Who is known as Shlomo Artzi of the ultra-Orthodox sector, "publishes first song in English •" I was born in America and my orientation is American, "Razal explains the song, admitting that the international market is an option

• Jonathan Razel

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  Romano fan

Jonathan Razal, one of the most prominent representatives of religious music for more than a decade, is publishing a new song and his first in English - "If You Want to Travel Fast."

The inspiration for the song leading the song he received 20 years ago at an airport in South Africa. "I saw this sentence in white kiddush letters: 'If you want to run fast - run alone. If you want to see far - run together,'" he says. "I remember it hit me, that idea. To cross the track you have to be giving, forgiving, giving a hand."

Razal (46) was born in New York and immigrated to Israel with his family at the age of two. As a musician, it can be defined as the "bridge between worlds". He frequently visits the foreigner, liking the secular as well, and does not appear only to Jewish communities. Some call it "Shlomo Artzi of the ultra-Orthodox sector." The musical inspiration for the new song was actually inspired by James Blake. Not exactly the first source of inspiration to think of in the context of Jewish music. "In terms of production, I took the song to a little bit of electronic. I could take the song to the normal sound I know, of piano and strings, but I definitely took a different direction. This connection of very deep piano music with electronic has always fascinated me, and James Blake has it "I heard some of his things that really affected me."

Why a song in English?

"I was born in America and grew up mostly on American music: Stevie Wonder, James Taylor," Razal explains. My orientation is American, it was a big part of my culture. I perform a lot abroad and I find myself speaking a lot in English. I also translate my familiar songs simultaneously into English while performing. This is not a one-off glimpse. I grew up that way. "

Still, would you say this is an experimental period in your musical life?

"Absolutely. I never planned on being a singer, I didn't think about it. It happened suddenly. One song succeeded and another song succeeded, and I started performing. Now I'm at a time when I'm looking for my sound between shows."

And also an international audience.

"I humbly say I think I have something to give in this area. I had a year ago and a few touring in the Netherlands in the halls of non-Jewish audiences, who discovered my music. It's fun. I also don't feel that pop is a negative word."

Do you feel you are already in the Israeli mainstream?

"I feel a change. Something is bubbling out of the sector. For me and for other singers as well. There is something exciting about it. There is Yishai Ribo and Hanan Ben-Ari and others. When I played my first songs for record companies, they asked me, 'Who is it going for? It might sound too secular, maybe it is the Internet that opened up a lot of things, but I feel the diffusion of the materials is much greater and bidirectional. Something is happening, there is a desire to create a common language. "

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