At a time when many Jewish artists have faced challenges amid rising antisemitism, the In One Voice festival provides a wonderful opportunity to celebrate and support local talent.
The festival is presented by SKIF and the Kadimah and returns to Selwyn Street, Elsternwick on March 16 from 11am to 5pm, with food markets, artisan stalls, live art and a community groups expo.
There is also a fabulous line-up of music ranging from school performances to accomplished musicians including The Bashevis Singers, Ktzat Acher, Fifth of Nisan, Mon & B collective and the Melbourne Klezmer School.
The AJN spoke with The Bashevis Singers ahead of their In One Voice performance. The Bashevis Singers comprise Husky Gawenda, his sister Evie Gawenda and their cousin Gideon Preiss. Husky and Gideon also form the critically acclaimed folk-indie band Husky, and Evie is a talented theatre director and singer.
While they grew up singing together as a family, The Bashevis Singers began when they were asked to perform Yiddish songs at the Mullumbimby Music Festival in 2015 for a mostly non-Yiddish speaking audience. “They loved it, and we loved it more importantly and we decided, we have to do this,” Husky said.
Having attended Sholem Aleichem College and being part of the Bund community, Yiddish had always been an integral part of their life.
“Some of the first songs we ever heard and learnt were Yiddish songs,” Husky shared.
Their music draws from centuries of Yiddish poetry and song, brought to life with classic 20th century folk songs. Their new soulful compositions are based on mystical poetry written by legendary Yiddish poets, as well as songs written in collaboration with their father and uncle, renowned journalist and author Michael Gawenda. The Bashevis Singers have released four albums, their most recent being Songs to Infinity.
The trio said that much of their new music has been inspired by the teachings of Dr Nathan Wolski, a scholar in Jewish mysticism. While they each grew up secular, in recent years they found that Yiddish was a “key” to unlocking their spiritual connection to Judaism.
When asked if they view their music as contributing to a Yiddish revival seen around the Diaspora, the trio don’t see their music as being part of a revival, but rather as keeping Yiddish alive.
the Canyon. Photo: Supplied.
“We’re not looking back … it’s very much in the present,” Husky observed.
“We’re taking stuff from a long time ago, often sometimes 100 years ago … it’s deeply historical, but we’re creating something new out of it … it’s alive, which means it will live into the future. That feels like a beautiful thing that’s happening right here in Melbourne, in this corner of the world.”
Asked if you need to speak Yiddish to appreciate their music, Gideon said, “Having the language gives you access into the material and into the works that we’re creating, but I don’t think it’s exclusively for Jews … I don’t think that you need to speak Yiddish to access the music and have some sort of experience with it.”
When the trio are not singing together as part of The Bashevis Singers, they each have their own projects. Last year Husky released their fifth album Deep Sleeper. This year Husky Gawenda has a solo endeavour releasing a new song each month accompanied by a story. Husky Gawenda will also be performing in Songs from the Canyon in April/May and is its musical director, and Evie is also a director.
“It’s a show of songs from Laurel Canyon, which is in the Hollywood Hills in LA and it’s a place where, in the late, late ’60s, early ’70s, all these great artists lived and made music … we’re talking about Crosby Stills Nash and Young, Joni Mitchell, Carole King, The Mamas and the Papas, Jim Morrison, Brian Wilson and more,” Husky said. It was the vision of producer Rick Chazan, and the show has returned after touring successfully last year.
Husky and Evie’s father Michael Gawenda helped write some of the script for the show. Evie said it has been incredible to have a father and uncle who has become a leading Jewish advocate.
“I think the fact that dad’s been there to talk, write, mentor … and that his book [My Life as a Jew] came out two days before October 7, it couldn’t have been more prescient … It’s good to have a voice like that at a time which has been very difficult for Jews.”
Regarding what it has been like to be a Jewish musician at a time of rising antisemitism, Gideon reflected, “It’s very challenging. I can’t think of any Jew who hasn’t had a host of challenges throughout this time.”
Evie shared, “It’s really hard for Jewish musicians at the moment, and I’ve seen it with all my friends.”
“Our response is to just make Yiddish music, make Jewish music, do even more of it than before,” Husky added.
Evie said, “We’ve been playing at In One Voice since its inception, since it was Concert in the Park … It’s more meaningful now because we get to sing our Yiddish songs and be together and support each other. It’s important.”
For more information about In One Voice, visit inonevoice.org.au
To learn more about the Bashevis Singers visit thebashevissingers.com
To book tickets to Songs from the Canyon visit songsfromthecanyon.com
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