Do you even have any idea what’s happening in the Jewish music world right now? We’ve been talking for a while now about religious Jews finally busting out into the mainstream scene and moving past mainstream Jewish music basically equating with Matisyahu. But it’s finally starting to happen, both in big and small ways.
Let me elucidate:
1. Levi Robin
Levi Robin has exploded onto the Jewish music scene after Matisyahu invited him to open for his new acoustic tour. The Jewish web has buzzing with this incredibly gifted young baal teshuva’s music. If you haven’t heard it, you need to. And don’t forget to download his EP. I demand it.
2. Ari Lesser
Ari Lesser has also been making waves, but, amazingly, has been doing it mainly through his intimate, soulful, YouTube videos. Without any beat, without any production, he looks us right in the face and shares his beautiful lyrics. What I’ve found so fascinating is that he’s managed, as you can see in the video above, to maintain a completely positive and soulful message throughout all his videos. None of them are angry or filled with klipah. Instead, they remind us that being Jewish is using the tools (such as rap) around us to create a new world. Ari is doing that. Thank G-d.
And P.S. don’t forget to support him by buying his music as well.
3. The Aveirah Song
Satire, especially in the context of Judaism, is a tricky thing. That’s why I’m so blown away by this song. It’s so pitch-perfect, so very ably pulled off and written, that it’s hard to believe it’s done by a frum Jew.
This song, done by “Dr. Dreizich” and posted on the Lev Aryeh YouTube page is a sign that Jews are starting to really stretch the boundaries with where their music is going. It’s the most amateur of the lot here, but it’s just as creative. And by the way, I have no idea who these Lev Aryeh people are, unless they’re this yeshiva. If anyone has more info on them, please get in touch.
4. Bulletproof Stockings (Kol isha warning!)
Have you seriously not heard of Bulletproof Stockings yet? The Chassidic Crown Heights ladies that are rocking the music scene the world over? You’re telling me you didn’t read the Times of Israel piece on them, or the New Yorker feature, or see the AOL video that got more than 600,000 hits? Wow. You need to get out more.
What’s amazing about these women is that, despite their enormous growth in after only a year of being together, is that they have continued to stick to their rule of only performing for women. Such dedication is a real Kiddush Hashem. Hopefully, we’ll see even more talented Jewish women taking the world by storm. They’re out there, even more than the men. They just need someone to notice them.
What do you think of these dudes and dudettes? Would you add someone to the list? Take someone off? Sound off below.
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