Matisyahu Announces the Release of His New EP “Release The Bound”
Grammy-nominated Reggae artist Matisyahu has officially announced that his new EP, Release The Bound, will drop on November 18th via Thirty Tigers. This exciting and highly anticipated EP features collaborations with electronic artist The Polish Ambassador, and Columbian pop duo Salt Cathedral. Fans of Matisyahu’s vibrant brand of Reggae can experience the new EP live when Matisyahu kicks off his ‘Festival of Light Tour’ on December 14th! See the end of the article for a listing of tour stops.
Release The Bound comes on the heels of Matisyahu’s last album Akeda (June, 2014), and plays into the same theme; Abraham’s final test of commitment to sacrifice his greatest love to God. When he gets to the top of the Mountain and binds his son to the altar, an angel appears and tells Abraham to unbind him – he has passed the test and proven himself.
When asked about the inspiration for Akeda, Matisyahu explains:
Outside of my own self therapy I create music for The Bound, people who are stuck or struggling on their journeys. This EP is a narrative of Abraham facing this climatic moment when his whole life is in question and finally the RELEASE as he passes his ultimate test. I hope it brings inspiration to those facing similar questions.
When Matisyahu first started touring more than eleven years ago, before the release of Live at Stubbs and before that record’s first single “King Without A Crown” reached #1 on the alternative rock radio charts; his performances were a raw expression of his spirituality and were supported by musicians who played a foundation of roots reggae augmented by the energy of a rock trio. This musical combination gathered fans quickly, for a variety of reasons. In August of 2005 – just months after the release of Live at Stubbs, Matisyahu found himself on stage at the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival with the de facto leader of improvisational rock-n-roll; Phish’s front man Trey Anastasio.
After that iconic meeting, “King Without a Crown” climbed the charts and Matisyahu’s follow up record Youth was nominated for a Grammy. It is through his lyrics that Matisyahu has been able to develop a more personal, artistic, and sophisticated way to express the yearning for deep spiritual meaning. As his own beliefs opened up to find greater variety and depth, the desire for performances to match this unpredictable flow of life developed as well.
Music for Matisyahu is not an escape from reality, but rather a true emotional expression of his life. It is a way to accept reality as it truly is. – HipHopDX
Now, more than a decade and nine records later, Matisyahu has returned with a band that truly plays music which complements his lyrical desire to connect to something beyond the self. The band features original Stubbs guitarist and longtime staple of the downtown New York improv scene Aaron Dugan, Dub Trio bassist and long-time Matisyahu collaborator Stu Brooks, percussionist and Cyro Baptista go-to-drummer Tim Keiper, and Virtuoso keyboardist Big Yuki.
Release The Bound is set to release on November 18, 2016, via Thirty Tigers and Matisyahu, promises that he will follow up with a full-length album in 2017.
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Festival of Light Tour:
Dec 14 – Ecatepec de Morelos, Mexico @ Closer To The Sun
Dec 17 – St. Petersburg, FL @ Jannus Live
Dec 18 – Lake Buena Vista, FL @ House Of Blues
Dec 21 – Miami, FL @ The Fillmore
Dec 22 – New York, NY @ City Winery
Dec 23 – New York, NY @ City Winery
Dec 24 – New York, NY @ City Winery
Dec 27 – Philadelphia, PA @ Theater of Living Arts
Dec 28 – Woodstock, NY @ Bearsville Theater
Dec 29 – Burlington, VT @ Higher Ground
Dec 30 – Salisbury, MA @ Blue Ocean Music Hall
Dec 31 – Portland, ME @ State Theatre