An unusual eccentric invariably attracts attention, arouses interest. It is often easier for special people to break through in life, to make a career. This happened to Matisyahu, whose biography is full of unique behavior that is incomprehensible to most of his fans. His talent lies in mixing different styles of performance, unusual voice. He also has an extraordinary manner of presenting his work.
Family, early childhood years of the singer Matisyahu
Matthew Paul Miller, known under the pseudonym Matisyahu, was born in the USA. It happened on June 30, 1979 in the town of West Chester, Pennsylvania. Soon the boy's family moved to the city of Berkeley in California, and then moved to the White Plains of New York. It was in the latter city that they settled for a long time. All childhood memories of the singer are connected with this place.
Matthew Miller is a purebred Jew. His ancestors moved to the United States, enabling future generations to be considered full-fledged Americans. The Matthew family was religious but secular.
They tried to bring up the boy in Jewish traditions. He was exposed to the liberal influence of his parents, who were striving to preserve the culture of their ancestors. The boy's mother worked as a teacher, and his father worked in the social sphere.
School years of the future artist Matisyahu
Parents, striving for the reconstruction of Judaism in the family and the national community, sent Matthew to study at a special religious school. Classes were held only three times a week.
Despite this, the boy rebelled against the strictness, the ideological dictatorship that dominated the education system. By the age of 14, the boy was repeatedly on the verge of expulsion.
Youthful hobbies Matthew Miller
As a teenager, Matthew Miller became fascinated with hippie culture. He was fascinated by the free disposition of the people who belonged to her. At the same time, the young man was attracted by music. He wore dreadlocks, learned to play drums, bongos, deftly imitated the sounds of an entire drum kit. The young man was attracted by reggae style music.
Parents' attempts to cope with their son's violent temper
The inappropriate behavior of the son upset the parents. They tried in every possible way to guide the child on the true path. When once again the question of expulsion from school arose, the parents urgently decided to reason with their son. They tried to cope with his hooligan disposition by sending him to a children's camp in Colorado. This institution was located in a deserted area with beautiful nature.
The journey was contemplative. After that, Matthew was sent to relatives in Israel. He studied at a local school for 3 months, and then rested at a resort near the Dead Sea. This period helped the guy understand himself, but did not solve the problem.
A new round of teenage problems
In the USA, Matthew went to his former school. Contrary to the expectations of the parents, the break in education did not benefit the son. He continued to behave like a hooligan, and in addition became addicted to hallucinogens. The chemistry room fire incident was the last straw. Matthew left school for good.
An attempt at creative realization and studying at a school for difficult teenagers
After leaving school, Matthew tried to start a musical career. He joined the band Phish, which was just going on tour. As part of the team, the guy rode with concerts around the country. On this attempt of creative implementation ended.
Parents found an opportunity to influence their son, convincing him of the need to continue his education. The guy had to go to a school for difficult teenagers. The institution was located in the desert area of the town of Bend, Oregon.
Here the young man studied for 2 years. In addition to the main subjects, rehabilitation classes were conducted with the students. Matthew showed the greatest interest in the course of musical psychotherapy. Here he received versatile knowledge, began to rap, mastered vocals and beatboxing, and also mastered the initial artistic skills.
Beginning of normal adulthood Matisyahu
After the correctional school, Matthew was re-educated. He went to work, bought a motorcycle. The first field of activity of the future artist was the ski resort. Here he had the opportunity to live without undue stress.
He enjoyed snowboarding, performed at a local cafe. The guy took the pseudonym MC Truth, which brought him his first fame in narrow circles. He performed reggae and hip-hop, and also began to mix these musical directions.
Further education, religious formation of an aspiring performer
Soon the young man realized the need for further education. He went to college in New York, choosing a specialty of social orientation. At the same time, the guy became interested in religion. He began to go to the synagogue regularly.
One familiar rabbi, seeing his passion for music, advised the young man to know himself through Jewish music. In traditional Jewish songs, the young man found spiritual potential. At the same time, Matthew buys the first audio system and begins to form his own collection of his favorite music in instrumental performance.
The appearance of the pseudonym Matisyahu
Fascinated by religion, Matthew decided to change his stage name. Even at school, he was nicknamed Matisyahu. In Jewish legends, this was the name of a rebel, one of the leaders of the uprising. This name was in tune with his real name. That is how the young man decided to call himself, introducing himself to a wide audience.
Actively opposed to religion in his teens, Matisyahu himself came to it as an adult. Hasidism became a support in the spiritual sphere for a man. He specifically underwent religious training for 9 months. The artist leads a righteous life, observing the traditions of his faith. Having become popular, a man gives out somewhat contradictory behavior. Some actions raise doubts about the inflexibility of religious customs.
The beginning of Matisyahu's path to popularity
The youthful passion for music has not disappeared anywhere. Matisyahu continued to play, sing, record, perform. All this was mostly in the shade. Soon, the aspiring artist formed a support group. These are musicians who helped an extraordinary artist present his work to a wide audience.
In 2004, he released his first album Shake Off the Dust...Arise. The debut was not popular. The artist's music was perceived as a curiosity that is unusual for most listeners.
Matisyahu is tall and prefers traditional Jewish attire. Seeing the artist, many call him a curiosity. The manner of performing songs is also unusual. The artist sings odes to the glory of Judaism.
The performance takes place in a mixture of English and Hebrew, which is often complemented by an imitation of Jamaican pronunciation.
Matisyahu skillfully combines mixed music and voice leading. In his songs one can hear tongue twisters, lingering vocals, religious tunes, incendiary rhythms. This explosive mixture has become something unusual for sophisticated listeners, occupying its own unique niche.
Studio and concert activity of Matisyahu
After the debut studio album, the artist released a live compilation, which quickly reached gold status. After that, Matisyahu recorded a new full-length album "Youth" in 2006, which also received "gold". From that moment on, the artist became popular and recognizable. He recorded several more live records, and since 2009 has released 3 studio albums. In 2006, the artist was awarded a Grammy nomination.
Matisyahu's personal life
The singer has been happily married for a long time. Wife Talia Miller accompanies her husband on all tours. In their free time from concerts, the couple lives in New York. The family has a house in Brooklyn. The couple had two children. Currently, the singer is demonstrating a retreat from ardent religious traditions towards secular behavior.
For example, an artist shaved off his beard allows himself to interact more closely with fans.
