speed to judge, and thoughtless labeling is what is pushing them away…
1- he’s not a good influence on the frum kids.
2- there was video of him jumping in a mixed crowd –
why is his music being publicized here?
3- why do you advertise it?
4- he didn’t answer the question – are you a lubab or not?
I personally am not impressed with his behavior and if the brelovers or karliner or what ever want him – they can have him!
#17, are the Litvish and the Reformed alike to you? To many in the Litvish/Yeshivish world, MBD and Avrom Fried are too much like rock to be acceptable. I’m sure you don’t mean to insult, but maybe you should learn more about other Jews before you speak.
Most of you people commenting are horrible, no wonder Matis looked other places, I think when I see him I will ask him where the Kirlin Shul is located for me and my family. Matis is not the bad influence, most of you are, he is fulfilling being a light to the nations bringing Jew and Non-Jew alike to Hashem, are any of you?
ahavas yisroel means to love your fellow jew as yourself not to love yourself. so just show your love for a second jew. That will bring Moshiach not the bikering etc.
This guy is troubled , dangerously alluring and a very bad influence on a already messed up generation of youth. Dont use G-d and religion to permote ur “music” b/c there is nothing G-d fearing or jewish about it! we need more of A.Freed who is just that!
He said a full posuk….
which you are alowwed to do
don lchaf zchus
matis is a friend and a good man an umbelievable performer i love his music GO MATIS
This youngman has an artistic nature and as such will be drawn to many places.
Obviously he was attracted to Chabad intially, but as is to be expected of such a person he moves around.
I do not underdstand his music, I am probably to old.
I have great reservation about the influence it has on our young people.He fact that mixed crowds of Yidden and lehavidil goyim go to his concerts is very disconcerting.
We need healthy role models for our youth.
I just hope he will continue to be Shomer Torah u’mitzvos for himself, his wife and family.
It seems to me you are really looking for the truth!
And finding it as well.
Maybe I should check out how they daven in Karlin.
Sounds like its better than davenning in 770 these days.
the talking…
and maybe they are LEARNING their chassidus better than ours…who cares if we HAVE it on our SHELVES!
You are an inspiration.
Oh, I would love to write may name here,
if it weren’t for the MOB! who would lynch me with their tongues and fingers.
Suffice it to say, this H.M. and I love you man!
dose he know your not allowed to SAY HASHEMS NAME IN VAIN
!!!!!!
ok i was at one of his concerts this summer and it was amazing. the most amazing part? he wanted to do a mincha & maariv thing backstage. so he got me and a bunch of other jewish kids who were so excited to daven and pray! they didnt even know how! they just davened and followed along with the ones who knew! they were all like: man! i should have brought my tzitzit! i dont know why im imbarrased!!!! take that all you CH people who love yent and vent about him and how he is…..blah blah blah! yaddah… Read more »
i passed Matisyahu on Crown Street the other day. his toddler was scooting ahead of him on a little scooter. i love his music and i enjoyed seeing him with his son. whatever he is, whatever he sings – i think he is sincere in what he does and is not superficial. i have never heard a bad word about his actions or his Middos. because someone is rich and famous – we do not have scrutinize his actions. we are coming into Shabbos Mevorchim Elul. the Mitzvah is to scrutinize yourself. i don’t know of any Mitzvah to scrutinize… Read more »
Writting on a blog.
If you learn Chitas etc, are mekushar to the Rebbe v’echulu that’s chabad, not if some uptight CH ghetto loosers approve or not of you.
I think Crown Heightsers feel threatened by Lubavitchers who don’t make their living from “kehos” or some family connections.
How dare you make it without our Jewish welfare system, they ask.
Go matis, and go everyone who is a little or a lot different.
Mr. Pain
100% right.
vos fara zach is matisyahu in chabad
I don’t know who he is-but his music is terrible!!! I can’t listen to it. Maybe I am just not used to non-Jewish music and this is what sounds nice out there….
My Gosh… Avraham Fried never gets this kind of
blog attention, yet his tunes are the stuff of chassidishe chasines to tunce to… not Matisyahu’s…. his stuff is for low lights, colored strobes, smoke rising from the stage, for the young mixed crowd. Let the young people have a good time while they can… you can be sure they’ll return to Chabad in due time. No prob. The Rebbe is watching over everyone.
mashiach now!!…..:)
think poditive!
genug shoin. let him search out his spiritual life on his own.
Some comments stated: “He abandoned Chabad.” I don’t think that means that Chabad should abandon him. Whether you like his style or not, do you imagine that the Rebbe would push him away?
This is a beautiful song, and Matisyahu strives to be close to Hashem.
That is more than good enough for me.
Just let him be. Stop critizing. Please.
Is he excluded from Ahavas Yisroel?
i am embarrassed to say this (I can’t believe I am) but my son asked me to listen to his latest song “One Day.” I thought it was beautiful!
Moshiach is definitely coming if I can say I like this music!
The only place he would be accepted fot what he is is not among Chasidim but among Litvish or Reform Jews.
Comment number 9 you are even not ashamed. He his a nice guy who introduce weird lyrics in his music. And I think that Chabad don’t have to be proud of that guy.
He abondonned Chabad and may he never return. His anwer was not an answer. He left the house and don’t want to say it. He is even not ashamed to say that his music is Goyish. All he has in his mind is popularity not Halakhah. And it’s not an hazard that he quoted Carlebach.
He didn’t anwer the question about his Chasidic affiliation.
There’s not just one way to express your spirituality.
You are all just scared of it b/c its new to you.
How about a little tolerance for the way other people may express themselves and their connection to Hashem?!?!
Whether you like him or not, at least he is a pnimi. He means what he does and he digs deep within himself. Dos iz vos Chabad mont, but how many of us actually do it?
And remember his background. The Rebbe encouraged many musicians to adapt their talents for kedusha (Piamenta, Issac Biton, etc). It may be inappropriate for you, but it could be a heicher madreiga for him.
STOP CRITICIZING!!! YOU DON”Y HAVE TO LISTEN TO THE MUSIC!! DON”T LISTEN!! STOP PUTTING YOUR TRIP ON EVERYBODY ELSE!!!!!!!!
i agree with genug shoin. i was glad when he left, and the way he carry himself now i don’t want him back. chabad is better off without the stain of reggae, which is asur m’shum avodah zorah according to halocha.
Matisyahu is very nice – not need to criticize, although I dont get his music – especially his latest pieces are a bit weird. No offense, but he is really a good nice person and I am proud that he is Chabad, cause he is just a good guy trying to find his way. Go Mattis…
hes a bad influence for chabad kids
take down the clip he sings with hasem name its not aloowd
Live and let live. There’s handfuls of Lubavitchers who sway to other shtibelech, be it Boro Park; Flatbush; Manhattan, whatever……. and being an artist like Matityahu, artists tend to flow with the winds of change, they are literally caught up in the place that they visit….. Me, I’m just a plain yid, Chabad, not a big learner, but I am easily influences by every different kind of tune on this planet, be it: Rock and Roll; Hard Rock; Soft Rock; Chassidic; Pop, Swing, Reggae, you name it… If you put me in Woodstock, I would have swung my hands up… Read more »
I am kind of disappointed to see that he is backtracking on the leaving Chabad thing. Every time a story about him is posted on a Chabad website, everyone starts criticizing him. It seems that most people in Chabad are too closed minded to appreciate anyone who is not 100% brainwashed! I am not saying that you have to listen to his music. If you want to listen only to Nichoach all day, that is great. The point is that he doesn’t make his music for Chabad people, he makes it for the whole world to come a bit closer… Read more »
but the music is truly great!!!!!!!!!!!
give credit where credit is due!!!!
so did he abandon chabad?
“I am glad you are asking this so I can clear things up a bit,” he said. “I davened at a Karlin Shul a handful of times and mentioned that to a reporter. All of a sudden it makes me a Karlin Hasid. I am many things. Sometimes I am none of them.” Is he some sort of Politician ??
Enough of him already, he was not a good influence.
you can make jokes about Matisyahu but ther somthing about his music that gets to my soul and not much can do that, great song