Good News Letter #10
First, a big thank you! To the spirited souls who made it out to TR!P in Santa Monica last Thursday Feb 29th (Leap Day!), as we launched The 300. The show was incredible and the vibes from the audience were beyond our wildest expectations for our first show. It was exactly what my brother from another, super talented musician and partner Duvid Swirsky and I imagined it could be. We started brainstorming recently about how to put on the most joyous show that we would love to play, combining Reggae, Grateful Dead jams, Middle Eastern grooves and our own original songs, into seamless medley sets of music. With an amazing ensemble of friends and musicians that we have been blessed to play with over the years, we lifted off and brought our fun loving communities together for a joyous night of music. Needless to say it was a success and there is more to come! I will keep you in the light about the next event.
I want to share with you a recent experience I was fortunate to be a part of a few weeks ago, that was immensely profound and impactful in my life. I was honored to have been asked by my close friend and musical brother Nachum Peterseil, to be a part of the Orot Healing Retreat in Ojai for over 120 survivors from the Nova Music Festival in Israel. The Nova psy-trance festival and community was at the epicenter of the brutal attacks by Hamas on October 7th. Being a proud Israeli citizen and Jew, the last few months have been extremely difficult to bear witness to and live through. My family, friends, and community in Israel, as well as all of us Jews abroad have been affected in the most profound and personal of ways. The grief and pain has been overwhelming at times to say the least. So when I was asked to be a part of a healing retreat in Ojai to play music for my brothers and sisters from the Nova festival, I sensed this was going to be a healing process not only for myself; it would also finally provide me and other volunteers here after months of feeling helplessness from afar, an opportunity to assist our tribe in a tangible and meaningful way through music, presence, light and love was a gift from above.
The week we spent at Camp Ramah in Ojai has left an indelible spark in my soul. It is hard to put into words the feelings of our experience. A few words come to mind that can come close: Gratitude; Expansion; Empathy; Connection; Presence; Love.
My intention going in was to be a vessel for love; be present and listen (and give lots of hugs). Our musical team led improv jam sessions everyday sandwiched around group therapy sessions for the unimaginable trauma and violence the Nova community experienced on October 7th. Specialized trauma therapists from Israel and Southern California led these sessions, as one of the main goals of the retreat was to help our brothers and sisters process what they have been through in a safe, loving and supportive environment. Some of my personal highlights: The Open Mic jam we led as a backing band, supporting an array of beautiful souls and voices shining their creative light; the Friday night Kabbalat Shabbat jam and prayers are still vibrating in my soul and atoms; hangin' out in the sun on Shabbat in the lush meadow and hiking barefoot in the surrounding hills with a few new friends; the panels of graffiti artwork led by the group Artists 4 Israel and Nova painters; dancing together with the legendary trance music duo Infected Mushroom as they performed a private event for us. All of this was mind blowing to say the least - as was the heart bursting show of solidarity for our family.
I am so grateful to have met such incredible people who organized and brought me to this retreat. I am also thankful and humbled to have met the beautiful Nova community brothers and sisters from Israel, some of whom are now friends and family for life. I feel truly blessed to have entered into that weeklong bubble of love and community, and to have exited out with a new appreciation for life and service. The hope of a world led by Love still exists....it's in our hearts and hands to lead the way.
In other good news I am finally ready to release some new music! I am putting out an album with a slew of singles ready to release every few weeks starting in April with “Give a Little” - one of my most popular songs that I have been performing for a while now. Some of these songs started out as demos from my time spent in Jamaica, tracking the foundations of the songs with the legendary Sly and Robbie along with Robbie Lynn on keys. Much to look forward to and I can’t wait to share this music with you.
Heart Of Love!
Rainbow over Camp Ramah on first day of the Orot retreat - Feb 6th 2024
Artwork from collaboration between Artists 4 Israel and the Nova community.
Infected Mushroom Private dance party
Friends and Family
