Hi! I'm Avi Beer, and you're watching Jewish Music Toronto!
♪ (Music) ♪
Hey there! It's Eli, with another exclusive interview here on Jewish Music Toronto.
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My guest today is by no means new to the Jewish music scene.
He's had a love for Jewish music since he was a kid, and got
his starts singing in the Yeshiva Boys Choir.
But since 2016, with the release of his first single, Barchi Nafshi, he's been
working to make a name for himself and his own songs.
All the way from the five towns New York, it's Avi Beer!
Avi: Thank you for having me. Eli: Thank you for joining me. It's a pleasure.
So, Avi, you were born and raised in the five towns as I understand it.
You attended the Hebrew Academy of Long Beach in your day school years.
Describe your community your school and your life in those formative years.
Avi: So, I always attended HALB (Hebrew Academy of Long Beach), and HALB was...
was located in Long Beach up until like last year when it finally moved to Woodmere...
Fun fact... (Eli laughs)
But... it was...
it was a commute, going every day - half hour bus drive to HALB and being there with the rabbeim and teachers,
half day secular studies, half day Judaic studies.
and then after that I went to the HALB's division of high school, DRS (Davis Renov Stahler)
Yeshiva High School for Boys- Eli: And those are- So those two schools are
fully connected as well. Avi: Yeah, and that was in the Five Towns, actually,
so only, like, a two minute walk
Then after that I went off to Israel for two years (first year in Kerem B'Yavneh
and second year in Netiv Aryeh). Eli: (Mm-hmm) And in your community actually within
the Five Towns? How would you describe it?
I would describe it as Modern Orthodox. Um...
A very close community; many shuls, many schools...
...very populated Jewish area.
Eli: Tell me what you remember of your early exposure to Jewish music.
Avi: I remember, from when I was a little kid, I used to- I have videos... I used to run around the house
and sing Jewish music; different songs... all the inspirations
from these people I look up to it till this day, and then there's this choir,
Yeshiva Boys Choir, and I always wanted to go into that choir. And in about sixth grade,
I think, I auditioned for the Yeshiva Boys Choir singing Shir Hama'alos,
and I was there for two years, on the album YBC Shmoy Shel Melech.
Then after that I decided to go on my own. Eli: Yeah... yeah...
I was reading the article in-
the recent article in The Five Towns Jewish Times, by Rochelle Miller, and she wrote that once
you discovered your passion for Jewish music, you immediately jumped into
putting on your own shows for your family and friends. So where did that inspiration come from?
To do, of all things, that? Avi: Before Jewish music, and
it's always... it was before that. I think still, to this day, I always wanted to go
in, like, theatre and on Broadway or some theatric type of shows- (Eli: Really?!?)
I always loved the stage and how the sets change, and I was always fascinated with that.
So I always wanted to- I actually almost auditioned for one of the Broadway shows. I always wanted to.
That was my- that's my life- That is still! I would love to do that.
That is one of my goals in life. I think, from that, I transitioned into Jewish music.
Eli: So, see... I have not heard much about this Broadway thing about you, so what
what shows were- inspired you in your early years?
All the different- Fiddler on the Roof, Annie... all these different shows.
I went to 13 Broadway shows, I think, as a kid.
I used to know them all by heart. Just the sense that when- afterwards, when
everyone was clapping and the effect of the people on stage had on the audience,
that had an effect on me. I mean I want to inspire people one day too,
through a means like that. Eli : Very cool! Very cool...
How did your family and friends receive you doing this?
What did they think of your ambitions?
Avi: Most people, to this day still, don't think I can do it.
It's very hard, Jewish music specifically.
It's a very hard field. Broadway for sure. It's very competitive.
Everyone wants to be in the business. Everyone wants to be a star.
So I think people just want to be realistic and say that "Oh it's a dream. But the dreams...
But you have to actually get realistic and get a real job," or something like that.
Eli: So... So how do you... How do you keep yourself motivated?
Avi: I keep myself motivated in the sense that just the feedback that I get from my music,
and the feedback since Barchi Nafshi, I think that these messages...
Just... just a couple of weeks ago I got a message from a kid in the hospital telling me that his-
there's no words to explain what my music means to him
and he would love to meet me one day.
That really had an effect on me, and said "Just for that song. Just to put out that
song alone was worth all the headaches and the studio time, and everything."
Even just for that one person. Eli: Wow. You did that one...
We're talking about Barchi Nafshi?
Well that was Mi Bon Siach. (Eli: Oh, the Mi Bon Siach...)
Barchi Nafshi too! I got messages with people telling me that they cried to the video.
And each song has it's different messages I guess people resonate with.
Uh... In the article in the Five Towns Jewish Times,
Baruch Levine is noted as one of your influences. Are there other... any other Toronto
or Canadian-based artists who inspire you?
Avi: I don't know if there's a Toronto
artist that actually inspired me, but Baruch Levine, yeah, is definitely one of my inspirations.
Eli: Well you know he's from here! Avi: Really?!? Eli: Yes!
Yes! Avi: Oh! I didn't know that.
Eli: He's Canadian! Avi: I don't... I don't even know that.
I just know his music and I know that... his beautiful voice, and his music
and his famous songs, and I think that, that is, for all my music I tend to go on
the slower side (slow music in the style of Baruch Levine).
Eli: You have what I would call a rather unique voice.
Your New York accent is thick even compared to some of the artists (other artists) that I've heard out there.
So has it helped you hurt you? Do you find it helps you set yourself apart?
Tell me about that.
Avi: I think Jewish music, especially these days, there's all these- every artist is now having a different sound
different voice. Some voices resonate with some people. Some not.
I think that my sound definitely has a place in Jewish music, and definitely with all these
up-and-coming artists, there is- I think there is room for these different types
of sounds that, maybe are not so popular, but hopefully one day will be.
Eli: Interesting. It's an interesting take on it.
You're a you're young guy, even... even at three years you're still at the start of your solo journey.
So what do you do to improve your skills be it in composition or performance?
Avi: Actually, before you came here I- throughout the day I do vocal exercises.
I... some people... my chavrusas and my- people in my school know this already.
besides for that I'm constantly listening to music, whether on the plane
my headphones listening to either the newest Jewish music or songs that I've composed
I haven't released yet, or working on music and writing some music,
and just developing different types of music and songs to hopefully, one day,
produce and release them all.
Eli: Who are you listening to right now right now?
Avi: Right now? Eli: What's with the album that's, like, just on repeat?
Avi: Baruch Levine came out with an album. Um... I think that one of the newest albums
of Jewish music. And then there's all the regular people - Simcha Leiner, Yaakov Shwekey -
people that are definitely role models in my life and people I look up to.
Eli: What's uh... What do you have that you've been playing on repeat lately?
Avi: On repeat lately? There's this song (I don't know if you heard it), it's called Tatty My King,
by these couple guys in Waterbury Yeshiva, got together and released this song.
Eli: I haven't heard that one yet, no. Avi: You should go listen to it.
I've probably listened to it a hundred times already, maybe more. Um... Definitely every day now,
I listened to the song. It's such a good song, and... it's something I think that if
you listen to a song it really impacts you after each time you listen to it.
Eli: The production quality on your songs and your videos are higher than people might
expect for someone just starting out in their career, so you must have some kind of team,
I'd guess made up of mostly friends, helping make things happen.
Tell me about that.
Avi: So the production team behind the song is not friends... I mean, I can call them friends because
I've worked with them on these many different songs. But there's... there was this guy in Israel
when I first decided to release Barchi Nafshi,
I was looking for a studio and, min hashamayim, this studio (a hole-in-the-wall) in Mea She'arim,
I got in touch with this guy, I went down to the studio...
I walk into the studio and, well... When I walk in I see Nissim Black behind the production... um..
Eli: Wai- he was there actually at that time? Like, he was in person right there (Avi: Yeah, in person!),
and you're just like (makes awestruck face). Avi: He was working on his album with with the
that produced all my music, and I'm like "You know what? This guy, if he can produce Nissim Black,
think I can trust him to produce me." So we worked on Barchi Nafshi.
Barchi Nafshi is different than all my songs, because Barchi Nafshi, every...
every instrumental on the track was live in the studio, not like most songs that are being produced these days,
that you can put- fill it in with- on... on the computer, computerized.
But that song is all live music, and it's really a beautiful song that I still listen to it
every once while if, I ever need some chizzuk or some inspiration to get me up.
And then there's definitely the team behind the videos, who makes the videos.
My friend Simcha Sommer has done all the music videos. And not only that,
he's been without- with me throughout the whole process on the music side too,
and he designed the website, and just a very good friend and someone that's been
with me throughout this whole journey so far. Eli: Very cool.
Most of the songs that you've put out in the world, to date, are your own,
aside, I think, from Vihasieinu. Where do you find the inspiration for your songs and
how much of a challenge is it for you to come up with something new and original?
Avi: So, going back to what we said before, and how does someone differentiates himself
in this competitive market these days, I think that's what I'm trying to do with my music.
That each song is either focusing on words that no one really focused on before
Barchi Nafshi... How many Barchi Nafshis do you have?
Vihasieinu... I don't really know so many Vihasieinu songs...
And... or is it just taking a classic song like Mi Bon Siach, sung at a chuppah...,
practically every chuppah, usually a very slow song.
I wanted to make it a little bit more upbeat - put a twist on the classic song.
And I think that's what I'm trying to do with all my music and my
upcoming music, to differentiate myself and find my niche in this market.
Eli: Do you have... do you have kind of like a backlog of songs that you're just...
that you've written over the past few years and you're working them over again, taking-
taking a look back? Or is it always- has to be something new and it's- and maybe
it takes a little more time but at least it's... it's fresher to you?
Avi: Barchi Nafshi itself took three years to make. Not the production but (Eli: The writing)
The writing I scrapped so many times. "That, this or not." Actually, the other day we just started
working on an album, Im Yirtza Hashem, and the title track of the album, which I'm not
gonna tell you now... but the title track, I thought "Oh this is a great song..."
I scratched it because I have to constantly develop and things change as time changes.
And as you hear different things, maybe doesn't sound as good anymore.
Eli: Mm-hmm... Tell me about your writing process and, once you've gotten a
song down, what it's like for you to bring it to life. Avi: When I have a song down
it's very hard for me to bring it to life, because I don't play an instrument.
So, most people, songwriters play piano, guitar, something and put the
chords down, and put a very rough demo. Me? I had to sit down with Yisroel Laub,
who was the guy in Israel, and sit down with him and try to sing it over to him.
He put the chords down and then go from there. Slowly developed a song, put drums on it,
put bass, and bring it to life. Eli: Most recently you covered the song
A Million Dreams from The Greatest Showman. What made you decide to do a cover and, of all
songs that you would have done, why that song in particular?
Avi: I know it's not a classic Jewish music song to cover. Eli: I'm making no judgements there.
Avi: But I thought it was the right moment for me in my career to release that song.
Once I heard A Million Dreams from The Greatest Showman, I said "Wow this song
had an impact on practically the entire world", was a number-one song I think 2017
and till this day on all these concerts and people performing across the world,
I said "This song... the messages resonates with me so much, in that we all have to
follow our dreams that sometimes, um it might not look that way that sometimes
you may have critics telling us not to go this way or that way but a million
dreams that I'm up during the night thinking about my dreams and wanting to pursue it."
Eli: When you think of Jewish artists, or when you think of artists
that are currently leading in the world of Jewish music, who would you say you
are or would most want to emulate? Avi: Baruch Levine, as I said before.
That's someone I would definitely want to emulate. Eli: I had a feeling you were gonna say that, but I still
went with the question anyway. Then there is definitely Yaakov Shwekey.
I can't... I can't not give an interview without mentioning Yaakov Shwekey, someone
that I think is becoming the king of Jewish music. Revolutionizes Jewish music
each and every day, constantly putting out music in a modern twist,
and is someone that it's definitely impacting the entire Jewish music field.
Eli: Okay, we're gonna be getting towards a wrap up here, so I'm gonna ask a couple of different questions.
What scares you about your chosen career path? Avi: -Scary part of the
career is obviously not making it. Not- not having... not the fans... no-one resonates
with your songs... not getting the feedback that you might think that you'll get.
But someone told me a long time ago, which, this is what makes me each every day
want to pursue the career, is that if you think you're having an impact on someone,
and even if you get different criticism from different people,
you should still pursue your dreams. And I think that... that's a million dreams, and
that's what I'm trying to do. Yes, financially, I also have to realize I'm not going to do
it a full-time job, and I have to provide for my family.
But if something is very special to my heart, or to anyone's heart,
and they really have a passion for it, and... and they get feedback from people
(might not be the best feedback of all times from all... from every person),
then I think the person should pursue their dreams and follow their dreams
and see it forward. Eli: Looking forward, I think it's safe to say that you plan
to continue to grow your name in the Jewish music world (you've already said that you're working
on an album). Aside from the just general growing the name, what are you hoping to
accomplish within the next two years? The album, I think is one of the things you probably...
Avi: I think the album will be definitely the biggest project. (Eli: Yeah?)
Avi: And I'm just hoping to cut to keep
on inspiring people. That is... I think that's my goal at the end of the day.
If I sing at a hundred gigs a year, or 200 gigs. If I sing at 20 gigs, I think, at end
of the day, it just matters to me - Did I have a hashpa'ah? Did I have an impact on people?
And that's the greatest feedback, and I can get from if.
Eli: If you were to receive a call from an artist or promoter right now (now I- I know that I'm
probably gonna get the same answer here but I'm taking this risk anyway)
telling you that they'd love for you to open for them or even to share the stage with
them for a little bit (one song even) who would it be?
Avi: You want me to say Baruch Levine? Eli: I don't want you to say Baruch Levine, actually, necessarily...
Avi: But I would also say... Eli: That would be fine if you said Baruch Levine.
I would love to work with Simcha Leiner. Eli: Ah.
Avi: We haven't mentioned him yet, but Simcha Leiner is my... is in the top three.
Besides from Baruch Levine, Yaakov Shwekey, I love Simcha Leiner, and I think I would love.
I would love to work with him... open up a song in a concert for him.
Eli: Well it was a pleasure meeting you, Avi. Thank you so much for taking some time with me.
I know that you have a busy schedule ahead of you for today. You can check out his
music on his channel or via the link in the description below. If you enjoyed
this interview, hit that thumbs up button and share it as well. Please support JMT
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JMT videos. Thanks for watching and bye for now!
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