Levi Robin

Yaakov Levi Robin (born 1992) is an American Hasidic folk singer based in Huntington Beach, California. He first gained attention as an opening act for Matisyahu, and released his self-titled debut EP in 2014.

Levi Robin
Birth nameYaakov Levi Robin
Born1992
OriginHuntington Beach, California
GenresJewish music, indie folk
Occupation(s)Singer, songwriter, guitarist
InstrumentsVocals, guitar
Years active2013-present
Associated actsMatisyahu, Zusha
Websitelevirobin.com

Biography

Early life

Robin grew up in California's Orange County.[1] He began playing guitar and writing songs at age 12, and later performed at clubs in Hollywood with a band that ultimately broke up.[1][2] He was athletic as a child, participating in gymnastics and baseball.[1]

Raised in a non-observant family, Robin first discovered Hasidism at 17, when some friends of his father were attempting to start a shul in Venice Beach with a rabbi who had studied under the Lubavitcher Rebbe. Intrigued by the Chabad philosophy, Robin studied the works of movement founder Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi, including the Tanya and the Shulchan Aruch HaRav, and began attending shul regularly after his father died.[1]

Career

Robin released his debut EP, the self-titled Levi Robin EP, on February 4, 2013. Subsequently, Jewish reggae singer Matisyahu began promoting Robin on Twitter and invited him to be an opening act for his 25-city acoustic tour.[3] Later that year, Robin performed alongside the Moshe Hecht Band at the Roulette Theater as part of a fundraiser for Lamplighters Yeshivah.[2]

In late 2015, Robin performed at a Sofar Sounds concert in New York.[4] The following month, he and Gad Elbaz played at a Chabad menorah lighting inside Barclays Center accompanying a New York Islanders game.[5][6]

Robin announced in early 2016 that he was working on new material with producers Stu Brooks and Joel Hamilton.[7]

Artistry

Robin's style of folk rock has been compared to Mumford & Sons, Iron & Wine, and Bob Dylan.[3][8] He has stated that his early songs were conceived almost unconsciously: "I was relying on my subconscious to teach me messages. I would mouth sounds until they became words and so I had whole songs that I didn’t understand."[1] He has also identified his faith as an influence, saying, "Being a Jew is an inner experience of growing in this context. I’m trying to tap into my American roots and express my American Jewish journey."[2]

Discography

EPs
  • Levi Robin EP (2013)

Albums
  • Where Night Meets Day (2020)

Singles
  • "Days of Our Youth" (2016)
  • "Airplane" (2017)
  • "No Other" (2020)

References
  1. Natlie Ling (Jan 20, 2015). "Dust Particles: Levi Robin, Singer/Songwriter" (interview). Lubavitch.com.
  2. Sara Trappler Spielman (July 1, 2013). "Meet the New Baal Teshuva Artists of Brooklyn". Tablet Magazine.
  3. David Meir Grossman (Aug 29, 2013). "The Rise and Fall and Rise of Former Reggae Star Matisyahu". Tablet Magazine.
  4. Sofar Sounds (Feb 3, 2016). "Levi Robin - Days of Our Youth - Sofar New York". YouTube.
  5. Lauren Gill (Dec 15, 2015). "The frozen people: Islanders celebrate Hanukkah with menorah made of ice". Brooklyn Paper.
  6. Dovid Margolin (Dec 9, 2015). "CTeens to 'High Five' Chanukah on the Court and on the Ice". Chabad.org.
  7. Levi Robin (Jan 24, 2016). "Privileged to be working with such talented people..." Facebook.
  8. Elie Lichtenstein (Aug 13, 2013). "An American Folksinger With A Hasidic Twist". The Jewniverse.
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