A: No, not so much. I don't focus on that. People are going to do whatever they're going to do. All I can do is try and make the authentic music and create the authentic spiritual experience or help be part of some kind of experience. If people are going to dance or whatever, then that's up to them, not me.
Q: What is it you want to tell people through your music?
A: So my music, as opposed to having some prescribed message or theme that I'm trying to trick the minds of people through the music, it's more about trying to create the environment for people to be able to get in touch with themselves and come up with their message or ideas about this world. It's more about trying to create an environment where the music is able to do what music does, which music inherently has the power of opening people up to themselves, to their own emotions, to opening people's minds up and from there people can come up with their own ideas. They don't need to be transmitted one idea from the musicians mind into the listener's mind, but rather when the musicians and the listeners kind of like, the wall between the two separates and it becomes one environment where everyone, together, is kind of having this experience.
Q: Why did you choose reggae as that medium?
A: Well, that wasn't really a choice. That was more -- you could say the music chose me. It's like saying, not that I'm comparing myself to Van Gogh or something, but let's say you said to Van Gogh, "Why did you choose to paint with that color?" That's just the color that moved him and that's what he was trying to get across. So same thing for music, from a musician's point of view; there's no real reason why a musician chooses, it's not like someone goes out there and chooses a certain style of music.
Q: The show is on Nov. 4, which is Election Day. Do you have any thoughts on the campaigns?
A: Like I said before, I'm a little bit careful as to wanting to discuss that for the reasons that, like I said about politics and ideology, I don't really like to mix the two.
Q: So you don't like to get political during shows?
A: No, I'm not going to be out there telling people who to vote for.
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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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