| Zusha | |
| Origin: | Manhattan, New York |
| Genre: | Electronic, Dance, Alternative Dance, soul, nigunim |
| Years Active: | 2013–present |
| Past Member Of: | JudaBlue,Ch!nch!lla |
| Current Members: | Shlomo Gaisin Zachariah Goldschmiedt |
| Past Members: | Elisha Mlotek |
Zusha is a duo blending electronic dance music with their traditional Jewish heritage. The result are rhythms and soulful vocals that create a sound that is both timeless and innovative. With a deep commitment to spiritual exploration and a dedication to their craft the duo is uplifting listeners around the world.
Zusha was formed in 2013 by Shlomo Gaisin, Elisha Mlotek, and Zachary Goldschmiedt. Gaisin and Mlotek met at New York University's Chabad house, and both were later introduced to Goldschmiedt through their mutual friend and first manager Dani Bronstein. They began rehearsing in friends' apartments, recording their sessions via iPhone, until Bronstein and Rabbi Avram Mlotek encouraged them to share their music publicly.[1] [2]
Zusha's self-titled debut EP was recorded and produced by Mason Jar Music and released on October 28, 2014, two days after the band's first show at the Mercury Lounge with Levi Robin.[3] The EP subsequently reached No. 9 on Billboard's World Albums chart.[4] In December, they performed at the Knitting Factory[5] and opened for Soulfarm at the Highline Ballroom.[6] The EP features cover art by Hasidic expressionist artist Chezi Gerin.[7]
In 2015, they gave a Purim concert with G-Nome Project at the Bowery Ballroom[8] which featured a surprise guest appearance by Matisyahu. They played a Havdalah concert at the Atlanta Jewish Academy during the Atlanta Jewish Music Festival [9] and also performed at the Kulturfest Yiddish Soul concert at Central Park's Rumsey Playfield, alongside Hasidic pop stars Avraham Fried and Lipa Schmeltzer, cantors Joseph Malovany and Yaakov Lemmer, and klezmer trumpeter Frank London.[10] In May, they played at the Washington, D.C. Jewish Community Center as part of the Washington Jewish Music Festival.[11]
The band's first full-length album, Kavana, was released on January 5, 2016, and subsequently reached No. 2 on Billboard's World Albums chart.[12] A music video directed by Joe Baughman was filmed for the song "Mashiach" and the album's song "Pashut" was featured in the trailer for the 2017 film Menashe, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival.[13]
A Colorful World, Zusha's second full album, was released on September 4, 2017. That same year, Elisha Mlotek went on to pursue filmmaking.[14]
Zusha's third full album, When the Sea Split, released on September 1, 2019. In 2020, the now-duo were featured on the singles "Anim Zemirot" by The Portnoy Brothers and "Karvah" by Eitan Katz, and in December they released Likavod Shabbos, a collaborative EP with singer Beri Weber. Amid a string of singles, Zusha released the EP Cave of Healing on March 14, 2021. The following year, a fourth studio album, Open the Gates, was released on January 17, 2022, featuring collaborations with Eitan Katz, Ishay Ribo, and Eviatar Banai.
Later in the year, rapper JID's single "Dance Now", from his third album The Forever Story, used a sample of "Yoel's Niggun" from Zusha's debut EP. The sample was the idea of teenage producer Aviad Poznansky, who had heard the original song from a counselor at Camp Yavneh, and Gaisin, Goldschmiedt, and Mlotek are given writing credits on the JID song.[15]
Zusha's music combines the wordless vocals and improvised nature of traditional nigunim with elements eletronic music, jazz, soul,. Influences cited by the band include Shlomo Carlebach, Bon Iver, Sufjan Stevens, Ratatat, and Fredagain.
The band is often associated with the Hasidic and attribute much of their inspiration to the texts of the Baal Shem Tov and his students' teachings. "[16]
See main article: Zusha discography.