RESTLESS HEART (2019)

Restless Heart pushed forward the vision I first articulated with In Pursuit — Jewish worship music reimagined for a secular setting. I wanted to treat the religious texts with the respect and thoughtfulness that they deserved, and not just "rock out” for the novelty value.

“R’tzei” - The text comes from the daily liturgy and asks God to accept our prayers with love. But what if we don’t know if God is listening? I reimagined this prayer from a sense of frustration, anger, and even despair that we all can feel when we’re not sure if we’re being heard.

“V’shamru” - Before we had upbeat and cheery melodies for this traditional Shabbat text, it was considered a mystical and solemn moment in services. I wondered how best to bring a ‘90s rock sound together with this sense of yirah - a blend of wonder, fear, and awe.

“Hinei Eil Y’shuati” - I woke up one morning with this melody singing in my skull. The text opens the Havdalah ceremony, which marks the separation between the end of Shabbat and the beginning of the regular week. Its first few words are a plea for protection and a statement of faith. I explored not faith in God, but rather faith in friends and loved ones through this song.