The Jew Spot

When I met Chana Rothman at Paradise Café in NYC, she was exactly what I envisioned her to be -- calm, opened, earthy and kind. The feel of her music truly resonates with her presence. Chana shared with me her influences behind her folksy, worldly and intense melodies mixed with the unique sounds of feminine hip-hop/reggae and powerful words of Hebrew. Read about the soul behind the music here.

[Chana Rothman]

How did you find music?

I studied flute really seriously for a long time. I loved it. I really loved it. I remember my flute teacher, I would play something and it wouldn’t be what’s on the page, and she’d be like ‘Are you inventing music again?’ And I’d be like, ‘Yeah, I think it sounds better this way.’

In high school I went to some serious music camps which is actually where I learned I didn’t want to be a classical musician. I realized I didn’t want to sit and play flute for four hours a day. I didn’t have the discipline, to tell you the truth. That’s where I learned to play classical guitar.

In high school I fell in love with the Indigo girls and Ani Difranco, and pretty soon I started writing my own music. It’s really been formed with my background in classical music.

Would you say those experiences have influenced your music today?

I would say the type of environment I grew up in really strongly influenced my music. I grew up in a Reconstructionist Jewish environment. It was very progressive -- knowing that my Jewish spirituality and religion belong to me. I had a really strong sense of cultural pride because I had a really positive upbringing and my family encouraged me to be myself; to be creative.

Oh, and being Canadian, too.

We have to talk about your song Ana. I’m kind of obsessed with it. Can you tell me about the lyrics and your inspiration for writing it?

It’s from Hallel [Psalms recited on joyous holidays]. I found it when I was flipping through the Seder one day. I found the psalm, and I found the words Ana adonai hoshi-ah na. The words really struck me. I started writing around it. What does this mean? What does this mean, will you save us?

I think the fact that it’s the first song on the album, the fact that it really feels like a prayer, throws some people off like reviewers who aren’t Jewish or aren’t religious. But sometimes it really resonates with people who aren’t Jewish or who aren’t religious. Will you save us? Our planet is in trouble, it’s no secret. We’re killing each other. We have wars. It’s not like we’re saved.

I think it is pretty intense to be openly religious in your music.

Because of my background in activism and spirituality, I really feel pain in the world. And I feel prayer is real to me.

It’s a Jewish concept that the world isn’t perfect and it needs to be fixed.

Do you think music can heal the world?

I do. I don’t know if it’s music that will fix the world. But I believe that music that tells the truth releases good energy. Even if it doesn’t have words, just submitting a good energy. Have you ever been on a subway, and you hear someone playing, and it just transforms the energy?

I definitely believe music can create change.

You’ll be performing at Jewlicious. What about the festival interested you in performing there?

I thought it sounded really fun to perform on a California beach party model, but have it be Jewish. The more I looked into it, they really want it to be a community to really spend time with each other. Not to just come in and do a show, but to really get to know people. Kind of how I like to roll, you know. It’s a really good match for me. I’m really glad to be a part of it.

[Read more on the festival below]

And you’ve said that you teach also?

Yeah, I teach music in two Jewish day schools [nursery to 8^th grade]. The fourth grade is doing a unit on song writing on places that they love.

One of the girls moved here from Israel two years ago. I remember, she didn’t speak any English when she first moved here. Her song was so beautiful. There’s a place that I always feel at home/ There’s a place that I always feel welcomed. She described the beach and the forest and the trees. She created these beautiful words of rhythm. She’s in fourth grade. Amazing.

Do you feel that you are breaking the stereotypes of the Jewish woman?

Aaron Bisman of Jdub said I’m like a Jewish Ani Difranco, and that’s an honor. Ani showed a way of being a woman that opened a whole possibility for a whole generation of young women, of people in general.

What was it that Ani was doing? She was refusing to play a certain role that would’ve made other people more comfortable. And she shows her own path, even though she did not see it. It wasn’t a preselected a path. She didn’t fall because she remembered where she came from. She kept going forward.

I used to lead a lot of hikes on camping trips and there’s a concept called ‘bushwacking’. It’s when there’s no path anymore. There’s no path and you have to make your path. There’s just trees and bushes and shrubs and you just have to push through to find your way. And I do feel that I’m doing that.

And you’re going strong, Chana! Thank you for the interview and inspiration. Much love.

Take a listen to Chana’s music here.

Stay tuned for more coverage on Chana Rothman from Jewlicious Fest.