Crowd surfing, mosh pits and clubs all go hand in hand, but when a Hasidic Jew is added, things seem out of the ordinary. Matisyahu, born as Matthew Miller, is an Orthodox Jew who blends traditional Jewish values into reggae, rock and hip-hop music. He will play tonight at his architectural counterpart - the Sixth and I Historical Synagogue.
"I have never felt held to really any one style of music," Matisyahu - Hebrew for "Matthew" - said in an interview with The Eagle.
He is touring to support his new EP "Shattered," which features many songs that will also appear on his upcoming 2009 album, "Light."
Before Matisyahu found his religion, he spent time following the band Phish around on tour and was a self-proclaimed hippie. He grew up in White Plains, N.Y., where he barely paid attention in school but always had a knack for music. Matisyahu went to Israel for a semester during his high school career and took classes there. After traveling to Israel, he changed his "deadhead" views, found God and has been incorporating Jewish themes into his work ever since.
"The form of worship that your parents have is not necessarily your choice," Matisyahu said.
"For me, I decided to become more religious and I became very close and heavily influenced by the Chabad," he said, referring to the Hasidic movement based out of the Crown Heights neighborhood in New York.
He stands out from other performers because of his traditional Orthodox garb and adherence to strict laws, which includes not performing on the Sabbath.
In 2004, Matisyahu's debuted his first album "Shake off the Dust ... Arise," but did not gain recognition in the pop culture world until his 2005 Bonaroo performance with Phish's Trey Anastasio. After releasing two more albums - "Live at Stubb's" and "Youth" - Matisyahu is once again on the road after the production of his latest studio album, "Light."
Matisyahu commented on the differences between his studio albums. Musically, he relies on bands such as Phish, Sublime and Bob Marley for inspiration when he writes and produces his songs. His albums range from reggae to hip-hop, and he said each album was created with a different theme in mind.
"The 'Live at Stubb's' record was created by the band, each song was created the same way," Matisyahu said. "The 'Youth' record, the band created. ['Light'] was done more from me; I reached out to different people musically who I was interested in."
"Light," which is expected to debut early next year, carries the theme of serenity and peace. The entire album is based on a Jewish folktale from the 1880s about seven beggars.
"The name of the EP is 'Shattered' and that is also a theme on the record, 'Light,' the concept of coming to a place within your self, a quiet place," he said.
On "Shattered," the song "Smash Lies" sounds incredibly different from his previous albums. He incorporates more of a techno beat into this song, adding a new level to his music. "Smash Lies" begins with an acoustic guitar and ties in many different instruments, such as a sitar and a robot's voice.
Other songs resemble the typical Matisyahu style, including Hebrew chants and reggae backbeats. "So Hi, So Lo" carries a pop music feel to it, with a catchy repetitive chorus and background bass.
His songs speak of staying on the right track, like not getting involved in drugs as he states in his best-known song "King Without a Crown" - "If you're trying to stay high, you're bound to stay low."
To be an Orthodox Jew on the road is sometimes challenging. There are many rules that he must abide by - and keeping Kosher is not the only challenge.
"There is a Jewish law of men and women not touching - not engaging in casual touch and getting groped," Matisyahu said. "As I became more religious, I decided to stop crowd surfing."
No crowd surfing and devout lyrics are just some of the many religious aspects one can expect from his concerts. There are always communities willing to take him and the band in, and in any town there is a synagogue where they can worship, he said. After Matisyahu's shows, he holds short services backstage for anyone who would like to attend. In these short prayer services, he provides an environment where people gather to come together and pray through music.
With all the pressure and fast-paced networking involved in modern pop culture society, it may seem difficult to shy away from temptations and peer pressure.
"It's a lot easier being focused and devoted to a certain way of life," Matisyahu said. "When you are in a situation where there is a lot of temptation to fall off of the path, the Hasidic lifestyle is there to help you in terms of keeping yourself holy and pure and focused."
You can reach this writer at thescene@theeagleonline.com.
