For many artists, music is a medium of expression, a way to translate life into sound. For Alnev, it is also a lifeline. It is a way to transform personal experiences into art that resonates deeply with others. The singer-songwriter, whose stage name, Alnev, means “pseudonym” in Hungarian, has cultivated a distinctive voice that blends introspective lyricism with compelling sonic influences from both the secular and Jewish worlds.
“I’ve always felt really connected to Chabad values and ideals, but I really had to find my own way to my relationship with G-d,” Alnev told The AJN. “I think it’s always gonna be a huge part of how I see the world, but I don’t necessarily feel inclined to write on religious topics. A lot of my music centres around the human experience; unpacking and expounding on my life, emotions, and personal stories.”
This focus on the personal over the strictly religious shapes much of Alnev’s creative ethos.
“To me, the goal of my music is to make people feel less alone in their experiences. I think that there’s a plethora of music out there that focuses on loving G-d and on religious verses and practices, and I’m much more inclined to writing about my personal life,” he said. “I’ve found that the impact my vulnerability can have on others is completely unbelievable. A ‘Jewish life’ includes so much more than our relationship with G-d, and the music that has truly moved me has always been the personal, vulnerable kind.”
The name Alnev reflects this deeply personal approach to artistry. Alnev explained that he found the name on the internet at the age of 17 and instantly felt a connection to it.
“As a proud Jew, I am simultaneously trying to trailblaze and inspire a way forward for my community while also really focused on sharing my art and my message with the entire world.”
“To me, it’s the name of the part of my soul that expresses itself through music, and it’s really become my brand. There is always more to know,” he said.
For Alnev, music and writing are inseparable. He describes writing as a muscle that he has built over time, but told The AJN that expressing his feelings was born out of necessity.
“Growing up, I didn’t feel heard or seen, and writing became my way to really pin down my thoughts and emotions and give them somewhere to breathe,” he recalled. “It’s such a privilege to be able to take my pain and alchemize it into beautiful art.”
Musically, Alnev draws inspiration from a range of secular artists, saying there’s an abundance of high-quality art available to listen to.
“Panic! [at the Disco] had a huge part in shaping how I perceive music and they’ve got such a stellar discography that I have so much admiration for. Taylor [Swift] is really the same, she’s also one of the first secular artists I ever heard, and it definitely shifted my brain chemistry,” he said, explaining that in the past few years, he also discovered Jewish musician Eviatar Banai, who he described as a “true artist and visionary”.
Yet the journey hasn’t been without its defining moments. Alnev moved to New York during the pandemic, sleeping on a friend’s couch before properly establishing himself. He called the move crazy but admitted that he felt called to do it.
“It was a really big deal for me, and I’m so grateful I did it. I’d say that another big breakthrough was playing my first ever show in Brooklyn and seeing 110+ people show up. I really had no idea of the impact I was making in my community, and I had still barely had any of my songs out, yet somehow the audience knew a lot of the unreleased music. That night was life-changing.”
Like many independent artists, Alnev is aware of the challenges of making a career out of creativity. He knows that it’s an uphill battle and it can be very difficult to live off art.
“It’s such a privilege to be able to take my pain and alchemize it into beautiful art.”
But, he acknowledged, it’s also a challenge to reach his audience.
“It’s hard to do that independently, and there’s definitely nobody handing me any opportunities,” he said. “I think as a proud Jew, I am simultaneously trying to trailblaze and inspire a way forward for my community while also really focused on sharing my art and my message with the entire world.”
Despite the hurdles, Alnev remains focused on inspiring others, particularly within the Jewish community.
“I really would focus on inspiring more Jews to express themselves creatively, to really understand their individual gifts and use them. It’s so important to understand that we each have tremendous power as individuals, and we don’t have our particular gifts for no reason. They are meant to be shared and to elevate the spaces we are in,” he said.
As for what’s ahead, Alnev is preparing for an exciting phase in his career, having just released his sophomore EP, And everything you left was blue
“It’s a project centred around loss, heartbreak, and the interplay between grief and relief,” the musician explained. “It’s probably the best sounding music I’ve ever made … there are so many future plans, most of which I’ll share about at the right time.”
Whatever his future plans are, it’s clear that Alnev is forging a path that resonates far beyond the notes and lyrics of his music. In a world saturated with sound, it’s his willingness to explore the human experience that ensures Alnev will continue to captivate and connect with audiences both within and beyond the Jewish community.
Stream Alnev’s EP, and everything you left was blue, online now: link.alnevmusic.com/aeylwb
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