If you are familiar with these lyrics, then you already know that King Without a Crown, by Matisyahu, was a Top 40 hit in the United States. In the studio version, an elastic beat moves the tune along at a mellow clip, and you can’t help but sway to the dense, colorful reggae sound. Like the best-loved reggae, most notably Bob Marley, the songs of Matisyahu are about deep and serious issues. As a young man, Matisyahu—born Matthew Paul Miller—discovered Orthodox Judaism, and his religious convictions have fueled his career as a singer, songwriter, and performer. Often compared to Sublime and Kanye West, Matisyahu’s Dub Reggae sound has evolved along with his religion over the past ten years. He has become an international sensation for deftly mixing reggae, rap, and hip-hop with traditional Jewish themes, and layering jazz and beatboxing techniques in English, Hebrew, and Yiddish. Baltimore listeners will have the opportunity to sample Matisyahu’s unique sounds live at the Wells Fargo Main Stage at Artscape on Sunday, July 17, at 6:30 p.m.
Despite his busy touring schedule, Matisyahu took some time to discuss his tour with me, as well as his sound, his family, and his upcoming visit to Baltimore. Below is a segment from our phone interview on Tuesday, June 28, 2011.
Urbanite: Looking at your tour dates this summer, it looks like you’re going to be really busy for a few months. Do you prefer to have your music experienced live? Do you think that’s is the best way for your music to be heard?
Matisyahu: I wouldn’t say I have a preference, like I would prefer someone to see it live than to listen to my record. But I would definitely think it is great live and I think it’s different than the record. I try to make it an experience for people, so when they come they’re not just hearing the songs as they are on the record, but that they’re actually more dynamic at the show—there’s a lot of interaction and exchange and improvisation.
Urbanite: I know that you have a wife and three young boys at home. How do you balance your family life with so much touring? How does that work?
Matisyahu: When I started out I took them everywhere pretty much…my wife and the first kid, and then, my wife and the second kid. And then I started to try to do it without taking them everywhere. Now we do a balance. For example, now the kids are at camp for three weeks, but they’ll come out and join me for the rest of the tour. I try to bring them along even though it is difficult. There is a certain joy, as you know…there is a stress, but there is a certain joy you get from being with your children and that’s important to me.
To read the entire interview on the Urbanite website, click here.
