The first time I heard this guy’s music was back in 2008 or 2009 at Tomato Kick’s old location in Maginhawa. Albeit half drunk, I remember enthusiastically dancing to this song I do not know but couldn’t get enough of. I was just standing there dancing to the beat and I kept telling myself, “this is my jam!” I took out my phone and typed whatever lyric I could remember and proceeded to look for it the next day. That song was Chop ‘Em Down by, of course, Matisyahu.
WATCH: Couple’s Acapella Cover of Matisyahu’s ‘One Day’ Will Give You Good Vibes All Over
For those who have heard his name for the first time, there’s a good chance you may have listened to him in the past with his more popular songs “King Without A Crown” and “One Day”. But you might be wondering, who is Matisyahu? Matthew Miller, popularly known as Matisyahu is a musician and singer with his music genre ranging from Reggae Rap to Alternative Rock. If you’ve watched this viral video of Bugoy Drilon singing One Day, you’d know that he was invited to perform alongside Matisyahu after the singer heard his rendition of the song over the radio! So now, let’s go through a few of the many reasons why you should definitely see him live.
3. He is humble.
So aside from that time where he invited Bugoy Drilon to perform with him at a concert in the US, he also likes surprising his fans. He’s grounded and very human as evident when he surprised a ukulele performer in Hawaii who was singing his song. He started singing with the guy until he realized he’s actually jamming with Matisyahu himself. Matis chilled with the guy for a bit then gave him concert tickets for their performance later in the night. I mean, how lucky is that ukulele guy???
2. He’s a spiritual performer.
Being born as an Orthodox Jew, his religion has a huge influence on how he creates his music. His lyrics center on positivity. Every album is both a musical and spiritual exploration. He doesn’t like boxing himself in a certain genre but instead goes for what his heart and mind truly desire which is pretty much all over his songs. He’s capable of making the audience feel that this isn’t just music to your ears, but to hearts and souls as well.
1. He is unconventional.
When you listen to their new album Undercurrent, it makes you form an image of him singing in a backroom session with friends or in a small hazy venue trying to get the crowd to groove with him. Some of his songs will give a reminiscing vibe of reggae classics like Bob Marley, but you’ll find yourself discovering he’s not afraid to let a song find its way. He doesn’t go for the typical catchy refrains and high bridges, but it will feel like every word walks you through life. He is soulful, driven, and delightful in the most unexpected way.
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With that, I hope I was able to convince you guys that Matis is worth giving a try. I promise you every penny will be well worth it once you step out of the venue. Matisyahu will be performing on September 23, 2017, 8PM at the SM North EDSA Skydome. Hurry and get your tickets!
