Amiro Benayoun: "I Try Not to Go a Day Without Studying Torah"

Amir Benayoun doesn't keep score. He is more engaged in art, following his mission as a believing Jew in the world. Just like a storm, which momentarily strikes, overturns everything, and after it comes a new, complete, and safer order. So is his new album - "Storm". It features touches from Kusturica and Bregovic, European aromas, and Oriental influences, but perhaps most of all - a lot of faith and holy assertiveness. Benayoun prays to the Creator in his music, tunes the strings to purpose, and expresses his pains. In an exclusive interview on the Hidabroot website, Benayoun talks about his collaboration with his wife Miriam, raising children, and life as a believing Jewish artist.  

In his deep soul, Benayoun is a Hasid. Had he not said so, one could trace it in the texts he wrote and composed in the new album. "The truth is you are the reason for reasons," he writes in the song "The Truth" and continues to expose his feelings: "The truth is I have about a million questions for you and truly and honestly I'm a bit confused and mostly frightened, but it's important to me to tell you, if I have any good in me it's because of you".

Benayoun (39) wrote and composed the songs on the album, except for two songs, which were written by his wife Miriam, and one song from the sources. Like his previous album, 'Tree by Water', this time as well, the production was handled by Lior Shushan and Udi Turgeman.

"I am very torn about the new album," Benayoun admits frankly. "On the one hand, I am emotionally attached to it, like I am to everything I do. I think it is pure emotion, talking about faith, reality, and also about pains. From the perspective of production, it is produced extraordinarily. It has a sound that is not often heard in our regions. However, we currently do not live in a country where the cultural sector knows how to appreciate things like this. Luckily, we have the internet, which allows us to reach an audience from heart to heart. Apparently, like in everything when there are good things, there is a tough shell around them. That is the way of the world, but it does not discourage me from continuing to release albums".

It sounds like it's hard to be an artist.  

"Broadly speaking, it is an ungrateful profession, but whoever feels that this is his mission, that he has something to say, and that something he wrote can make someone happy or bring a smile to their face - then the goal is achieved. If it were not a mission, I would have nothing to seek economically. I earn a respectful living, I lack nothing, but I did not choose this profession for the money, rather it chose me. What I can say is that maybe in the future I will make internet albums - which is a different story altogether. I understand that slowly, out of necessity, there is no place for CDs. Few people buy CDs".

The album contains several musical styles. From where does the inspiration come?   

"I am made of them, so they burst out of me. In the song 'The Truth' there are Jewish characteristics, but the melody is half-gypsy. The song 'There is Love in Her' is a Russian song. The song 'Storm' could have been a ballad, and with the sound it received - it sounds entirely European. I think that *b"h* there is a lot of emotion in the album. The people who produced it knew how to approach each song, crack it and give it what it needs".

Your songs reveal your emotions. Doesn’t that make you vulnerable?

"I think Hashem gives people the ability to be artists against their will, precisely because it might be their correction. If I weren't an artist, I wouldn't have a single picture aside from the wedding photo and with the kids. I hate being photographed, I wouldn’t fit in society, and certainly wouldn’t stand on a stage. I wouldn’t have acquired the self-confidence I gained by trusting Hashem. No one would probably recognize me - not even the neighbors. When it’s stronger than you, you have no control over it. It's something indescribable".

Two songs on the album were written by his wife, Miriam. It's not the first time they've collaborated. "I see the texts that I like, and usually, we both feel together if it will work. My wife is a true poetess, like the poets of old in every way. She knows the Hebrew language thoroughly, so she can allow herself to act like a poetess. She writes out of love for this craft. I admit that at first, it was difficult for me to connect to the language, but now it sounds to me as if I wrote them. I internalized the language. There are good songs that only after listening to them several times do you realize they're good. Sometimes it takes time to internalize a good song - I'm talking about long-term songs. It took me time, but once I decided, I understood I do it because I love it".

Benayoun and Miriam have two children, eight-year-old Israel and five-year-old Naomi. Both are musically talented.

Hand on heart, what kind of a father are you?

"They say a baker doesn’t brag about his own dough. I can say there's no end to my love for my children. I'm sure there are fathers who fulfill the role better than I do and some who do it less well, but to my credit, I can say that I was granted something else - they have a hard-working mother who gives 110 percent attention. She pampers them and takes care of their musical and religious-scientific education. Sometimes it doesn’t leave me much room, but I’m not sad because of it, I consider myself fortunate".

And the children, are they following in their father’s footsteps?

"They both study at the Academy of Music in Jerusalem. Israel plays the piano amazingly, and both are singers. My son recently composed an anthem and melody for his class, and the teacher chose it. He also advises me. For example, on Friday night when we go to pray together. One time he told me: 'Dad, remind me we need to talk about something afterward'. After we left the synagogue he said, 'Dad, I think this time you raised your voice too much, you should have sung more gently'. 

"I have long since laid all my cards on the table/ I remain without a fear/ The rabbit that lived in my hat grew old and passed away/ I just buried them both together for eternity" (from the song "A Gloomy Day"). 

Benayoun has come closer to the Creator in recent years, and since then he has been keen on studying Torah daily. When asked what fills him spiritually, the answer is automatic: Torah and music. "Every time I study, I understand why I came to the world, and there is no depth in anything else. I try not to let a day go by without studying Torah. The truth is I'm quite crazy. I'm a Hasid in my soul". 

Do you have the image of a tortured artist? How does that fit with childish and cynical songs? It’s a less known aspect.  

"In life, there's everything. I'm not tortured, heaven forbid. Maybe it seemed that way at first, during the Tel Aviv period with the face of 'the world collapsed on me'. Life is different and those who know me know - I can make someone die of laughter, and I do. Those who know me closely know that as much seriousness as there is in me - that's how much I love to laugh, even at myself".

Do you think it's harder to be a believing Jewish artist?

"There is no doubt it's ten times harder, but with faith in Hashem, you don't feel the difficulty; rather you feel like you are with a kippah and tzitzit, and the hall fills up more. My daily occupation is about being a more moral and kosher person because that's what it is. Engaging in music is not wise - but the things you have to work on yourself - that's what you leave behind. Whoever chooses to be religious - lucky him. I have no doubt he will light up his surroundings".

It's known you have dozens or even hundreds of sketches for songs that haven't been released. Why were the songs on the new album chosen?

"There is no hidden or commercial reason. Everything gets its place in due time. That's how I feel about the songs. Also, I don't choose from hundreds. I hear a song, get excited about it, and start working on it. We don't start sorting. At most, there can be a choice between two or three songs".  

There are quite a few faith-based songs in the album – "Father", "Joseph", "The Truth", "There's Love in Her" and more. Some parts of the media already classify you as a religious artist, and faith-based songs have less traction on the radio. I assume it's a challenging situation.

"I think they were received in the most internal and genuine way, as they should be. I sang faith-based songs before I wore a kippah. I always dealt with existential questions. I don't believe there are people who don't deal with existential questions, except for a few individuals whom I don't envy. It's impossible to avoid it in songs, it touches all of us".

In recent years, you've released hundreds of songs on Facebook. How do you decide what goes into an album and what goes to Facebook?

"Most of the songs that go on Facebook don't enter the album, because these are songs meant to be humorous or a specific statement. What is important to me is that everything I upload, whether the aim is to be funny or to make a point, is well-founded and has a message. I make sure it is without gossip or defamation. Other than that, there's no special criterion, just whatever comes to mind, within moral limits".

Through the songs, you seem eager to change the situation in the country. Do you truly believe music can make a real change?

"A change can be made through anything, each from his own place and the talents Hashem gave him. Music is a tool for many things; it's a tool for spiritual satisfaction and for conveying messages". 

 In conclusion, can music strengthen faith?

"Great sages have already said that the world of melody is greater than the world of speech. I remember hearing Chabad melodies or the Baal Shem's tunes and bursting with emotion. It can definitely strengthen".