Zusha (band)

Zusha is an American Hasidic folk/soul band from Manhattan, New York. They formed in 2013 with lead singer Shlomo Gaisin and guitarist Zachariah Goldschmiedt. The band, named after Zusha of Hanipol, combines traditional Hasidic niggunim with secular styles like jazz, folk, and reggae. Their self-titled debut EP, released on October 28, 2014, reached No. 9 on Billboard's World Albums chart, while their debut full-length album, Kavana (2016), reached No. 2.

Zusha
Front Left: Shlomo Gaisin
Front Right: Zachariah Goldschmiedt
Background information
OriginManhattan, New York
GenresJewish rock, folk rock, soul, nigunim
Years active2013–present
Associated actsJudaBlue
Websitezusha.com
MembersShlomo Gaisin
Zachariah Goldschmeit
Past membersElisha Mlotek

History

Origins (2013-2014)

Zusha was formed in 2013 by Shlomo Gaisin, Zachariah Goldschmiedt, and Elisha Mlotek. All three had prior music backgrounds: Gaisin was the lead singer of the Jewish rock band JudaBlue, Goldschmiedt was the lead singer and producer for the electro-funk band Ch!nch!lla, and Mlotek is the son of Folksbiene director Zalmen Mlotek and grandson of Yiddish musicologist Eleanor Mlotek.[1][2]

Gaisin and Mlotek met at a Chabad house in Bowery, and both were later introduced to Goldschmiedt through a mutual friend. They began rehearsing in friends' apartments, recording their sessions via iPhone, until Dani Bronstein, their current manager and Rabbi Avram Mlotek, Elisha Mlotek's brother, encouraged them to share their music more publicly.[1][3]

Zusha EP (2014-2016)

Zusha's self-titled debut EP was recorded and produced by Mason Jar Music and released on October 28, 2014, two days after the band's first show at the Mercury Lounge with Levi Robin.[1][4] The EP subsequently reached No. 9 on Billboard's World Albums chart.[5] In December, they performed at the Knitting Factory[6] and opened for Soulfarm at the Highline Ballroom.[7] The EP features cover art by Hasidic expressionist artist, Chezi Gerin.[8]

In 2015, they gave a Purim concert with G-Nome Project at the Bowery Ballroom[9] and a Havdalah concert at the Atlanta Jewish Academy.[10] They also performed at the Kulturfest Yiddish Soul concert at Central Park's Rumsey Playfield, alongside Hasidic pop stars Avraham Fried and Lipa Schmeltzer, cantors Joseph Malovany and Yaakov Lemmer, and klezmer trumpeter Frank London.[11] In May, they played at the Washington, D.C. Jewish Community Center as part of the Washington Jewish Music Festival.[12]

Kavana (2016-present)

The band's first full-length album, Kavana, was released on January 5, 2016, and subsequently reached No. 2 on Billboard's World Albums chart.[13] A music video was filmed for the song "Mashiach". The album's song "Pashut" was featured in the trailer for the 2017 film Menashe, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival.[14]

A Colorful World, Zusha’s second full album, was released on September 4, 2017. Unlike their previous albums, most songs on A Colorful World feature Hebrew lyrics of some sort, whether biblical (such as Mizmor) or more modern (like Hatikva).

Zusha’s third full album, When the Sea Split, released on September 1, 2019. The album marked Elisha Mlotek’s departure from the band.

Musical style

Zusha's music combines the wordless vocals and improvised nature of traditional nigunim with elements folk, jazz, soul, reggae, and ska.[1] Influences cited by the band include Shlomo Carlebach, Matisyahu, Bob Dylan, Damian Marley, and Yosi Piamenta.[3]

Hasidic influence

The band is often associated with the Hasidic hipster and neo-Hasidism movements, although they have debated the latter term, arguing that they are merely rediscovering Hasidism rather than reinventing it.[4][12] They have also rejected the label of being "Jewish music", with Mlotek saying, "The music is deeper than religion. It’s deeper than a faith. I’m Jewish, but I’m a person. Let’s start from there."[2]

Members
Current
Former

Discography

Albums
  • Kavana (2016)
  • A Colorful World (2017)
  • When the Sea Split (2019)
  • Cave of Healing (TBA)

EPs
  • Zusha (2014)

Singles
  • "Yoel's Niggun" (Zusha EP; 2014)
  • "Brother" (feat. C Lanzbom) (2014)
  • "Mashiach" (2016)
  • “Modeh” (2017)
  • “Baruch Hashem” (Feat. Matt Dubb) (2017)
  • “Reb Shayaleh” (2019)
  • “The Seder Song” (2019)
  • "Basi Legani (Live)" (2020)
  • "Kadshaynu" (2020)
  • "Merci" (2020)
  • "Biglal Avos" (2020)
  • "Lema'an Achai" (2020)

Music videos
  • "Mashiach" (2016)
  • “King” (2017)
  • "Hatikvah" (2018)
  • “Ad Shetehe” (2019)
  • "Wonders" (2019)
  • "Biglal Avos" (2020)

References
  1. Wojno, Rebecca (December 7, 2014). "Wordless melodies to soothe the soul". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 25 November 2015.
  2. Blumberg, Antonia (October 26, 2014). "The Hasidic Hipsters Of Zusha Are Here To Rock The World Of Jewish Music". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 25 November 2015.
  3. Hendelman, Ariel (September 2, 2015). "Hassidic hipster band Zusha takes nigunim to the next level". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 25 November 2015.
  4. Broder, Hillel (October 28, 2014). "Zusha, the Folk Band Named After a Hasidic Rabbi". Tablet Magazine. Retrieved 25 November 2015.
  5. "World Albums - Week of November 15, 2014". Billboard. Retrieved 25 November 2015.
  6. "Knitting Factory Brooklyn Presents Zusha, Primate Fiasco, Wild Leaves". Ticketweb. Retrieved 25 November 2015.
  7. Zeitlin, Alan (December 1, 2014). "Zusha Has The Hooks and The Looks". NY Blueprint. The Jewish Week. Retrieved 25 November 2015.
  8. "Chezi Gerin - Raw Expressionist Painter". www.chezigerin.com. Retrieved 2017-08-07.
  9. "Zusha Purim Festival - Tickets". BoweryBallroom.com. Retrieved 25 November 2015.
  10. "Shabbat Project Provides Excitement on Day of Rest". The Atlanta Jewish Times. October 29, 2015. Retrieved 25 November 2015.
  11. Levine, Alexandra (June 17, 2015). "Hasidic Stars Bring Yiddish Soul to Central Park". The Forward. Retrieved 26 November 2015.
  12. Codik, Emily (May 4, 2015). "This Washington Native Wants to Make Jewish Music More Universal than Ever Before". Washingtonian. Retrieved 26 November 2015.
  13. "World Albums - Week of January 23, 2016". Billboard. Retrieved 26 August 2016.
  14. "Our song "Pashut" featured in A24's newly released..." Facebook. April 19, 2017. Retrieved 22 April 2017.
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