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Zusha (band)

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Zusha
Front Left: Shlomo Gaisin
Front Right: Zachariah Goldschmiedt
Background information
OriginManhattan, New York
GenresElectronic, dance, alternative dance, soul, nigunim
Years active2013–present
Formerly ofJudaBlue, Ch!nch!lla
MembersShlomo Gaisin
Zachariah Goldschmiedt
Past membersElisha Mlotek
Websitezusha.com

Zusha is a musical duo blending electronic dance music with their traditional Jewish heritage.

History

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Origins (2013–2014)

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Zusha was formed in 2013 by Shlomo Gaisin, Elisha Mlotek, and Zachary Goldschmiedt. Gaisin and Mlotek met at New York University's Chabad house, and both were later introduced to Goldschmiedt through their mutual friend and first manager Dani Bronstein. They began rehearsing in friends' apartments, recording their sessions via iPhone, until Bronstein and Rabbi Avram Mlotek encouraged them to share their music publicly.[1][2]

Zusha EP (2014–2016)

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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][3] The EP subsequently reached No. 9 on Billboard's World Albums chart.[4] In December, they performed at the Knitting Factory[5] and opened for Soulfarm at the Highline Ballroom.[6] The EP features cover art by Hasidic expressionist artist Chezi Gerin.[7]

In 2015, they gave a Purim concert with G-Nome Project at the Bowery Ballroom[8] which featured a surprise guest appearance by Matisyahu.[9] They played a Havdalah concert at the Atlanta Jewish Academy during the Atlanta Jewish Music Festival [10] and 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 and A Colorful World (2016–2019)

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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 directed by Joe Baughman was filmed for the song "Mashiach" and 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. That same year, Elisha Mlotek went on to pursue filmmaking.[15]

When the Sea Split and Open the Gates (2019–present)

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Zusha's third full album, When the Sea Split, released on September 1, 2019. In 2020, the now-duo were featured on the singles "Anim Zemirot" by The Portnoy Brothers and "Karvah" by Eitan Katz, and in December they released Likavod Shabbos, a collaborative EP with singer Beri Weber. Amid a string of singles, Zusha released the EP Cave of Healing on March 14, 2021. The following year, a fourth studio album, Open the Gates, was released on January 17, 2022, featuring collaborations with Eitan Katz, Ishay Ribo, and Eviatar Banai.

Later in the year, rapper JID's single "Dance Now", from his third album The Forever Story, used a sample of "Yoel's Niggun" from Zusha's debut EP. The sample was the idea of teenage producer Aviad Poznansky, who had heard the original song from a counselor at Camp Yavneh, and Gaisin, Goldschmiedt, and Mlotek are given writing credits on the JID song.[16]

Musical style

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Zusha's music combines the wordless vocals and improvised nature of traditional nigunim with elements of electronic music, jazz, and soul.[1] Influences cited by the band include Shlomo Carlebach, Bon Iver, Sufjan Stevens, Ratatat, and Fredagain.[2]

Hasidic influence

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The band is often associated with Hasidic Judaism and attribute much of their inspiration to the texts of the Baal Shem Tov and his students' teachings."[17]

Members

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Current

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Touring

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Former

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  • Elisha Mlotek – percussion, vocals (2013–2017)

Discography

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Main article: Zusha discography
  • Kavana (2016)
  • A Colorful World (2017)
  • When the Sea Split (2019)
  • Open the Gates (2022)

References

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  1. ^ a b c Wojno, Rebecca (December 7, 2014). "Wordless melodies to soothe the soul". The Times of Israel. Retrieved November 25, 2015.
  2. ^ a b Hendelman, Ariel (September 2, 2015). "Hassidic hipster band Zusha takes nigunim to the next level". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved November 25, 2015.
  3. ^ Broder, Hillel (October 28, 2014). "Zusha, the Folk Band Named After a Hasidic Rabbi". Tablet Magazine. Retrieved November 25, 2015.
  4. ^ "World Albums - Week of November 15, 2014". Billboard. Retrieved November 25, 2015.
  5. ^ "Knitting Factory Brooklyn Presents Zusha, Primate Fiasco, Wild Leaves". Ticketweb. Retrieved November 25, 2015.
  6. ^ Zeitlin, Alan (December 1, 2014). "Zusha Has The Hooks and The Looks". NY Blueprint. The Jewish Week. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved November 25, 2015.
  7. ^ "Chezi Gerin - Raw Expressionist Painter". www.chezigerin.com. Archived from the original on June 29, 2017. Retrieved August 7, 2017.
  8. ^ "Zusha Purim Festival - Tickets". BoweryBallroom.com. Retrieved November 25, 2015.
  9. ^ MVI 5733 Matisyahu with Zusha Purim night 2015 / 5775, March 5, 2015, retrieved May 17, 2023
  10. ^ "Shabbat Project Provides Excitement on Day of Rest". The Atlanta Jewish Times. October 29, 2015. Archived from the original on December 8, 2015. Retrieved November 25, 2015.
  11. ^ Levine, Alexandra (June 17, 2015). "Hasidic Stars Bring Yiddish Soul to Central Park". The Forward. Retrieved November 26, 2015.
  12. ^ Codik, Emily (May 4, 2015). "This Washington Native Wants to Make Jewish Music More Universal than Ever Before". Washingtonian. Retrieved November 26, 2015.
  13. ^ "World Albums - Week of January 23, 2016". Billboard. Retrieved August 26, 2016.
  14. ^ "Our song "Pashut" featured in A24's newly released..." Facebook. April 19, 2017. Retrieved April 22, 2017.
  15. ^ "An Exclusive Interview With Zechariah Goldschmied and Shlomo Gaisin From ZUSHA". The Jewish Vues. September 10, 2019. Retrieved January 16, 2023.
  16. ^ Connelly, Irene Katz (August 31, 2022). "How a Jewish folk song made it into a chart-topping rap banger". The Forward. Retrieved January 16, 2023.
  17. ^ Blumberg, Antonia (October 26, 2014). "The Hasidic Hipsters Of Zusha Are Here To Rock The World Of Jewish Music". The Huffington Post. Retrieved November 25, 2015.
  18. ^ Chemy Soibelman [@chemy_soibelman_] (November 4, 2018). "Uman 2018 !!! zusha" – via Instagram.
  19. ^ Zusha [@zushamusic] (February 9, 2022). "Trying to squeeze one more tune in before Purim ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️" – via Instagram.
  20. ^ Chemy Soibelman [@chemy_soibelman_] (January 16, 2023). "Tonight's office back with the family . drums for @zushamusic" – via Instagram.
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