A Hasidic State of Mind
There’s a strong push within mainstream music to categorize recording artists and stick them in a box. Case in point — take a look at New York-based reggae chanter Matisyahu, and he seems easy enough to classify. With a big religious beard, Hasidic attire, and pale skin, the fact that he gravitates toward reggae as a profession feels like a skit that’s ready-made for a Saturday Night Live parody. But if you delve into his music and embrace the solid songwriting and instrumentation attached to it, you’ll discover that Matisyahu (born Matthew Miller) is more serious about his craft than most people give him credit for.