Last year, reggae singer-songwriter Matisyahu wrote some 40 songs over a six month time period between winter and summer. The songs on his new EP,, an album about holding out hope during times of violence, come from that time period. And while they might speak to the recent escalation of conflict in the Middle East, the tunes emerged prior to the events of Oct. 7.
“It’s a difficult time and a hard time, but there is a ton of energy and light and hope at my concerts,” he says. After this interview took place, concerts in Santa Fe and Tucson were cancelled due to reported security concerns. “That’s between me and the fans, and it’s been really special. It’s a very special tour. Now, all of a sudden, the metaphor becomes literal when I sing all of my songs. In songs like ‘Lord, Raise Me Up,’ I’m thinking of hostages underground. That’s the thread.
“It’s a concept that comes from the Burning Bush in the Bible,” says Matisyahu when asked about the track. “It’s a fire that doesn’t consume itself, and the song and entire EP is based on a dream where I was praying in an ancient Middle Eastern synagogue and was playing with a baby tiger. The momma tiger was shooting flames out of her eyes at me, and I was engulfed in flames, but I realized I wasn’t burning up, and when I looked at my hand I realized it was made out of water.