Orthodox Jewish reggae star Matisyahu may have parted ways with Hasidism but that doesn’t mean there aren’t other upcoming musicians embracing it. Enter Zusha, a world soul trio from New York lead by Shlomo Gaisin (vocals), Elisha Mlotek (percussion) and Zachariah Goldschmiedt (guitar).
Named after Zusha of Hanipol, an Orthodox rabbi and early Hasidic luminary, their music focuses on the Hasidic style known as niggun, wordless melody, with Gaisin leading the melody and the trio harmonizing. In an email interview, percussionist Mlotek says Zusha isn’t a band, but rather “a movement.”
“It’s a heartbeat, a message of love and peace, of listening, of understanding,” he said. “We hope the music will inspire listeners to ultimately listen within.”
Zusha’s first full-length album, “Kavana,” was released Jan. 5 and has been described as “Beirut, Bon Iver and Sufjan Stevens meet the Crosby, Stills and Nash of Hasidic music.”
Mlotek, 25, says he grew up around Yiddish theater and “the Klezmer revival scene”; his father is the artistic director of the National Yiddish Theatre in New York City. He met his bandmates in Manhattan’s East Village. “We were each doing different things spiritually, musically, each on our own journey,” he said. “We found unity through singing together. We each wanted something different, something real, and creating neegoon fulfilled that void. It turned everything into a prayer.”
You can check the trio out Monday, Jan. 18 at a live performance starting at 8 p.m. at Midtown’s Firebird, 2706 Olive St. Tickets are $10 in advance, $15 at the door. To hear some of their songs, go to zusha.com/music.