Last Saturday I went to see one of my favorite artists Matisyahu. This was my third time seeing him, as always, he delivered. His shows are musical and spiritual experiences that lift the spirit and consume the body with rhythmic beatboxing movement. The light is strong within him and you can't help but be lifted from it. And the dancer in me cannot be around music without it manifesting into physical form, and last Saturday night was no different. I danced the entire show.
Matisyahu, born Matthew Miller (also goes by "Matis"), played for more than two hours weaving in is new music along side his older material and his commercial hit "King Without a Crown." He also performed an intense and hard-driving version of "Jerusalem" where every note and beat consumed me, and ended the performance with one of my favorites, Warrior, which is about struggle and "fighting for your soul" and transforming the dark into light and lifting us up. And that is exactly what Matis delivered. He lifted us through his music, words and performance.
His music is a true collaborative work of art and life, and his live performance is also collaborative where he lets everyone shine. The solos from each of his band members were intense, free-flowing and electrifying. In those moments it was like a mini geek fest for musicians.
Last month Matis released "Shattered" his new EP, consisting of four songs, that is a prelude to the new album due out in early 2009. Matis first hit the scene with his debut album Shake Off the Dust...Arise. However, it wasn't until after his next two albums took off that Shake Off the Dust...Arise began to gain interest.
The first time I heard Matis was in 2006 with his 2005 Live at Stubb's album, which was a live recording from a show that he did at Stubb's in Austin, Texas. It was followed by his second studio album Youth. Both Youth and Live at Stubb's received critical acclaim.
When Matis first began to gain in popularity he was, and still is, described as a Chasidic Jewish reggae artist who blends the sounds of reggae, hip-hop, rock, beatbox and spoken word weaved with lyrics of inspired Jewish teachings and messages of struggle and hope. His music inspires and his passion for his work is evident.
Matisyahu is an artist who continues to grow and evolve as is heard in his new music. This is one of the elements that I love about Matis. He's an artist who explores, experiences, discovers and grows from it; and he embarks in new directions and allows us to go on the journey with him. I suppose some original fans may say his material is losing its reggae roots or straying from traditional Jewish teachings, but I would say that his music reflects the evolution of an artist who continues to seek truth in life and in his art, and stays true to himself.
Poet and Author Matthue Roth writes this about Matisyahu's new music, "It's a departure from straightforward reggae as well as an experiment in storytelling and pop music. It's also a more intricate statement about God than even his fans are accustomed to hearing." This is taken from a recent article written by Roth and published at The Jewish Journal. It is incredibly well written and one of the best articles I've read about Matisyahu. If you're still reading my post this far down, then I encourage you to read Roth's article Chasidic beatboxing keeps Matisyahu moving.
And if you haven't heard his music or seen him live check out his site: Matisyahu World. And watch the promo video below.
You got one tiny moment in time for life to shine, burn away the darkness...I will be light ~Matisyahu
I hope Matisyahu could visit us here in Manila. He's one of my favorite artists.
Posted by: Sherwin | April 30, 2009 at 03:34 AM