A Project of One Love - Idan Raichel

Idan Raichel was a literal new voice when he emerged as an artist in Israel. At a time where it seemed only tragic news and negative talk were taking place, and hatred was high, Raichel lifted himself above all that and instead created music about tolerance, bringing in artistic inspiration from all cultures surrounding him.




Now Raichel is one of the biggest Israeli artists, selling out concerts even here in the States. I guess he wasn’t the only one who wanted to hear a message of peace. Read The Jew Spot’s interview with Raichel here.


Your music came out at a time where only negative things were being heard around Israel. But you came with another message – of love and acceptance. How did you not get mixed in with the negative messages, and rise above and inspire others to ignore those messages as well?


While I didn’t intend my music to be overtly political, the message of tolerance and love just comes from the natural process of collaboration with people of different backgrounds. Israel is a real melting pot, with immigrants from all over the world as well as a strong Middle Eastern influence from the Arab population. As a musical explorer, music has been the way I have connected with people from all these different backgrounds, and the message just sprang from that interest.


With this new message of tolerance, bringing in so many different cultures to be a part of your music, did you believe your music would become so popular in Israel, nonetheless the world?


I have been very surprised and happy about the international reception to the Project’s music. Despite language and cultural barriers, people seem to recognize something of themselves in it and appreciate the meaning behind the music. Israel is a small country and we tend to be focused very inwardly within our own communities. Also, I think the Hebrew language can be a barrier for international success.


Many believe because of the Ethiopian influence in your music, that you yourself are Ethiopian. But that's not true. You actually discovered Ethiopian music through children who immigrated to Israel from Ethiopia. What about this music inspired you to place such emphasis of its sounds in your music?


I think the soul and spirit of the music attracts me. It has a very heartfelt and honest feel, like early blues. I think the rhythms and melodies are very exotic, yet there is something familiar in them as well. The main thing that drew me to the music, however, was the people. I started getting to know people in the Ethiopian community in Israel when I was working at a boarding school for immigrant teenagers. A lot of the teenagers had identity problems and were listening more to American rap or Jamaican dancehall. But there was a small group that stayed close to their roots and were listening to cassettes from Addis Ababa.

I started to listen to the music of Mahmoud Ahmed, Gigi, Aster Aweke and others. I started to go to the Ethiopian bars downtown. Its like another country in Tel Aviv. Nobody knows about it except the Ethiopian community. I started going to the ceremonies, weddings and the Ethiopian synagogues as well. Every community has their own synagogues, the Yemenite, Askenazi, Sefardic, and so forth. So I got to know a lot of the Ethiopian community and became friends with many people. It was through these friendships that my association with Ethiopian music really began to develop.





Your group has such an interesting way of using instruments – playing with water, the incorporation of keyboards and drums. Where did that creativity come from to incorporate such an unusual collaboration of sounds?


I started playing the accordion as a child, and I was exposed to all kinds of different music, everything from Gypsy music to Argentinean tango, French waltzes, Israeli folk whatever. It taught me to keep my ears open to different sounds. I listened to a lot of different music growing up, from Miles Davis to Oum Kalthoum. I studied jazz in high school. I became interested in Ethiopian music when I was counseling some Ethiopian kids and started listening to Mahmoud Ahmed, Aster Aweke, Gigi and others. I also find a lot of inspiration in classic Israeli folk and popular music. I listen to a lot of jazz like Miles Davis and Keith Jarret, as well as music from Mali, artists like Salif Keita and Tinariwen, for example. The musicians I choose to work with also bring their talents and their diverse influences as well.


What do you think the appeal of the Idan Raichel Project is? Do you think the world has been waiting to see a group so diverse, yet so similar when they perform together? On a small scale, is your group an example of what the world can be? Do you believe music has the power to do this - to unite people with differences?


I think the appeal is that everyone can see something of themselves in the music. Collaborations between seemingly different people have been happening for a while now, remember "Ebony and Ivory" by Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder? The Project is making our collaboration in the context of struggles and difference in the Middle East which is particularly volatile now.
I believe racism and prejudice are not about bad people, it is about ignorance. So yes, I do believe the world can become a place where we respect each other and the differences between us. When people pick up on this it a nice side effect of the project. The lyrics are all about love, which is a universal theme.


If you could leave the next generation of musicians with one message, what would it be?


One love!


For real. And much love to the Idan Raichel Project for their work and the interview! For more on the Idan Raichel Project, visit www.IdanRaichelProject.com.