EJP | Culture | Hasidic reggae superstar in Paris

	Thursday, November 20, 2008 22 Cheshvan, 5769

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Hasidic reggae superstar in Paris

Updated: 06/Dec/2005 19:03

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Imagine Bob Marley, with the looks of a rabbi, singing the glory of Judaism… Sporting sidelocks instead of dreadlocks, a long beard and tzitzits, Matisyahu is New York’s Hasidic reggae superstar.

The singer-songwriter managed to fuse lyrics about his Hasidic Jewish culture with melodies from dance hall reggae.

Among his musical inspirations are Bob Marley, Phish and Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach.

Born Matthew Miller, Matisyahu grew up in Brooklyn, New York. When he started exploring his Jewish roots, he soon found striking similarities between Judaism and Rastafarian culture. For Matisyahu, the numerous connections between Judaism and reggae run deep.

For his music it meant a meeting between his Jewish Orthodox culture and classic reggae music.

“A lot of religious Rastafarians adhere to laws based on the Old Testament and they incorporated it in their music. There are a lot of cultural convergences between the two communities. Both are against the current in their own way,” the artist explained.

“Reggae music also helped me renew and rediscover my faith. In a strange way, reggae music made me connect to Judaism.”

Prophet of the modern times

Most songs are in English with a few Hebrew and Yiddish words sprinkled in.

For his only concert in Paris on 1 December, Matisyahu performed in front of a mixed audience.

Louise D. was among them. She was not a reggae fan but she decided to go to concert because she was intrigued by the artist.

“An Orthodox Jew who plays reggae and dub – to me it didn’t seem possible. When I saw Matisyahu in his black suit and hat with the traditional beard, singing reggae I really was disoriented, she comments.

“He is a professional artist. His repertoire is impressive,” she added.

Simon A., a Matisyahu fan said the show was spectacular. “Matisyahu was great. The fact that the artist is religious makes it interesting. You can really feel the influence of Jewish culture.

“Matisyahu conveys a universal message of peace through the love of God in the spirit of the Hassidim. In this way he really widens our horizon. He has even performed with Kenny Muhammad, a Muslim beat-boxer,” he added.

Matisyahu is currently working on his next album. The release date is unknown.

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