Matisyahu
If you know reggae music, then you know this name. If you listened to and watched any of the 2010 Vancouver Olympic games, then you heard his music. And if you like Akon’s music then you probably know that Akon likes Matisyahu’s music. I talked to Matisyahu last weekend before his performance where he was performing after Sublime with Rome and Dirty Heads who are groups that if you know reggae music, you’ll know these are more of best of the best in their fields. In fact Sublime’s Rome Ramirez and Dirty Heads just released a single you’re hearing a lot on the radio called Lay Me Down. Rome sings the song with Dirty Heads but not Sublime. If you know reggae music, you already know this information. But I didn’t talk to Sublime with Rome for a few reasons.
1. The guys were busy doing a sound check when I arrived
2. I did not have a scheduled interview with them. Grammy nominated Matisyahu is a style that I really like and so do millions of other people. He’s got his own style, (it’s really too complex so noone is even going to try), his road manager escorted me to Matisyahu’s RV, where he was before his sold out concert. I knew he was going to be a nice person, I could just tell and when you listen to his current song, “One Day” that he co-wrote, that was another reason that as a kid, I can tell when someone is pretty cool. I didn’t talk to him about his performances at the Olympics or his many late night show performances on Jay Leno, Kimmel or Letterman. I asked him how he became him (and of course, if he could sing “One Day” to me, which he did).
Q. You do rap, hip hop, jazz, scat singing and Judaism hazzan and beat boxing all into
Reggae music. First what is beat boxing? And how did you combine all these
Styles?
A. Beatboxing is when you make the sounds of drums with your mouth. When I was a
Kid, I never really took to an instrument. I tried to play but could never really focus to
Learn, but I knew I loved music & I loved singing and as I started listening to more reggae/hip hop music, I started doing rapping and then did beat boxing. My friends who rapped freestyle-I’d do the beat boxing behind them.
Q. When did you start singing and who inspired you?
A. When I was in school there were 2 choruses, the regular performing arts chorus and
The gospel chorus. When the gospel chorus performed,I wanted to be in that and everyone asked why do you want to be in the gospel chorus. That was really the first
Inspiration in singing I got.
Q. Your lyrics are very powerful and your song “one Day” is one of my favorite songs.
How did you come up with the lyrics to write this song?
A. I wrote that song with 3 other people so I can’t take all the credit for it. But basically, I
Wanted to write a song that was really an anthem, a song about peace and hope and belief .
Q. at the 2010 Olympic games in Vancouver, “One Day” was the Olympics Official song for NBC. You’ve called it a Global Anthem. Do you think you could sing some of it?
A. Matisyahu sings “One day” , even though he has an earache and scheduled to
Perform in a few hours.
I have to say, that’s something I’ll always remember.
Q. “One Day” also had a remix with the singer Akon. How did that happen?
A. a friend said Akon really liked it and the record company had him sing it.
Q. You just finished Disney’s Circle of Life song for the New Disney Reggae Club
Album… was it fun to do? And how did you decide to do it different from Elton John?
A. I felt like it would be a good reggae song because of the theme of the music and the
Imagery in reggae music like the lion of Judah. We tried to make it more modern…
More phsychodelic.
Q. You have a style that’s all your own…was it tough to keep “real to yourself” in the
Music business?
A, The hardest thing is keeping it real to yourself. Everytime I get up on stage, I ask myself what am I doing here-why am I here- do people really want to listen to me-what do I have to say and how can I express what I have to say the best and always try to be evolving and growing and better ways to express myself and not get caught up in pleasing
Everybody.
Q. have you had any obstacles and how did you overcome them?
A. everyday is an obstacle. Everyday there’s little things and just try to stay centered and focused and thankful.
Q. Plans for the future?
A. Continuing to make more music, write more songs and another album and I’m thinking about doing a kids album too.
Reggae music. First what is beat boxing? And how did you combine all these
Styles?
A. Beatboxing is when you make the sounds of drums with your mouth. When I was a
Kid, I never really took to an instrument. I tried to play but could never really focus to
Learn, but I knew I loved music & I loved singing and as I started listening to more reggae/hip hop music, I started doing rapping and then did beat boxing. My friends who rapped freestyle-I’d do the beat boxing behind them.
Q. When did you start singing and who inspired you?
A. When I was in school there were 2 choruses, the regular performing arts chorus and
The gospel chorus. When the gospel chorus performed,I wanted to be in that and everyone asked why do you want to be in the gospel chorus. That was really the first
Inspiration in singing I got.
Q. Your lyrics are very powerful and your song “one Day” is one of my favorite songs.
How did you come up with the lyrics to write this song?
A. I wrote that song with 3 other people so I can’t take all the credit for it. But basically, I
Wanted to write a song that was really an anthem, a song about peace and hope and belief .
Q. at the 2010 Olympic games in Vancouver, “One Day” was the Olympics Official song for NBC. You’ve called it a Global Anthem. Do you think you could sing some of it?
A. Matisyahu sings “One day” , even though he has an earache and scheduled to
Perform in a few hours.
I have to say, that’s something I’ll always remember.
Q. “One Day” also had a remix with the singer Akon. How did that happen?
A. a friend said Akon really liked it and the record company had him sing it.
Q. You just finished Disney’s Circle of Life song for the New Disney Reggae Club
Album… was it fun to do? And how did you decide to do it different from Elton John?
A. I felt like it would be a good reggae song because of the theme of the music and the
Imagery in reggae music like the lion of Judah. We tried to make it more modern…
More phsychodelic.
Q. You have a style that’s all your own…was it tough to keep “real to yourself” in the
Music business?
A, The hardest thing is keeping it real to yourself. Everytime I get up on stage, I ask myself what am I doing here-why am I here- do people really want to listen to me-what do I have to say and how can I express what I have to say the best and always try to be evolving and growing and better ways to express myself and not get caught up in pleasing
Everybody.
Q. have you had any obstacles and how did you overcome them?
A. everyday is an obstacle. Everyday there’s little things and just try to stay centered and focused and thankful.
Q. Plans for the future?
A. Continuing to make more music, write more songs and another album and I’m thinking about doing a kids album too.
Matisyahu is touring the US and Canada through September. He just finished a world tour. The New Disney Reggae Club Album is available everywhere and features in addition to Matisyahu, Ziggy Marley, UB40 and more.
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