Backstage Pass: A Chat with an Israeli Phenomenon

Every track on the Idan Raichel Project’s latest album The Light and the Shadow sinks deep into the ear as if telling you a thrilling secret. With quick, slithering hums, and an exotic pulse, the
group's songs seem haunted by but also built upon the giant story of Israel.  This makes sense considering the group borrows sounds from almost the entire mosaic of Israeli immigrant communities; Ethiopian, Arabic and even Carribean music as well as Old Testament psalms.  The group’s first eponymous album released in 2002 shot straight to #1 in Israeli album sale charts and its second released in 2005, reached the double-platinum mark.
           
I sit down with Raichel—the mastermind behind the 70 member, multi-national project—backstage before a recent concert in Washington, D.C. and find that its almost more interesting to watch him listen to his own music than it is to watch him perform.  His head is nodding to the beat of his CD’s blowy chords and his eyes have a sneaky look in them that leave me dying to know just what exactly he has stored behind them.  In my half hour gunshot of an interview (he had to leave me for his concert), I take a brief stab at finding out.

How did your family react to your decision to become a musician?
I came from an Eastern European family.  They wanted me to go to a university and go into a professional career.  But they didn’t try to stop me from doing my music and now they are very happy.

Do you listen to your own music a lot?
No, just on stage.

When do you write your music? Is there a specific process?
No process, just words and ideas in my head for days.  I won’t actually write it until its all set in my head.

Would you say that your music fits into a certain genre?
Its considered world music but this is a silly term that only outsiders use.  I can’t think of a more broad term than world music.

Is your music derivative at all from any other musicians?
Israeli folk music, the latest immigration from Ethiopia to Israel, Morrocan chant, Yemen and  Eastern European

So basically all of world music?
Yeah, pretty much.

Is your music autobiographical?
Well, its not a documentary but all music has to be influenced somewhat from experience.

What do you think about when you wake up in the morning?
I thank God for letting me live another day.

Honestly? That’s your first thought?
Yeah!

What about when you go to bed at night?
I pray to God that I wake up in the morning.

What’s your ultimate goal?
I’m not trying to achieve a specific goal.  God gave us the chance to perform all over the world  I am trying to spread the seed. To spread the news. 

Is there a Zionist element to your music at all?
No, our music offers a social statement, not a political message. We promote integration by bringing all these different cultures together, making music together in harmony. We integrate by doing not by talking.  I wish my English was better so I could explain this the way I want too.

No, I think your English is great.  So do you have any hobbies besides music?
I ride my bike which can be really exciting in Tel Aviv.

Do you go out a lot?
Go out?

Do you party a lot?
I party on the stage.

How is it different performing on stage in Israel from the US?
Well, in Israel we are much more well known so the people make a bigger deal about us.  Its more of a challenge in America.  I don’t know English that well so I talk less on stage.  In Israel, I am more spontaneous.

What specifically did you do while you were in the IDF.
I was a musician for them.  This is where I learned about performing and about discipline.

Oh, good deal. Was your success a sudden boom or did it happen gradually?
Sudden boom.

Are you planning on crossing over into any other realm of the entertainment industry?
I have to admit…I have thoughts to do other things but I appreciate people who stay loyal to their own art form and get to the core of that art form.

You should get your own clothing label.  All the stars are doing it.
Hmmmm

-Rachel Ament