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Before coming to Virginia Tech on Nov. 4, reggae-rock artist Matisyahu took some time to talk about the upcoming show and his new album -- among other things -- while on his way to Providence, R.I., in his RV. The show is sponsored by Hillel and VTU and will open with reggae band SOJA at 7 p.m. in Burruss Hall.
Q: The band has played in Blacksburg before, correct?
Matisyahu: We played once there a few years ago. We're looking forward to coming back.
Q: Did you get a chance to look around town?
A: Just a little bit. It's a pretty small town I think, right?
Q: Yeah, it's pretty easy to take a look at; it doesn't take long. Do you not get many chances to get out while on tour?
A: I try and get around a little bit. I try to walk around, but a lot of times you get in and you go to the venue, and sound check and then go to the bus and then back and forth between the bus and the dressing room.
Q: I read that you have a new album coming up. Are you playing anything new at the show?
A: Yeah, we're playing new material. And also I have a new band and part of our thing is that we improvise a lot during our shows so you can expect a
lot of new material and an interesting kind of music that hasn't necessarily been played before.
Q: So the band is adding a new dimension to the sound?
A: Well it's the same guitar player that's been with me since the beginning. The guitar player's name is Aaron Dugan, and he played at Live at Stubbs. He's the guitar player on King Without a Crown, and he's also a co-writer on the music. The drummer Skoota Warner has been with me for about a year and a half. I don't know if he was around last time we were there, I don't think so. The bass player and the keyboard player are different musicians, they're really cool. It's a different sound a little bit, like I said it's a lot more experimental and improvisation.
Q: I heard that in past shows you used to come out with a cane and then by the end of the show you would be dancing around. Are there any thematic aspects to your show?
A: The cane was actually (because) I tore my ACL playing ice hockey. I was using a cane for a few shows last winter. I don't really try to act too much. I try to do more the opposite. I try to let down the guard and the image thing and try to create the music and make it as real as possible.
Q: So the music is a way to tunnel your spirituality?
A: Well, no, music is spirituality. It's not that the music is used as a tool for some ideology or something like that. It is the music itself that is the mode.
Q: Your music incorporates a lot of spiritual themes into your music. Would you say that the messages overall are still universal?
A: I would say so; Judaism, in a sense, is the universal religion that Christianity and Islam are based off of it. Or Rastafarianism, any of those religions, they all take from the Old Testament. Judaism is what gave the Ten Commandments to the world and that's what all those religions are centered around. In its essence, Judaism is really a universal religion.
Q: Is it hard reconciling your religious beliefs and customs with the rock industry?
A: Not really, the basis for the Hasidic philosophy or ideology is the concept of sort of spreading out knowledge of God in a deep way. And music is something that is able to cross the lines and do things in a very deep way.
Q: Do you ever worry that your music, in a way, inspires people to do things that are against your religious practices, like dancing provocatively or smoking pot?
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"Q: Do you ever worry that your music, in a way, inspires people to do things that are against your religious practices, like dancing provocatively or smoking pot?" hahahahahahhahhahaha are you serious; did you really word a question like that? dancing proactively is what, speaking out against your religion??????...and what smoking pot is speaking out against your religion????? since when? you are asking a good musician questions, act accordingly, seriously.
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Actually the question is based off of the ultro-orthodox Lubavitch Hasidic Jew's conception of modesty, of which Matisyahu is a member. Modesty is a serious part of the lubavitch core belief system. It plays such a large role in their way of life to the point that the sexes are separated in many instances within the community and require a very limiting dress code. For example, Matisyahu, if meeting a women, will not shake her hand based on these modesty codes. Smoking pot and dancing provocatively are both counter to the lubavitch ideals because they break these concessions of modesty. So for an artist who continually references and feels strengthened in his beliefs while playing through a medium notorious for it's green activities, his music in a way can produce activities counter to what he holds as his faith. An interesting thing to think about is what the reactions would be had he kept something more traditional. So yes, I was serious. Educate yourself.
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