Mendy J INTERVIEW - The P'nimius Podcast with Uziel Naparstek

Welcome to the various podcast where we interview those that entertained us in our childhood. All right, here we are today with the legendary Mandy J aka Mendy Jacobson. I got that right. Right. >> Yeah, you got that right. >> Now people know you're exposed. Hello. The Jay is exposed. Look at that. Look at that. Everyone's everyone's always asking what does a J stand for? It says it's for me to know. It's for you to find out. [laughter] >> And here he is today. He is a legendary singer. He's been singing for the past over a decade for the Jewish audience and the from felt. He has been widely known for his song Harabi that cover that he did a while back with President Trump himself. Wink wink. and uh and he's been going on and on and now we are here fresh off the press with his new song Tumid. Here we are here today talking with him to get to know him and to get to know all about him. Here we are Mandy DJ. How you doing today? >> Brazil. Thank you for having me on the show. It's honor and a pleasure. >> So now let's go back to uh your background where where what was your childhood like and music to you as a child? Let's let's go back a little bit. Oh, this is going to be a it's going to be a long one. >> All right, you're control of the time here. So, you you go on how long you want. >> So, let's go back. So, I come from Crown Heights. I was born and raised in Crown Heights, you know. Um I grew up in, you know, on Lefforts Avenue. That's where uh a lot of musical talents, you know, come from in today's Jewish music. My good friend Yoni Ziggle Bomb lived right across the you know his mom lives right across >> you know and uh also Benny Benny lived on Leffort Avenue back in the days. >> Oh yeah that's true. Yeah. So there was a lot of talent on that block and you know uh I could say you know it was a very you know authentic feeling living with people that are so talented and I remember the nights that I would see Benny outside you know you know but um I I come from a family of of nine of six brothers and three sisters um and my parents who have that house open to all to everyone on those that don't have anybody in their life or lonely, the loneliest people. My mother takes into her house and feeds them and gives them, you know, everything they need. And it's a I came from a house that's uh that's has a lot of I'll tell you my background. My mother's side originally is not Labavich. My mother's side is like a Babach closenberg. It's a very big mix. My father's side is which is Georgian. the name Jacobson. >> So that's how the music comes from. If I'll tell you right now, I grew up in in a Sparty community that I I I 100% credit that from for my music background. But yeah, as you're saying, >> yeah. Well, why you you have blood? >> No. Uh where I live in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, where I grew up on our is a mainly Sparty community. So like Shabas and Felis, we're all singing, we're all dancing. So I could definitely credit like all my musical background and my and and my drive for music is definitely from that. So but yeah, as you were saying. >> So So that's that's good to know. I didn't know that. >> Yeah. There you go. >> Yeah. Listen, little do you know we're both finding out, you know, we're both, you know, finding out about each other. That's that's a good thing. >> This is a fabangan, you know. That's the point. This is what it is% 100%. >> No. So my so my so so the name Jacobson is really Yakabashilli Yakabashilli Shrilli means son in Georgian. So it's Jacob's son. >> So actually the singing doesn't come from my father's side. The talking the speaking comes from my father's side. You know uh my grandfather who was one of the 10 that was me in Russia his name is Sim they called him and he was out there you know his his his that the sorry the freed gave him was that he should open up mixes and shs that were being shut down by the by you know by the communist you by by the >> Oh, wow. >> Um, and he had to forge he had to forge uh documents and you know that's a big that's a big big uh crime back in the day. But you know there they were shutting down you know Yiddish institutions and you know my grandfather's one that opened them up. So um he he was really he he was mish and uh you know and he basically he wasn't originally he became through the it's it's a whole long story but the the the cut to the chase is that he became and then he then he became you know one of the 10 for the for being mer for the and he was caught by the KGB and you know you know they say breaking the ice in Siberia Korea. That was my grandfather. >> He was he was a he was he stood strong. He didn't let he didn't let the darkness take over his light and he was a he was a fighter. And Georgians are known to be very strong within themselves and like they're very passionate people. They you know if they believe in something they go all the way. So me growing up in my house I came from like a you know it's labavich with the himisha vibe you know Hungarian. So every Friday night, you know, we we'd sing aim, not just but like and you know, my uncle who actually stayed by our house, he was a baba and he would sing all you know Goldman >> and we would sing songs every every Friday night was like a was like a concert. He sang so many songs from the rabbi sons and it was like a real musical home. I grew up having pictures of the lab in my house the s because my my elk will the willigers I don't know if you know the >> yeah of course >> soi williger Ellie Gersonner you know wner wner reie these are all these are all my cousins all my mother's cousins a very musical family >> wow >> so we you know the the music stems from my mother's side uh but uh Um and uh you know you know you know growing up in such a house you know with with so many different flavors for me it was it was a it was a a big a big eye opener because you you're you're like seeing all different types ofes in your own home coming together and it's a beautiful thing you know having the si dips and having the hisha soup and then having you know it was uh my father always told me, you know, if I put out any songs, give it a little me, you know, like a like a, you know, taste, you know, put out something that's, you know, >> so I, you know, I I would listen to him, you know, I I did I put out a lot of style stuff, but I also did, you know, more of the higher stuff as well. I mean when I was starting off when I was uh working with Kanan Bean who's son so we're changing the name because they said Jacobson is such a known name you want to be known as yourself. I said what are we uh so what are we doing what are we changing my name from to soak says why don't you do menj so for me hearing men j it sounds like to me like a midish like I was like I don't know he's like he said I think it's a catchy name I said I have to you know I said I have to ask my father you know I asked I have to ask my father what he thinks you know cuz I don't want to bash him and like you know if he gets upset telling me why I changed your name. >> Yeah. >> I said Sat I I told him the whole situation. Sat listen >> I'm getting into the music industry. You know this is what I want to do. This is what I want to you know do as a mission in life to bring people happiness and [snorts] and uh inspire people. So you know my producer with his father they want to change my name from Jacobson to J capital J. So he he he looks at me and and and he smiles and he says in [laughter] I wasn't expecting that. I was smile. I was like what? What do you mean? If it brings money, why not? I said okay. He says so that means you're okay with it. You're not going to feel no why should I feel hashem because you changed your name. says don't forget we changed our name from Yakabashi to Jacobson. So this is not the first time the name is being changed but to make it known that your last name people ask you say Jacobson. I said Yakabuli he says no no no Jacobson. So I did it and you know till today I mean I we're talking about I started I mean I started singing professionally in 2010. >> Wow. 2010. Yeah. It's a long time ago. What is that? >> How many years? It's a long time ago. >> Yeah. 16 years ago. >> 17 years ago. >> 17 years ago. I I I put out my first my first song called It was called Sim Shalom. >> Oh, okay. >> Shalom was the first song. It was a It was a very >> So, so before before we get to the the your career, because I do want to kind of ask you a few questions about like how music was for you as a child. Now I like to ask all the singers about their perception of music in their transition from when they were a child to where they are now professionally. So for you, what do you think music was for you as a child as opposed to now? What is similar? What is different? Like like what what your relationship with with music have been when the child and now and the different like all about that, but mostly about like the difference between then and now. So, I'll tell you, growing up, you know, I loved music from the age of four years old. I always been singing in the hallways, in the kitchen, in my house. In the hallway, there was like a nice a nice acoustic and I would always sing over there. At a certain point, my mother says, "Okay, good. I'm having a headache." >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. >> Not in a bad way. Not in a bad way. That's She enjoyed it. She says, "I enjoyed the singing, but now you have to take a break." At a certain point, she says, "I'm going to buy you a microphone and a karaoke and you could sing in the room. You could have all the, you know, and and no, but that's what I I I I you know, at a certain point, I I wanted to start my career at the age of 13." And that's like a uh you know uh I mean I I could talk about it a little bit but it's it's it's it's a really deep deep uh conversation with getting to that point but I I um so so I have a brother Schlimy who who passed away you know he was like he was we were like three years apart. He was he was also very into music and we would sing together. We would we we we spoke about putting out stuff together. Like music is something that kept me going in my life, you know? It's it's it's it's your only Jewish entertainment. It's not there's nothing else like what like what else did you have besides Jewish music, >> right? >> There was what the I mean it wasn't Yeah. You had games, you had card games, kalak, but music was really like every concert that happened, I would go to it. I I you know I had a you know again I had a few you know I would say idols but I wouldn't say guy you know you know singers that I looked up to and I liked their style I liked their voice a freed md you know um like you know his and I was like wow that guy with powerhouse like fire like a lion >> you know um in He's saying Keser, right? But he did that whole thing of Kesser. So I think it was three years ago like Mameish like now uh he sang at the dinner of LEC and I hear the notes playing like oh this is Kesser. This is Yahad. But is he going to sing it the same key like difference between then and now? Cuz it's been over 20 years since then. You know like what what's the what's the what is it going to be? It was the same key, same tempo, same everything. And he sang it exactly the same as he did when he did it in Haske. And I was blown away cuz usually a lot of singers as much as as as me as as musical as you can be, maybe even more musical, but the voice does change or the voice does make a difference over the years. >> He's saying it just as good, just as high. same keys. Like it was unbelievable to watch. >> You know what's amazing about Schlmer? He's he's like he's like a wine that never ages. >> Yeah. >> I always told Sha I was always a big fan of his. I always speak I you know I just moved to Florida, you know. I'm sure you know that, >> right? >> So uh so you know Schlma tells me I think he says, "Are you following my you know like my footsteps? Are you following me in my Listen, you know what I got to say? It's such warm weather here. Such warm people. I said I want to be with the warm warm people here in Florida, you know. >> Yeah. >> But um no, he he I feel this what I feel. I feel the the Jewish music from back in the day of you know Mendy Waldi Simka will dax you know that that crew their songs have a certain authenticness which is which you can't get today the certain richness the the the classical um vibe to these songs are so rich that even if you try you know using that authentic authentic, you know, style of music. It's not going to be the same. >> I think I for for me it's it's about depthness, right? The the like the right like I want to say primus, but it's not even that. It's the depthness. It's the it it is like the of how they would arrange, compose, produce every single aspect of the songs that were produced then was there was so much richness in in its depness both in composition and production and even the instruments how they how each of the each musician played it. There was a lot of depthness. There was a lot of and there was and and like Ab Rottenberg how he would write simple words but so much silver lining and depness that you could get from his words. Like we don't really get that lot of that. You don't and I don't and I don't think we could because it's a different world today with you know where Jewish music is not again it definitely listen it definitely got much better and much advanced in many different ways which is okay which is good growing up from the music that I would listen to was very different from today like you know when I heard Joey Nukem and Mendy Wald putting out the Fbran album I got to tell you cuz you know I'm I'm close friends of Mendy Wald. He actually sang at my wedding be a pasta. >> Oh wow. >> Yeah. Yeah. I had I had and uh when I was listening to his songs with Joey, me and another friend, we were it was a Thursday night. He loves music and we and we went uh driving to uh where was it? There was uh what's that? That ch it's called a chin joint uh in in Flatbush. Um I think it's called Essex and Coney. But we went we were driving on the way there and I said let's put on you know the fab with Joey Nuke and Mandy Wald. I got to say hearing the songs from back in the day like it remind me of like the emotions and the feelings from back then. I got emotional. I actually started crying. And I was like, "Wow, this song was such a cuz it brings back that that moment of where you were in life, you know, like saying when I heard that song from Mendy Wald, I was upstate New York. Ah, all those good stuff. Well, you you don't have these type of songs. You don't. And it's a beauty. And I and I actually >> you missed the vintage station wagon. [laughter] >> Yeah. >> Two fish sandwiches going off state. >> I think back in the day and the what was it better than now? Listen, everything listen in life things change. You know, we grow, we get But uh talking about >> I think I think though um I think there was a phase where we were losing it. But I feel like now that everybody has has a entry to music now we are starting to see the people that could bring you to maybe not the same level but the point where you go oh some sort of premiumistica roller coaster with their music because of how much detail and they are putting into their songs like and maybe they're not doing it 100% of the time of their songs but they but the 25% of their songs they do tap into that >> right? >> No, 100%. I want to waste some. >> Let's go into a little bit about the career aspect of your music. So, you were saying how music was for you for your childhood. Is music for you now diff in any way because you got into it professionally? >> Well, yeah, of course. I mean, it's a whole uh it's a whole different uh it's it's it's part of you as a job, but it's not just a job. It's aus. It's a mission. You know, when you're, you know, when you're just a music listener and and you're not in the industry, it's it's a it's a whole different world, you know, because you're just a listener and you're and you're you're you're part of the cause over here. Being in the industry, you are the cause. You know what I'm saying? You're putting out messages to the world of how to cope with different things in life. You know, they say music is therapy. It's the it's the most powerful medicine that cures everything. Depression, pain, broken hearts, all of it. There's no medicine that I know of that could do that besides you know besides music you know it's uh you know on my free time I go to hospitals and I sing for those that are you know that are in pain [clears throat] that are you know you know that are insur and music really brings that medicine that that that powerful medicine that could cure the person at that moment even though they're in the spiritually I mean, physically it could also do a lot of things, but it's a it's a mission and it's a sacrifice, too. You know, being in the music industry is a sacrifice. You know, when you're going out to sing, you know, you're going out to make other people happy and your family, you know, doesn't see you that often. That's the hardest part. That that is the hardest part. how to to to kind of describe to people about the hardship of being a singer because I feel like we tap on it a few times but I don't think it's talked about enough and it's also something I'm also interested in myself because if I because I do want to pursue music which I am doing that a little bit >> um has there h how many times or can you or if not saying how many times specifically but like has there been close times where you Push it. We're at a point where you're saying maybe I should stop doing the music because of how much time not because of the hardship or the business side, but just beside the family side and and the sacrifice. >> So I feel I feel you you got to separate the two. You can't it it can't be all all in one. What I mean by that is is that there's music life and then there's family time. Now you know when it comes to music, you know, when it comes purin or kaneka, those are the times where you're spending time with your family. But if you're a singer, that's your time for showtime. You know, you're you're you're singing for those families that are with their families. So, how do you balance both, you know, the you know, uh your family time and uh and the music? So you take your family with you, you know, it comes to a concert Kaneka, come join me in the show or you know comes PM, you know, come come join me at the you know, you know, for the suda, but at the end of the day, you know, it's it's hard. It's hard to again I'm not bringing my family to every job that I do like I'm doing okay a wedding that I I'm just saying but when it comes to like a perm thing I mean again if it's flying out somewhere of course my family stays home but if it's local and it's a you know I always ask is it okay if my you know you know if my uh children you know wife come be part of it you know so I'm I'm with them I don't feel like and sometimes you know you got to do you got to do and it's panasa and so so what you do is you you take every moment that you have that you're not on a job and you spend time with your children with your wife and you go out and you spend quality time with your family you know every moment that you have that's free that you're not doing music at that moment you uh you you know you you just you know use that time for your family now to stop singing is like saying you know I should just retire No, no. Singing is something that's my mission in life and uh it's not something that that that you know that you stop. This is a gift that God g you know that Hashem gave me and I have to use it out you know otherwise I'm wasting the talent that I have. So just something that I that I have to do in you know in this in this world that we're living in to bring inspiration to those that need it. Would you, every singer has a different answer, but would you encourage your children to go into the music industry? >> How you getting, Chris? >> You could you could pass. You can pass if you want. Don't worry. The power of editing the power of editing is very powerful. >> I'm just kidding. I'm just kidding. To be honest, I I'm not the type of person that um, you know, dis you know, that you know, disenourages. I like to encourage whatever my children want to be in life, they should be what they want to be, you know, in profession wise, you know, if they want to be a singer in the music, not a problem. I'll I'll I'll help them. But they just have to know that there is there is sacrificing here, you know, and you have to know that. Now, if they want to be something else, let it be. Honestly, every person has a dream. My dream was to be a singer ever since I'm a kid. And I got bullied for that when I was 13. I got bullied for it because I knew what I wanted to be already. And some people don't know and they get jealous of that. So, uh, it was it wasn't easy. That's for sure. >> Yeah. So, um, has music changed does because you said that music takes you throughout what your life no matter what happens. It's your medicine. It's what takes you. It drives you. It's what usually your downtime. It drives you in your hardships and your in your positive times when you're happy and everything. Um, but is is any is any part of your relation to music change when you are an adult, a buck or a child or for you throughout your life, the common denominator has been the same? >> It's always been the same. I love it so much. I could I could do three jobs in one day. I will never get tired from it. I love it. You know what? You know what they say? When you love something, it's like you're not it's it's like you're not you're not working. It's just something that you just, you know, you just love. It's just an amazing feeling, you know? >> Yeah. What was your favorite maybe album or artist or if you don't can't really pick one, what what was like the one thing that hit you as before you professionally before you got into music professionally? what type of music, which artist, an album that sticks out, you know? >> Well, I'll tell you there's there's many albums that stick that that had had its own, you know, unique uh I would say authenticness um that was very special to me like like Arami Flam, I'm sure you haven't heard that name in a long time. Flam had his beautiful album. Ju >> just out of curiosity, is he related to Donnie Flam, the the trumpist, whatever they call? >> No, >> I have no idea. But you know, Flam was my favorite. >> Yeah. You know, you had [singing] of course >> and you had and you had, >> you know, you know, can I can I go deep with you with this? I don't know what happened, but Yehuda exclamation mark. I always say that because I love I love I love calling it that. You heard the exclamation mark is the I'm not kidding you in my opinion the most underrated artist in Jewish music. Like just when you listen to I've only know some songs but every time I listen to another song another song my my just hypeness and enjoyment of his songs just go more and more and more. But like I just I it's like he's like the singer that I go I wish I knew so much more if I knew his music earlier. if I and you know what I mean like he just when you listen to his songs they're so legendary so many songs that were covered or parodyied and like Uncle Mishi and you go oh my gosh that was Yehuda oh my gosh and Maidim of course Maidim his like everything was just so ahead of its time with Yehuda exclamation >> Yehuda I'll tell you about Yehuda I remember him I think I mean I was a kid I was like 10 years old you know when I went to the there was a concert with Aan Frerieded Yel Yehuda Shami Dax I'm not sure who else was on that show as a I'm not sure there was there was like a nice crew [clears throat] of of singers there and Yehuda was like my favorite because he was he was a young guy first of all Yehuda I think was like ahead of his time >> at the age of the age of 19 he put out an album I don't know how he had them >> how do you have the money to put album then it's about >> he was always jumping on stage. When you look at the videos of his, he was always on his feet the entire time. >> And he had colorful shoes. He had the lighting of sneakers. [laughter] >> I remember that. I remember that. I remember the things. These are the things that stick out. Yehuda was was like I don't know. I don't know. He he he was very big then. He was very big. Yeah. I don't think he now I I think once I think once Yaki came in I think he he took that crew out. You know what I mean? There was a crew and I feel like he you know it was like he came in it was like a new fresh sound to Jewish music which was different you know. >> Yeah. But I'm I'm sorry if you tell me which which one to go for in any given time I would go Yoda exclamation mark. Just me personally, I just it's just it's also the range of genres that he hit, but he hit it 100%. Cuz like sometimes you go to singers and they'll have they'll definitely hit all type of genres, all types of songs and musics and tempos. Um and they have like a sweet spot. Yoda just hit every single time. It's unbelievable. >> I know. I know. He had some he had like, you know, >> I grew up with with um I grew up with Miami Experience 3 and they had they always had in their experiences the talent showcase where they would have younger singers uh in the music industry come up and sing and they had their own segment and he came in he had the whole crowd clapping singing and he's just jumping m and he's like everyone's clapping bum bum like like you like a a lot of times at these concerts you they you don't necessarily hear the audience as much so they'll add like an effect like the thundering claps were so loud and they were into it. It's it's one of the most best legendary concert moments for me. >> I know I know I know I know he listen he he's definitely a legend. I honestly would love to do a 2.0 you know um David Israel that song was a very good remind me. >> Very good. >> I would love to do >> I would love to do like a a collab with him on that. >> I think he lives in Florida. I think he lives here. >> But by the way, like recently, when I say recently, I mean for the past uh 10 years, >> uh for his sake, like in his wise, he came out with an album or or a single or something. And in the album cover, it's him. He barely aged. He looks like almost the exact same way he did before. I don't know what it is. It's It's crazy. >> He's a young guy. He's not old. He's not old. >> I know. But it's like you think about like like um because you you you tend to forget with Yehuda how young he was when he came out with these albums. Cuz when you associate singers at that time with their first albums, you're thinking late 20s, 30s, right? And he was so young. He was a bak. >> He's very young. >> He was a bak. He was mish ahead of his time. I mean I if you ask any singer they'll tell you that know of him that he was ahead of his time. Like the guy talented >> m talented and let's not forget Ira Heler. >> Okay. Oh. Okay. So I heard of him. He I was reacting to MBD's concert when he was celebrating 25 years of his music and he went on I've seen him all around but I do have to delve into his music even more but yeah >> so I it's funny I I so before I moved to Florida I was living in Hillside New Jersey and someone mentioned to me you know who lives here I said who Ira said Ira Hela I was like that name I haven't heard in in ages It's like it's like it's like a >> it's like saying you know what I'm saying like it's like like [laughter] wow Ira was like wow. So I said I have to I have to you know I have to meet up with him and uh we actually met and we was like Ira you know like where are you like it's been a it's been years and years. He says what do you mean? He says I'm here. I'm David. I said I let's put out a single put out a says yeah I know I should I should but his voice I heard him doing his voice has not has not uh his voice is has not aged it's really it's smish it's amazing it it sounds so powerful and you know you know we're talking about music he was telling me mi you know the song I was like yeah Miami he's like no that's my song that's >> yeah yeah I was like No way. I didn't know that. >> That's so rare because Yil would never It's very rare for him to do that. Like he wouldn't compose for other people and he wouldn't take other songs for the choir. >> He did. He did. He did. He did. >> No, he did. He did a few, but he did compose until a point, but when he did the Miami Boys Choir, he stopped and like he did a few times here and there, but he didn't really compose for other people afterwards. >> I know. I know. So I think I think Rhino started singing that song at concert. So I think I mean again Ira put it out. It's like you know example you know what it's like everyone thinks it's >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. It's true. Dax see the these songs are like the icon of of of am. And it's like you know >> you also like the the fact that so many Israelis sing uh diaspora yesa band songs but they don't even know who the diaspora band is. >> Like they they'll have soldiers sing if they I don't think they know what the diaspora band is. Also, um there's a um the Rabbi Son song they they sing um so many people sing it and they don't know who the Rabbi sons are. Like the songs outlive them. >> Well, there are people that know that know. >> Yeah. But I'm saying like the like the majority, right? Like what people that seem at kumz is if there's like a 100 people if you ask them probably 30 40% know who is this from probably >> right right no 100%. >> [snorts] >> Jewish music. You know, on Fridays, on Fridays when I I would get home from Yeshiva, I would watch old uh H was it? H and uh and what else? Um >> this man experience the oil concert. >> They had they had the the great Baron Parogan >> has seven. Yes. Yes. By the way, Yoni's father, he was the shoemaker. >> I know. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Migabal. >> Yeah. >> But you know who else was in it? Uh >> is he the guy? >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. >> I actually met him. I said, you're the you know shabbat. It's a gorgeous song. >> It's so good. You know that song needs a >> that song needs an opera. like a like I think it needs like a 40 piece band with a canto. Can you imagine if it was like you have like a cantoro vibe >> and you don't necessarily change the arrangement so much but you give like an aura the choir going like you could make a whole thing out of it. It I I think >> 100%. He he you know has a lot of great stuff. He has a lot of good songs. >> Yeah. But he's also he's all these guys like you know you know Gishin Veroba the all these talented these are the guys I grew up with. >> Yeah. Um Yo Sharabi. >> Ah yo Sharabi. Wow. >> Yeah >> these guys. Wow. These are >> you know what's funny? Um so I interviewed Nim Seagull and uh long story short he wasn't feeling well at the initial date and I was in touch with his producer and a mention of a guy he called me personally. said, "Hey, uh, hi, I'm Malcolm Seagull. I'm not FL. Well, could we postpone?" So, we postpone. And on the phone call, I kind of just wanted to say thank you. Like, oh, like you were an inspiration and then ask. So, I was telling him like name drops and and like concert names drops like, "Oh, thank you so much. You doing this kind?" He's like, "How old are you?" I'm like 22, 21. He's like, "Huh?" Like he was he he like was kind of impressed how like a guy like me could know like could be like such a such stuff, you know? Listen, you know, growing up with the with, you know, with all this, it's you don't have to be old, you know, it's it's it's part of your upbringing. >> Yeah. >> 100%. >> You know, >> so let's get into a little bit about your uh a fancy word disrography, something like that, uh of like your trajectory of like songs you came up. So you said that you started out with Sim Shellim. So So tell me about that. So shalom was a song that bean composed and uh it was it was more of a song that was more over your head than in your head. It's a very sophisticated song. >> I remember Benny. >> Yeah. I remember you know one of the singers I spoke to, he told me that's that that that that's a song that's a song that goes way over my head. I said yeah no because it's not your typical song. It goes into this rap and then it goes into this, you know. So, it was a very different type of I think that song was like it was a I think it was more advanced for the time that I was in. I I don't think Jewish music was ready for that for that type of that type of song. And but it kicked off like people really liked it. It was different. It was again it was a it was a song that many people that I meet today they tell me oh I love your sham song it's like a story it goes into this whole but you know people tell me they loved it they like the arrangement they like the song it's it's like a it's an enjoyable song to listen to but it's very s it's very >> sophisticated like it's not simple But you know today in Jewish music everything's so simple and some people like to have hear that sophisticated sound. So I I felt it was it was something new that the am had to get used to and today you hear like a lot of sophisticated songs that come out. Some people say it's over their head, you know, it's uh But then I put out after that I put out um a cover of Habait reimagine of reimagining Habait in a very like um I wouldn't say blues, but like more of like that um techno vibe, more of that house music like being it instead of being a slow and you know and like you know slow and uh like in a classic style. I brought it more like a in a rock house EDM vibe. >> So So I assume cuz you did a lot of covers. So I hearing from what you did and the songs that I know you from, it seems like you had a lot of thought about how to approach the covers because I cuz I feel like if a singer is going to do a cover, I feel like they need to do it in an approach of what am I going to add to it? And it seems like you had like a lot of calculation how to be unique with the covers. Was that on purpose or that did that naturally just come out? >> That was on that I mean that was on purpose to bring a different sound, you know. uh to that song. So that's that's why it's called Reimagine. I'm reimagining the song. >> Yeah. >> So the the first time I heard you was from Habi. So I'm assuming that's what really blew you up when you came out with that song. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. That song really took off. Now people say like, "Isn't there another guy that sings it in Israel?" I said, "So what happened was like this. I remember seeing a video. Someone sent me a video in Israel of this song. He says, "Men, you gota you got to make a cover or put out this song in your style." Cuz like in Israel, it was just it was it was just sung by an event by a by a big show. >> Yeah. >> So I said, "You know what? Why not?" You know, uh it's like it's like it's like, you know, it's like a feel one guy. So, I actually called up the guy that actually put it out and I said, "Could I use your playback and I'll add more stuff to the playback?" He said, "No." And so, I said, "You know, let me just do this on my own." So I created my own version and uh and I basically released it here in America and at the same time when I you know I'm saying the same time when he put it out and it just blew up. It blew up you know you know with the video of Donald Trump and doing my whole thing was when I put out the video of Arabi with Donald Trump he was then running for president for the first time >> right? So my thing was if I put it out and he loses I'm the biggest fool [laughter] taking a big risk people will tell you you're taking a risk you know people going to laugh at you I was like you know what it was before Pum I did it and I said don't worry he's going to win so it's not going to be a laughing stock and he actually won and it was it's funny I actually I actually asked somebody who's close with Jared Krishna if he could send this song over to his father-in-law. >> Oh, wow. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. It was It was, you know, I kind of brought him a lot of support. I promoted him about that. But I It was It was a very That video it went viral. I even had people from the left um asking to interview me in the newspaper about why I if I'm a Trump supporter and all these things. >> Typical. >> Yeah. Typical. I got I I I started getting a whole I I was getting backlash from the left and it was getting it was getting political but but you know but my producer was was telling me don't respond you know we have to prepare things you know >> you kind of you you because at the end of the day you were doing it for the video. You weren't really like it really wasn't really for anything beyond that. So for people to ask you about it you just being honest about it is that you were you were just doing it. You weren't really You weren't I I I assume so, >> right? No. No. I I I was doing it because at that time Trump was the thing. He was he was the hawk. So So we tried in the hawk and it was like a It was like the most favorite. I I personally feel it was everyone's favorite video to watch. It has over I'm talking about real views. It has over at least 200,000 views. Yeah, it's crazy. It's crazy, >> you know. So, it's it's it's something that really hit off. And then I put out um what was the other song? Mashiach. >> Yeah. >> Mashiach is a song that talks about what's going to be happening when Msiah comes. So, that was a song that was written by my brother. He wrote the he he he actually wrote the tune. The lyrics were written by my aunt. It's it's a gorgeous song actually. It's it's a very nice uh Middle Eastern type of song mixed with Colombian style music. I actually went to Israel to record that song. It's it's actually >> it's actually my favorite one. And that is like a song that >> But before that, you had also Masak. >> Oh, Masakus, right? Masakus Bra is a is a song that I actually composed. I mean the the lyrics I put together. I mean, I did I I mean, I I mixed it, you know, and Yas's wife actually mentioned to me when I was, you know, when I was playing him the song, you know, um, instead of there was something else there, and he told me, why don't you add I was like, you're right. There was something else that I I added in. I'm trying to remember what it was. >> Well, I I I don't know the song. I'm gonna listen to it, react to it on the channel, but um >> but I'm just going through the list of the singles you have. But yeah, as you were saying, >> no, so there was then there was and then there was uh >> so let's go back to Mashia because you did say how uh it was composed by your brother and you re um and you also lost your brother. Um uh was that the same brother, different brother? >> It's it's a different brother. >> Okay. Okay. >> My oldest brother. It's my He actually sings with me in the song. >> Yeah. >> His name is Sei Jacobson. >> Nice. >> Yeah. So, uh, so that was that was that. And then you have Ekad, which which is in Spanish, which I actually composed the high part of it. >> Nice. >> The low part >> was composed by Misha. Um, what was his last name? There's a guy in Detroit. I forgot his last name. >> So you saying you sang it in Spanish. Did you have to learn Spanish? You already know Spanish. >> So I have to learn Spanish. I have to actually like go I have to look at AI and see make sure the words. [laughter] When I sing this song, people say it's not Spanish. I think the AI gave me the wrong words. >> It gave you Google Translate. >> I don't know what it gave me, but it sounds good. It sounds good. >> Nice. Estro estro someone told me those words don't exist. I was like okay that's even better. >> Um you also before that you came out with a single. Well it it's probably not a single per se cuz it was a it it was a concert per se. Also like a gig meaning it was a with a orchestra. Yes >> sham is a brand new song that was composed by um and Klein who composed >> Okay. >> Yeah. He composed a lot of songs. >> He sounds familiar. Yan and Klein. >> Yeah. >> But I might be mixing with him with uh Ellie Klein and Yi Barry. But yeah, Klein sounds familiar. >> Yeah. Two It's two different people. >> Yeah. Yeah. Obviously. >> Um so yeah, and Klein compos actually it's a gorgeous song. I I personally want to put it out as a as um as a as a wedding miad song because that tune could go with anything because the low part it's easy. It's mish. It's a catchy, you know. Nice. >> It has that nice uh that nice vibe to it which which I actually I'm thinking it's an idea. >> Yeah. >> You know, >> then you have Vafta that you came out with last year. >> Yeah, that was a a remix. Uh I don't know what you would call it. Via 2.0. taking MBDs via and having a rap with Meniwski on it. >> Remind me via >> you have to of course. >> Nice. >> But then I added in I had a Yugos I had Mendy Torski from Israel. You know Mendy? >> Oh, by the way, shout out to him. I when I reacted to his uh to his song Akad Margan, I got a message from the guy who made the music video and from him. So just shout out to him by the way. Anyway, yeah. >> Sure. Sure. So Mandy, you know, we we we did a song together. >> So talented. >> Oh my god. His Yiddish I was so quick. If you if you listen to his rap in the in the song VFA, he's saying the words so quickly. Yes. I I I was telling the producer of the song, I was like, "It's too quick." He's like, "No, it's good. It's good." >> You know what's great about Medi Torski? I think he's one of the only rappers that I'll actually listen to because he's not in your face about it. >> He's not in your face about it. He's very elegant with it. >> And also, he's very musical with it. Cuz a lot of times when people rap, they lose the tom of music. They're just saying words according to a beat, but there's not like a musical tom. He's very musical with it. So like he's really like the only rapper I'll actually listen to. >> Right. Right. He he's very like he I he was just on the I mean I don't know I mean I don't know what you call it in Israel but he was in this he was on this American that balance. >> Yeah. Yeah. Like the voice they call it. Yeah. Yeah. I saw that. >> They were like they were confused. What's he singing? Noish. [laughter] And apparently like one of the judges did a duet with him on a different song that they did so they knew each other. >> It's it's unbelievable. He's so talented and I'm I really hope he has so much so much success because >> I want him on the podcast so bad so bad. >> Should you should you should >> Hey, I got I got a third party to help me out here. >> 100%. Um then the big big uh uh song that you came out with last year, Hurting with Insanity with Label Lazerov. >> Um I didn't hear the song yet. I do want to save it for my reaction for the for the Yeah, I I have a rule. Ever since every ever since I started my channel, I had a rule. I don't listen to any songs until I react to it on my channel. But I'll tell you right now, I am expecting to it. I've heard a lot of good feedback about it and I also uh interviewed label Razerov when he came over to he did a concert with Ellie Marcus. They sang together a Kaneka time. Not Kaneka, sorry. It was about two months after the whole thing. He's such a special special Yid. He's so special. What can you tell me about that song Hurting with Insanity? So, hurting with Insanity, I mean that song really took I mean the tragedy really took everyone's hearts. It was it was so sad. Elli Schlanganger who I knew personally. I I said I have to do this song because you know he was there for me and I have to be here to bring you know to continue his light you know in the world that people shouldn't forget about him. And um you know Yasi Zw reached out to me a month before before Kaneka and he says he always sends me songs listen to the song. I'm listening to a song and it's in a habit hobby. And I was like, you know, it's nice, but like why would I be putting out a habit song that's like it's like it's kind of like like putting out like a pes song, you know? It's just Yeah, it's a nice listen there's this hab from from a but like and then the English part was oh god in heaven can you see? And I was like, I like this song, but you know, let me let me put it, you know, let me think about it. And then when this tragedy happened, I I I played a song to myself again and I actually played it to my wife and she's like, "This is a great song. This is a song that you could dedicate the memory those that got killed." And uh I said to myself, you know what would be even amazing if I could get label to come with me on the song to do a tribute to those that were killed through you know you know the children that were killed through terrorism and you know give it you know you know do the memory of them and the idea was is to do it the memory of you know Mishi sorry Gabriel and uh and Um, what was his wife's name again? >> Rifka. >> Rifka. Gabriel and Rifka Holtzburg and uh you know uh Kogan that was killed and you know Rabi Schlanger you know dedicate that song in memory of them and that's what we did and I called up label and I mean I spoke to his mother and she shared the idea and the song she actually felt it was a very very you know meaningful touchy project to do. She says it's crazy, you know, two weeks before the, you know, two weeks before the attack, he did like a like a tribute to the that got killed in Mumbai and Dubai. >> Yeah. >> And now and now I'm doing and now I'm coming with the idea. I was doing a song in memory of Mumbai, Dubai, and Bandai because the names rhyme together. It's sugar thing. S I mean this project took a nice few months you know we you know we you know we met in the studio and I and I got to know label a lot label is uh he's a walking miracle >> and he's also so musical like I remember he was he was sitting with Gisham Fistad and Ellie Marcus for like an over an hour at the rehearsals just fingering every detail out with what they were going to play at that LAC dinner. They were just like going and this mind you this is rehearsals that day was that night was the dinner the whole orchestra is there to do sound checks and that's and rehearsal that's it but he sat there with Gish and Ellie just sitting there on stage figuring out the notes the nuances it was so it was such a sight to see and it was so mesmerizing. No, it was it was actually I actually watched the video. Come with me, little Michelle. >> Yeah, that was so so insane. >> Also, there also there to just to to watch it and to to see the whole thing. It was so surreal. So surreal. >> No, it was it was crazy. It was crazy to, you know, to see how he has the strength to to like, you know, go to this this state and fly there and that state and this state that I would speak to. I said, "La, where are you now? I'm in Texas. I'm in Montreal. I'm in Florida." I'm like, "Wow." I said, "Listen, you know, you're you're changing so many lives." And he listen, he's he he's a real inspiration. And uh you know doing the song with him >> you know doing the song with him and everything it it you know people told me this song brought a lot of tears to people and really really brought people closer to Hashem and uh [snorts] you know there are people that started keeping Shabas with us all because when you see such a real a real story that actually happened it's a different situation. You know, >> it's insane. >> I didn't want to show in the video. I didn't want to show what the terrorists did. I wanted to show prior to what happened before they to show who the people were that were killed to show that their memory should be remembered by all of us. And Kaneka is coming up soon. And you know it's the it's the first year the first yard side of this whole tragedy that people were killed simply because they were Jewish you know um it's crazy it's crazy and and our message is you know [clears throat] Hashem you know we're hurting we're hurting with insanity we're hurting with the pain you know you know like you know >> 100%. 100%. >> All right, Reandi J. >> Uh we are running out of time. Uh it is very late at the time we're recording this but uh thank you so much for joining us. I do want to end off with one question that I ask all my guests. >> Sure. >> What is one thing about from entertainment in your instance music? What is the one thing that we should be talking about that we are not emphasizing? Or maybe something in music itself, what we're not doing in Jewish music itself that we should be emphasizing more. [sighs and gasps] >> I mean, when you say that we haven't touched enough, what do you mean by that? something that in Jewish music, whether it's the something in its composition or genre or era, something that we could we could be more focused on in Jewish music or we should put out some more. >> I think honestly, you want to know honest truth? I think we have to just be real. The artists have to be real with themselves and realize that you want to put out songs that have a message that people connect with, something that people could understand. And you know you know what I mean by real is you know when I watch you know Beni singing Hasheno and he started crying I said like there's nothing that comes to your mind but when you see a singer just you know being being a human being he you know he also has feelings he also has emotions starts crying and that's what I mean by you know when I mean being real with yourself. Just be you and let and and let it be. Don't, you know, don't hold your emotions back when you're singing in a, you know, sometimes when I sing a song and then and I just it just the emotion of like want to cry, I just cry because people like to see that. They want to see your actual you, you know. Yeah, it's nice to put up a show, but you want to see, you know, that that's emotional part of who you are as a person. And there's nothing wrong with it. And that is a real artist. >> Uh I totally 100% agree. And also like I always say this, the audience, you shouldn't be chasing after an audience. You shouldn't change your art just because of what is what what people are into or what what is viral. You should you as I say you shouldn't be finding the audience. The audience should find you. When you're being authentic, when you are being yourself, that is when the audience comes to you. And not only that, even if you're not big or you know, you not necessarily have like a huge entourage, but those who do follow and those who do listen because you're being authentic to yourself, they're being authentic fans as well. And therefore, are the true people that will be misspelled from your talent or whatever you do. >> Right. Right. 100%. >> All right, Remen Mendy J. Uh, as I tell all my guests, thank you so much. And also I tell all my guests, thank you so much for being part of my childhood and some so whether it's a big or small part, thank you for being part of my journey and being inspired by your music and your art and that brings me into doing what I'm doing and Mr. Sh what I plan to do in the future. It's all because of the people that I have on, the people that have inspired me over the years and in my childhood or Buck or whatever it is. So, thank you so much for being a part of that journey for me. >> My pleasure and honor and uh I look forward to uh seeing this podcast. >> Thank you so much. >> My pleasure. My pleasure. Thank you for having me.