Bentzi Marcus (8th Day) LIVE INTERVIEW!!! - The P'nimius Podcast with Uziel Naparstek

life for you to join along. Life's life for you to join along. WHAT'S UP EVERYBODY? WE ARE LIVE WITH A SPECIAL SEGMENT. Our very first live stream for a interview on the Pimus podcast and no better else but to start it with our special guests. So let's just get started right away with the Pimeus podcast. Welcome to the various podcast where we interview those that entertained us in our childhood. We are here with the legendary Benzy Marcus, also known as uh you might know them as him from eighth day, the Cassidic Ramblers. >> A producer from many many many productions for other uh concerts and a very big Jewish music enthusiastic and uh entrepreneur so to speak in the Jewish entertainment. So here we are. We are honored to have Beny Marcus. How are you doing? >> Thank you, Zil. So good to be here with you on the Panmius podcast. >> What an honor. >> Yeah, we're going to go Panemas a little bit here. >> Great, great, great, great. >> All right, so let's start with the basics like uh your background and uh your childhood and where you originally come from. >> Uh wow. Okay. Uh grew up in Southern California on Schlus. father's uh in a little town called Los Alamidos, California. >> Yeah. >> And uh that is a whole interesting story in and of itself. We can get into that if you'd like. And um grew up in uh Orange County, which is uh not a very or at least back then wasn't a very Jewish or area. >> Yes. >> So uh you know, growing up on Schlus, not a lot of uh you know, from friends growing up. and uh just spending a lot of time um you know kabad house eventually as I got older started to do uh you know the music thing which led to eventually uh doing music full-time uh so yeah it was a beautiful way to get introduced to doing uh events performing for audiences also learning how to connect with an audience because I spent time you know watching my father you develop a a kabad house, a kabad community, inspiring people. Um, I always enjoyed my father's speeches on Shabas, you know, he give the the you know, after Chris or whatever before Musf um he was a great speaker. He is a great speaker and uh and then eventually getting into music and and sort of transitioning to that. You know, that's kind of the long and short of it. I'm not sure what else you want to explore. um the schlick side, the growing up, the music. >> Yeah. So, so basically the idea is that like when when I meet the people on the podcast, so people that I grew up with, but also especially people that do what I love to do, right? So when it comes to talking about music and getting involved in music and in Jewish entertainment, whatever it is, I always like the the specifics of where where where they are in their career, where did that originate from? Where were they pinpoint in their childhood or in their origins that made them go like this is what I want to do for the rest of my life? >> That's a good question. Probably a few things. Um, obviously I'm sure you know and uh many of your audience knows um our uncle famous Aram Fried >> the uh the legendary kididic singer. We grew up you know backstage at all of his concerts that was a huge part of it of course uh but also my my parents were very very into music. Um music was always in the house. um you know my shabas the second we make Abdullah and everything would settle down. My mother right away would put on you know some Mala music >> and you know and um and even the kids tapes you know uh the the marvelous Mos machine and Tuki we were always listening to that stuff and and memorizing all the songs and of course all the mommy boys choir stuff. Um, I think maybe to pinpoint it a little bit, um, when I was in third grade in the Hebrew Academy, they asked me to sing, uh, solo in the choir. That was the thing. In Hebrew Academy, the third grade always did a a choir concert or whatever for the school and for different events around the community. And they asked me to sing a solo. I said no. I was like way too shy and I was like, no. But uh the head of the choir, Rabbi Greenwald. Shout out to Rabbi Greenwald, my teacher. He pushed me and he's like, "Don't worry, it's going to be okay." And and you know, and that was my first uh live performance, first professional gig. Uh I guess I didn't get paid. So, and uh that maybe started a little bit doing like live performance. I was so nervous. I remember the first time I had that solo, I my stomach hurt so bad. I was just hoping they cancelled the whole event. you know, like looking up. Maybe it's going to rain. Maybe, you know, maybe we'll just cancel this whole thing. But it worked out and, you know, it's a good it's a good way to, you know, get over your nerves to just go through it. A quick word of advice, I guess, to people out there who are maybe thinking about doing music and performing and you're nervous and you're scared and uh it's always scary the first time, the first couple of times, but you know, you get through it and then nothing happens and then uh you know, it was over and I was like, hey, it wasn't that bad. So, that could be a good big part of it. Eventually I started to get very into guitar and actual music composition and uh probably around you know bar mitzvah high school uh just became obsessed with like music arrangement. >> That was like a very very big key. I started my friends used to make fun of me that I you know we'd listen to a freed and all the new albums and I was always listening to like the the baseline you know or like that that trumpet harmony. My friends are like, "What are you even talking about?" And uh that that really started to zone in for me. Like the musical arrangement, the magic of creating a song, but also creating the harmonies and creating the style and the drums and the the harmony, the whole thing. It was just so magical to me and I uh really started to obsess and and get very into that. >> Would you say that even today you still have that passion as much as you had as a child? Does it was it different for you as a child as you are now? What would you say the differences between that intuitity and that passion wanting that like like those little nuances in the music versus then or now? >> Great question. That's a great question. So I'll say that uh music is sort of like the unattainable treasure you know like they say like you you're never finished similar I mean Bahaval I guess like to you know you're never finished uh learning you could never so uh I guess not so similarly but uh music also has this just neverending uh as as much as you as great as you think you get at it. Not that I think I'm great, but as much experience as you have with it and you think you've learned and now like I got it. It's it's really a neverending journey. So obviously I'm not the same as I was, you know, when I was 9 years old and listening to Freed's, you know, Forever One or whatever. Um but uh yeah, the passions are still there. It's still a mystery and it's still uh you know, exciting. Genres are changing, styles are changing. Um, yeah, the magic of of I guess the difference is now I'm actually creating music. You know, I have my own studio. I have my own band obviously and my own uh doing performances. But uh yeah, the excitement of like coming up with a new song and you know developing an arrangement that's hashem. Yeah. That that never gets old. Um I think the one thing that's changed as I've gotten older is my appreciation for as a kid. Kidney Gunnam were always like, you know, like uh Davening was like you just sort of had to do it. It's part of like the, you know, part of the religion. Um, you know, I enjoyed them. Whatever. I, as I got older, I I really started to appreciate the depth and the beauty and the the soul stirring uh quality of of Kaban. That's why I started I don't know if you're familiar with the the Sigun project. Um, nice. Something that I love very much. >> I was far from Marstown. You you came by and you were part of that production also. You came by Morristown. >> Oh, you were there when we did the recording there? >> Yeah. Yeah, I was there. Yeah. >> Oh, fantastic. Yeah, that was beautiful. So, yeah, that I think has has changed as I've gotten older. I've really uh taken to that. But uh yeah, in general, music is is like it's just a neverending if you're into truly into music, which by the way, I think everybody is on some level. >> Yeah, for sure. >> You know, it's it's like like the this teaches us, it's the the language of the soul and you know, speaks about how uh transportation spiritually is by nina. It's my >> So, everybody has a deep connection with music one way or another, whether it's, you know, you're more musical or you just love to listen to music or you like to play music, whatever. Um, but yeah, it's definitely a neverending uh, you know, the harmonies are, you know, the harmony potentials are never ending. >> Oh, yeah. >> The, you know, the and obviously it's it's when you're writing a song, it's it's you're you're speaking from your heart. You're speaking from your soul. So that's that's you know not gonna that's not going to run out. You know we're living breathing experiencing living you know seeing things feeling things. So there there's always going to be that uh you know that connection that's going to translate to music you know somehow. >> Right. Um, would you say then um that music has changed dramatically when you first got onto the scene about 15 years ago or 10 years ago with you and your brother to now? Is it in your opinion uh it's different but not as much? What what what do you what do you have to say about the landscape of over the because you basically did basically a almost two decades of you and your brother doing this together. So the landscape of music, what what do you think about that? >> Definitely. Yeah, it's changed dramatically is a good word and barem for that. You know, it would be a little it would be boring if things didn't change and we just kind of stayed, you know, in one place. But um listen you have technology the the innovations in technology even in the last 5 years forget about the last 10 years last 20 years it's you know it's uh that's a huge game changer I think the best thing that's happened is the fusion of genres and it was always happening from day one I think but now it's just really taken off you know for example you know a freed more David, you know, the original superstars. So, they were fusing like kind of that old Klesmer Kazanus. >> Yeah. >> Uh, you know, that like and they were bringing it into like kind of a modern sound for that era, you know, the like kind of the the disco rock uh you know, like the horn section or whatever. That was kind of like a takeoff on on you know, Klesmer >> but making it more modern for like the American audience. So now it's like any artist could basically sing in any genre right now and it would sound great if it's done well and if it's well produced you know um you know you have Zusha that are doing their kind of interesting you know uh electronic you know spiritual whatever you know >> um even you know like Freed and those guys they've you know adapted to like a newer sound but yeah you can listen to any popular singer now. >> And it could be any genre, could be any style, any kind of instrumentation. Used to be like had to have a certain >> horn section with a drum beat. I don't know if you remember Rick Cutler. He was like the drummer who played on like every Jewish album. Like that was the sound. Now it's like >> his name, but Yeah. >> Yeah. So it could be a keyboard, could be a guitar, it could be more jazzy, it could be more rock, it could be kind of a little bit of a country western, you know, feel. It could be like a little bit of that reggae stuff that I feel like we helped. >> Right. Right. Right. >> Bring around. Um Oh, I got louder. Perfect. >> Oh, I hear you right now. >> Oh, I got louder. Oh, perfect. >> Yeah. No, in a good way. Yeah. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I'm just I'm just tweaking the little things here and there behind the scenes, but yeah. Um, so let's go back to a little bit because I remember I don't know if anyone has ever brought it to you for the past 10 years, but I remember when uh we used to get from URA theor samples or the DVDs and I remember you and your brother being on one of the first ones. >> Yeah. >> And that was before Yale. >> Do you remember what song it was? >> I don't remember the music. >> Chavis now. >> Oh, it was that one. It was Shabas now. Yeah. >> No, but wasn't there one before that? >> Uhuh. >> Oh, okay. Because I remember seeing a picture I guess maybe it was a they put a picture of you but younger but it was Shabas now. >> Yeah. >> Pretty old song. >> Uh yeah, I know. Yeah, it's really old. Yeah. Um but was and that was before Trakut. >> No. >> Okay. So Tra was your first album. So what would So and you were known then as the kidic ramblers.ic acidic ramblers >> talk to me. Um, >> but yeah, talk about about that first album, that first project that you were getting into. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. So, the those songs came out before we came out, that kind of band or you know, before the album came out, you know, >> they kind of preceded because um we did we weren't doing an official uh musical project or band or it was Mamish as like a fun family project on the side. you know, my brother Kim was involved as >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. >> Ellie was our drummer. >> My other brother. >> Your brother? >> Ellie was our original drummer. >> Oh, wow. >> Yeah. He was very very very very talented. He still is obviously >> as a kid. He was he was a total prodigy. Played piano and drums and uh I think he even played like flute for a while just like one day. He plays guitar beautifully and he sang beautifully. Um but yeah, he was our original drummer and it was mom is just like a coloid trip for fun, you know, let's go to the studio and >> was writing these beautiful like poems at the time, >> Penny of Fire, Penny of Love, >> uh Kukariku, >> and I was, you know, starting to come into my own as as a musician, as a guitar player. So we we started collaborating for fun. My brother K was like, "Hey, these sound great. Let's go to the studio." like, okay. Um, so yeah, people called us the Marcus Brothers, Ramblers. We didn't really have an official uh title or band or anything like that, but eventually over a probably a span of like seven years, five, five to seven years, we created that first album. And when we were releasing the album, we were like, "Okay, we need an actual name. Like, we can't just uh wing it with like Marcus Brothers or >> Ramblers." Yeah. Yeah, >> that's when we we came up with the the eighth day idea. >> Uh what what came to the decision of eighth day like like was it that week's para like why eighth day? >> So we you know what we spent hours if I remember correctly we were sitting in my brother's Zman's kabad house. He's in mission VJO um about an hour south of where I live here in Roondo. And um we were sitting and my brother Kim was there and we were discussing and we we went through so many ideas. It's hard. >> Yeah. think about a band name that's not like cheesy or >> you know and then I was just thinking how >> um's birthday is and >> oh >> the idea of eighth day is is connecting with you know all all of our songs are are inspired by this you know one way or another >> of course yeah >> um big time you know as as our our main writer and lyricist >> Oh yeah um you know spent many years in you know by the reba and and the mems and uh you know he was very inspired by obviously as we all are by this and then it came out in in some nice poetic uh interesting uh you know ideas. So like the idea of eight which you know this represents supernatural transcendent above tea which is seven >> right right >> and we started talking about it and and like we just kind of looked at each other like eighth day that's it >> that's the name >> y >> it just felt right you know and we just ran with it so at the time it's not like a cool idea hopefully it's still cool >> so um I we do have very little of time by the way thank you so much for for taking time out of your busy schedule to do this which is amazing. >> Pleasure. >> Um but I do want to get to core questions I do have actually want to get to. So one of them is the idea of music your music for eighth day versus um music for that you that you or your brother would write or produce for other singers. Like for example a big song that is very famous that you guys did was Tamu for Benny Freeman. Uh, Schmolley has always collabed on lyrics for other singers and stuff like that. You always find uh Easter eggs of his name in the booklets and stuff. Um, what would you say is like when you sit down and write a song or write music, produce music. What would you say is like the music that go this is perfect for the eighth day band and then there's music that's like maybe this is not necessarily for us, maybe it's better for this singer or maybe let me try to pitch it to this producer. What do you think is like the definition of eighth day song versus just a song that you guys made for in general? >> Interesting. I It's hard to really I guess it's just just kind of a gut feeling. Um obviously um got approached a lot to write, you know, once Eth started to get out there. Uh people started asking him for lyric ideas, song ideas. We wrote a few >> collab with Benny on a couple of songs that were great. We also did um >> Follow Don't Cry. >> Yeah. No, no. With Benny, we did a song. I I thought it was a great song. Um no, the words are escaping me right now. Um >> Oh, yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. >> Yeah, that was uh really nice collab. So, I mean, listen, obviously, that sounds like a Benny Friedman song. Um, uh, yeah, >> technically that song if it was on your album, I wouldn't really I would think it, you know, it does sound like an eighth day song more than the other songs you probably did with other singers. >> Interesting. Um, yeah, I think Benny approached Shmoly to write a song with the with Tamuru in it. Maybe, you know, he had that specific idea. I know Broken Hearts, I don't know if you remember Broken Hearts, one of our >> Oh, of course. So that I think we were trying to write a song for a for a freed >> and he didn't really like it. He was like, "Yeah, not so much my style." Um, but we were like, "Okay, but we like it." You know, we think it's a great song, so we just went with it. Um, we wrote uh let's see what else. Yeah, collab with a RAM. But yeah, I mean listen, artists have their distinct style and and comfortable with certain uh rhythms and words and uh you know just the way the the song develops. You know, every artist has their their strength and their feel. Um >> yeah, >> like when we generally we write um we're not writing for like a specific purpose or a specific like oh we need this to be a wedding hit, you know, or we need, >> you know, which is fine. Not not to knock, you know, like people writing like a hoopa song, you know, which is beautiful. That's that's great, you know, it's uh >> there's a lot of hoopas and you know, we need a lot of songs. Um, I think it's more we just try to be more organic, you know, even though it's hard to be obviously uh 100% like authentic, but just try to be more kind of just like real inspiration as much as possible and uh just kind of follow that naturally. That's kind of our approach. That's our philosophy is, you know, the like once the song is is developed enough to where it's at the something, let the song, you know, dictate where it needs to go rather than trying to like put it into a box and be like, okay, this is going to be like that. Just try to like organically let it figure itself out, so to speak. Um, so you are also very heavily involved in the production side of your concerts and um, and some people don't even realize that a because it's your band usually like you're almost like the conductor and the manager of the bands and I even like um, we we first met at Palm Beach uh, Synagogue where where uh, where you did a production and it's very hard to tell unless you actually could like are specifically looking for it. It's very hard to tell that that you are in the production so to speak because you are very organically with the crowd and and you're not really showing anything about like I'm trying to direct people behind me versus like trying to get my attention to the audience. What's what's the what's the trick? What's the balance if there is any or it's just natural? What is that? How does that go? >> Yeah. Well, first of all, how fun was that? Uh >> oh, that was amazing. That was >> great. Um the well first of all I have a very big advantage that I have Shimal Marcus you know lead singer entertainer extraordinaire. >> Yeah. >> Uh you know really he takes up a lot of the the attention. So it it leads me to like I do kind of sometimes sneak off to maybe get you know prep something or talk to the band or whatever >> while he's like directly with the crowd. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Exactly. Yeah. So that's a huge advantage. Otherwise, it's it's very hard if you're just up there by yourself. Um, yeah, it's hard. But, uh, you know, listen, experience doing it for years, many different locations and different types of events and, uh, you know, concerts, weddings, kumzits, you know, whatever it is, you just sort of, uh, you know, get the experience of like the flow of an event. And also very important is the musicians. when you're working with the right musicians, there's a familiarity. There's, you know, you sort of trust them. Uh they know maybe sometimes even without you having to say something, they kind of understand where you're, you know, where you're pushing it. So that, you know, that's just experience learning, you know, the right people to work with and the right way to sort of um situate everything and prepare properly. >> Um >> yeah, >> but yeah, that's that's kind of, you know, there's no easy way to like to do that. It takes a It takes experience and it takes working with the right people. So, um >> So, does it frustrate you when you go to a concert where they where they have a different band, not necessarily your band? >> Um sometimes. Yeah, sometimes that could be frustrating. We've learned I think we've had enough experience to where we can uh guide it to where you know like you put in your tech writer certain thing just to make sure you have certain technical things you know set up and figured out beforehand. Um, but Barashem, we've we've navigated, we've been we've paid our dues, >> as they say, >> you know, like disaster nightmare events. Uh, so you just learn step by step how to just kind of minimize any uh potential dangers. >> Yeah. Um, but yeah, over time we've just learned to navigate that and and for the most part, you know, you know, we're working with professionals, people who are not just there because it's a job, they're there also because they want it to be a good concert. You know, they have sort of a self-invested interest. Uh, you know, like for example, just a name that comes to mind, like Freigha Orchestra, >> you know, >> these guys are like so professional. They they dot every eye, cross every tea. They are like, you know, they don't leave anything to chance. Blue Melody, you know, we just work with them. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Blue Melody. Yeah. >> These guys, they put in the work. They prep. They were I have like 20 conversation, you know, uh with what's his name? Arianu, uh back and forth prepping and and charts and discussing and practicing, you know. So, Barashem, you know, we've been surrounded by a lot of good people. Um the one story that I think is the most amazing story in your career. Um I know bits and pieces but I do both for the audience but also for myself just to get more out of it is when you were coming out with Yili and you weren't sure and the story with Ellie Schuebo if you want to talk about that. That's an amazing story. >> That is a great story. So we met Ellie earlier that year um at KMR. It was in uh Lagona Beach, California that year. Their their resort. Shout out to KMR. Gave us our first big shot. Um so we performed there. He came over afterwards. We were virtually unknown. Um basically had like a local following, friends, you know, Crown Heights, Mishb, you know. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. and he came over. He was blown away by our performance, the the the like, you know, just authentic music, you know, was English. We had written all of our own songs. We we spoke about like our own experiences, what inspired the songs, and he was like, "Guys, this is incredible. Like this is >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Like what I like this you're like the people I want to hang out with." Anyway, we became very good friends. We just started, you know, Ellie's a brilliant musician in his own right. one of my favorite people to talk to about music and he's a great guy. >> He's also very deep. >> Yeah. Yeah. Very spiritual and very intelligent. He's he's he's a good time. Everybody loves Ellie. So, we were in touch and uh you know, just followed up with him. I said, "Hey, you know, we're working on this song. Oh," he said, "Send it to me." And he he he listened to it and he was like, "Guys, this is the best song ever. Like, this is the biggest thing." And we were like, "What are you talking about? It's like it's like a joke." >> Yeah. Yeah. party Ashkanazi Yali and he was like I'm telling you this thing is huge and he performed uh oh the organization oh used to do a big concert >> yes yes >> every year I don't know they stopped doing it not sure but they used to do a very big beautiful concert he was performing with Leif Tahar his group and he said I need you guys to come and do the song yelli in my show like I'm going to bring you on as a guest like as a guest star >> nice >> and I refused confusing again, you know, I guess is a kind of a theme. I was like, "No way. This song is like it's not ready. Nobody knows it. Nobody knows who we are. I don't even think it's that song." >> And he just put he did not give up. He convinced me and to the point where he said, "I'll rehearse with the band the song." like he wrote the arrangement and everything and he's like I'll video call you from the from the rehearsal so you could see how good it sounds and if you don't like it we'll like he was so uh confident and he called me from the rehearsal and I was like okay yeah sounds pretty good. So, um, we did the performance and the crowd went crazy from like go. We came out there. Um, I don't remember exactly. There's a video of it somewhere. I think we just came out and just started like ya y just >> and the crowd was like up and dancing and clapping and sing. I mean, maybe in my mind it's maybe bigger than it actually was, but I remember the reception was like wow. Which was rare because, you know, we were unknown. The song was unknown. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And um that like snowballed the whole you know the rest is history as they say. >> That's cra Yeah, that is amazing. And I also remember um uh I grew up with the Oh, uh the music we love where they didn't announce the artist >> and that was and that was like after you came out with Yale and you went on stage with the same dancer from the music video. >> Mhm. Uh that was yeah that that I grew up with that that concert. That's great. Um >> what would you say is o over the course of your career and all over uh 11 albums? Am I getting that correct? >> Something like that. Yeah. >> Yeah. Yeah. Over around 11 albums. What would you say is something that you did better or you are doing better in the recent albums or singles than you did in the first time that you came around with the first albums and singles? >> Wow. I mean, the first thing that is is just starkly comes to mind. And it's maybe you could go either way, but just musically, you know, we've grown like a million miles from where we were originally. Some say, you know, there's like kind of a like an innocent like charm to that. Like when you like don't really know what you're doing and you're just winging it. Like the chords, just to go kind of musical technical for a second, the chords that I was coming up with in those early years were were questionable at best. Um >> yeah, >> like but I mean but it also creates like kind of an interesting unique vibe, you know, which was perfect for the time. But yeah, musically we are I got just on a different universe um as far as just know how production understanding understanding how to make a good drum sound, you know, for example, or how to come up with like a harmony that'll make a chorus >> feel a little bigger, you know, these are concepts we like were completely completely foreign to us like like not even a havamina for any of that kind of stuff. Um >> I think as far as the creative side um you know it's changed just because we've changed you know it's like back then we I was a bach at the time uh was probably yeah was a bucker when we first started um you know it was kind of a more like innocent just you know you can look at the stuff we were writing it was very uh like almost like storyteller you know had this very like innocent um you know wonder >> of like thing in the world and now it's like a little more experience a little more you know um you know a little more like pragmatic kind of life experience um so that changes but I think um maybe the the biggest thing that's changed is like music at first is it's let's say it's a hobby or not even a hobby it's just something you love you listen to music you play music >> yeah yeah >> then it becomes like a profession And um we view it obviously as a as you know we're inspiring yidden we're inspiring uh you know sometimes we perform for even non-Jewish audiences to show you know like we performed Disney. I don't know if you know about that. We did like a >> Yeah, I heard about it. Yeah. A while ago. >> Yeah. Yeah. Two years ago we did like a whole season. They featured us on their main like uh holiday season. >> Yeah. That's crazy. >> Yeah, it was amazing. So, sorry, just a quick tangent. Um, when we got that gig, we were like, "Oh, perfect. We're going to tell all our friends, come to Disney." Turns out you can't get tickets to Disneyland during that holiday season. It's so busy. >> Oh, yeah. >> They basically, it sells out to like all their members, whatever. So, the crowd was like mostly go, like 99.9% go. Once in a while, some Jews would show up, you know, but you can imagine. And it was beautiful that we were we sang all of our own songs, you know, we did like Yali and Miracle of Light and then I think we did Celebrate and one other song I forget now. Oh, Roland. We did Roland uh all you got. So these are these are concepts, you know, or Jewish concepts. Give it all you got is based on the story of uh you know miracle of light is based on the reb's whole approach to you know the kus and the whole thing of of the >> yeah is more just you know of of yen um uh celebrate you know we would announce you know this is from king David from psalms you know this land they're like oh wow you know >> so it's a huge we we felt really great about that and uh you know anyway so point being when when it becomes a profession and it becomes a there's there's a little more of like an to to what you're doing. Um so I think balancing that is what what changes. So first it's like oh this is all fun. >> We're you know we're writing songs you know you know kukaru and rambler talk to me like we were just having a great time you know now it's like okay we have an audience so but but how do you keep that innocent musical creative thing strong while balancing that? I think that's that's the biggest thing, you know, that's the biggest challenge for any artist that uh you know takes it on as a profession. >> Um so we are I do want to get to some questions and comments from the people that are watching. So and especially when we are running out of time, I would love for you to come back on and just go deeper and deeper. There's so much I want to talk about, but let's off before we get to the questions. >> Uh what would your main advice >> be for people that are trying to start out in the music industry? that it's not a typical advice that people would usually get like you personally like do you have something that you personally want to give over to people? >> Oh man. Yeah. I wish there was like some hidden secret that I could uh >> I wouldn't say like like like a tip or something but advice like just what to look out for. >> I think you know what I get a lot of people who ask me uh for advice. They say you know I've been working on songs and I I want to perform more. Um, which yeah, I get it. I get it. It's it's uh it's tough to get out there. Um, it's tough to find, you know, I I was very very lucky. That's first of all. Masled Aishair, you got to give credit where credit's due. My uncles, Alvin Freed, my brother Marcus. >> Yeah. >> You know, parents were extremely encouraging. You know, all of our first concerts were for like my father's Schul. You know, he was so uh he he's our biggest fan. My father, he's our biggest fan. So, there was a lot around us. Yeah. Yeah. There's a lot around us that, you know, my brother Caim happened to be a professional um uh media guy, so he understood like, okay, you need to go to a professional studio and you have to, you know, he he wasn't like a professional musician, but he knew enough to like start guiding us, you know. So, I understand it's hard. It's very hard on your own. But the number one thing I tell people is to just do it. Just go. They tell me like I want to get more gigs. So go go go do more. Go like don't wait for somebody to come to you and hire you or ask you. Go. Fine. Seek. Even if it's just doing a kumitz with a few guys, you know, I know my shabas, you know, or >> or uh you know um offering to to sing at somebody's kanuka events. maybe they're looking for someone or, you know, or if you're more in the writing space, you know, find people to collab with and like just experience, experience, experience, like like I would say like to someone who wants to get really good at guitar, practice. You just got to practice. There's no secret. >> There's no secret to it at all. >> Yeah. >> It's just practice. That's all there is. It's just like obviously you have to love it and you have to have a hush and a a passion for it, but just practice, practice, practice. And as far as the creative side of it is just the experience. Just just do as much as you can. Find as much opportunity as you can and see every experience as an opportunity to grow and to learn and to always be taking notes and absorb. You know, if you meet someone who's better than you, that's one thing I did. If I met anyone who was, you know, more experienced in music, >> I would just teach me something. You know, I met someone who played guitar better than me. I'm like, show me one thing that that I don't know how to do. you know, like, okay, obviously I can't be as good as you in five minutes. Show me one thing, you know, like, you can see how well I play. Show me just one thing. You know, I just I was always learning and always trying to gain as much knowledge as I could. And I think that that's just the best way to to to Yeah. to grow, just get the experience. >> Perfect. Uh, so we have a lot of comments, a lot of questions, so we're going to get to the to the audience. Okay. >> Um, we're gonna give a shout out first to uh, uh, PVJ, which is a good friend of mine, Lady Michelin. It's just under never username. Thank you also very much for the feedback for the for the sound and everything during the stream. Um, when did he learn about you, Uzzio? Uh, we first met at the Palm Beach Synagogue. That was uh, before Hanukkah or after Kaneka? Around then? >> I don't remember. >> It was a while ago, but yeah. I mean, I knew about you beforehand, obviously. >> Oh, really? How? >> From uh My kids are huge fans. >> Oh, yeah. Yeah. You told me about it. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I heard Yeah, that's great. Um >> I was like star struck. I was like, whoa. >> Yeah. You texted like out of the blue, you're Shabas with I'm like, yeah, it was great. Yeah. >> Uh so, he has another question. Um what is your favorite song? That's a common question and there is no answer. My favorite song I have a few you know the problem is music is like we said it's you know it's something from the heart from the soul. Uh it's not a logical rational existence. It's not a a rational thing. >> Yeah. So, you know, depending on the mood, depending on, you know, like for example, one of my favorite songs is like >> Oh, yes. David, >> by the way, I always tell people if you want to know what makes classics, composition classics, the fact that the intro itself are a lot of times more famous than the song itself is a complete credit tool lamb and his composition. that that that's to me is a perfect example of composition >> legendary. >> Yeah. Yeah. So yeah, that's I love that song, but like >> am I always like, you know, it's not always appropriate to sing that song. It's not like Yeah. >> just moodwise, you know. And then on the other side of it, like one of my favorite like upbeat songs, for example, would be like something from like Von. >> I don't know if you remember Ryan Mahna. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. you know or like uh you know pimementa pimementas were hero of course hero pimenta is the number one reason why you know playing guitar um so you know like there uh but like it's you know depend I would say it depends on the mood um I could say I could tell you some of my favorite artists like I just mentioned I think picking a favorite song is impossible and then people ask me what's your favorite eighth day song and that's I always tell them the next you know, of course I'm working on now. >> Exactly. If you if you if you are working on something and at that moment you're saying my favorite song is the is a different one, then there's something wrong. There's there's something missing. Nothing hooking you. You know what I mean? >> Right. Exactly. Exactly. >> Uh I am nut. Uh Beny, who are you named after if you are named after someone? >> Oh wow, that's an original question. I am named after my great greatgrandfather. My my Zade's grandfather. Yeah. So, Aram Freed's uh great-grandfather if you want to >> Yeah. >> Look at that way. >> Uh shout out to Ley Music26. He he didn't ask question, but I'm just giving shout outs to both some people on the chats. I'm also trying to get some more people because more people are joining in. Uh, Olivia Sunkin. Uh, what about Leo appearing in Yali music video where he was in the first shot like he was the customer that's in the bad mood and >> Oh, that's right. That's right. Yes. Wow. Yeah. Thought about that connection. He ended up being like the the one of the stars in the video. >> Yeah. >> Um, >> well, you probably like when you were making the music video, you probably said I have to be part of it, you know. >> So, you know, so just real quick because I have to get going soon. >> Yeah. Yeah, sure. Great. No problem. Um, we filmed it in Pomegranate, um, the famous store in, uh, Flatbush, and we filmed it from 700 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. >> So, this way, >> cuz Yeah, we could we couldn't film it while the store was open. >> So, we had to like, you know, maximize uh when the store was closed. So by 2 3, you know, maybe 2:00 a.m. like a lot of the crew like started leaving cuz uh music videos, especially a production of that size, it takes a long time. Every shot you got to set it up, you know, we were those scenes where we're like going down the aisle. >> Yeah. >> Like we're on like a dolly. Someone's actually like pulling us. >> Yes. >> Camera's like f and the shot gets messed up very easily. Got to reset it. Go all the way back, start pulling it again. And yeah, it's very very tedious and like so >> yeah, >> the you know a lot of the crew started leaving and um we were like okay we need somebody to play this part to do the you know this really main part and Ali was there. He's like I'll do it and uh that that really makes the video that whole scene the beginning and the end you know. >> Yeah. So we'll end off with one thing. I just want to say shout out to Mendel Young. Uh, we answered your question about uh your inspirational web bands and everything. Shout out to Emanuel Lavine. Um, I think that's everybody, but oh, one last thing from Ira uh Ira Schlave1230. I'm probably saying that wrong, but uh, shout out to you. I think we can learn from 8day Success is that they went out and did something different. They are full of energy and have unique compositions. That's a >> Wow. And then finally, um I'm trying to see I just Oh, at Yakov TNN, uh great concert with uh Thank You Hashem Boys. And last question, which everyone wants to know, what's the next project, the next album, next single, what's next? >> Oh, great question. Um so yeah, we just released the Barakai single like Bmer. That was very fun. Um but yeah, we're in the works for a new album. It's going to be our first album in a few years. So this is very exciting. Uh we hope to release it um sometime to that's nice. >> Yeah. Very very exciting. >> So I'm going to go through the chat uh while you're gone so that I could give everyone a proper questioning a shout out. But thank you so much Beny for joining us. I really appreciate you coming on. Thank you for being our first live guest. It was amazing. Thank you so much. I mean on the previous podcast like usually it's recorded and edited but like to have someone just raw and talk to the audience that's what people really appreciate. So uh thank you so much for joining us and hopefully we'll see you again. >> Thank you. Take care. >> All right. See you. >> All right. Bye bye. >> So all right. So let's continue on with the uh the chat live. Here we go. All right. Um, I'm trying to see anything that I've missed. Ask him about his liquor cabinet. Are you kidding me? Levy, can ail added be added the eighth day? Eighth day? Come on. We need eighth day. Bansancy, is there a run for president in your future? I'm Nata. Yo, it's me, Nata. How you doing, Nata? Uh, Beny, did your Tati give you that nickname or your brother? Uh, Ben is like, which nickname exactly? That's what I'm thinking. How did you make the fish dance by Yale? Was it a puppet? It was CGI. Was like the first time that you didn't ever seen CGI actually except for Asian. I was probably in a music video. I just bought the pat rock and play guitar. Is it Is it good? Do you recommend it or should I return it? That's funny. For those who don't get that joke, it's literally a baby toy guitar. Did you buy any candy for Matisio's son in the store in the music video? Matio's son was in the music video. I didn't know that. Uh, how did you feel with the dynamic of Schmoly that he does the composing and you the producing? Do you ever feel like uh getting involved in more creative aspect of music? Well, what do you mean? They they mainly writes and he composes, but a lot of times they just do stuff. It's just just because it's written so that composer writing doesn't necessarily mean that that's their job. You know what I mean? It's just it's just a credit thing. But they do everything together basically. I mean, Ben's more in the producing and composing obviously, but yeah. Can we get a trio? Eighth Day and Levis Sunken. Yeah, let's do that. Le sunken. When are you coming out with your next album? Barrel Faden is ahead of you. Oh, they Oh, yeah. Leave. More music. Why not? Can you please give me a shout out, please? Shout out to ITA. Why do you think Eth is not coming out with any big hits like the good old days? Oh, come on. What are you talking about? Uh at Yakov TN and Yali of course I'm not do you do you like the Thank you Ashem boys? Why not? I mean music-wise that's up to him to say but like just just boys themselves. Why not? Can you tell us the history of the first song? We talked about that uh at the beginning. Um I don't know if you're around for that part of the stream but you could replay it and find and look at that. I remember hearing it years ago from relatives related to eighth day. I think that was I think that's when he wrote it. Is uni. Oh yeah. Yes. I think it is a Spanish song. Yeah. Amend young Ryan Mahna Isaac Von Pa Rea Leva Levaton. Yeah. Yep. All those people. New. How many uh my roomm do you learn a week or average? Oh, that's a great question. That would have been great. What about Fbring? Yo, my friend finished gem yesterday. What do you mean finish gem? How do you finish gem? I'm not sure what that means. Um, Melang Law, my question was answered in in inadvertently. Yeah. Yeah, exactly. I was trying to get to the other questions. Uh, I am not that if you don't learn Rashima, I am deleting the tracks, letting the albums on the shelf rot. I could take those CDs if you want. I would love those CDs. Emanuel V. No way. Love you, Beny. No, don't go. So, everyone there were paid actors. Probably not everyone. I forgot about diaspora band. Yeah, Mendle. How can you forgot that? And Mendel Young would be nice a metal a medaly of eighth day going through the Jewish rock classics that they grew up with. That would be an amazing medalley. That would be amazing. Ask him how they did the wine music video. Oh, so hoola you're talking about. Yeah, next time we haven't we'll do it. I'm not the me shout out for me. Uh, Emanuel Lavine. Yeah. Uh, and I am not giving Shaman now at Yakov T9N. Happy face. Yes. Uh at Mendel Young Bario Kai single was basically just AI. I didn't listen to that one. Maybe next time. Emanuel vein. Emanuel vein. Emanuel. Yes sir. Emanuel Lavine. I am not. Do you feel cool speaking with Beny? Oh yeah. When when I met him at the concert like it was a gig he did in the Palm Beach Synagogue. We just spoke for like 10 minutes and he was he was busy. He could have just said, "Hey, we'll talk later or something." But he he was amazing. Yeah, it's great. Are you excited for the new album? I'm excited for any music that I'll end up enjoying. Emanuel Yolene. Yes, man. Lo yo, low key special feature for Zeal on the new album. That would be crazy. We need to get you on the eighth day album. Why not? Then you'll be part of eth day and we'll call it nine days. Now eighth day has Well, he talked about why it's called eighth day. We got to get competition 8 days to make nine days and get you on the album. Sure, why not? Go ahead. What about you? New Zeal get on the new album. Uh at Yakov T9 and eighth day fast songs are great. Yeah, they are. Uh at least has to be Ben Sour. Yeah. Wait, Ben Sour. Who's Ben Sour? You mean at least no Ben se? Who's Ben Seer? Oh, cool. I I don't know who he is, so I don't know if it's going to be uh Who is this? Oh, someone said I'm not on your status. So, let me just help him. All right. Should be now. There you go. Um, sorry about that. Anyway, uh, or Elite Sur. Yeah, I would love Elit. Give it all you got. At Yakot T9, you need to get your you need to get next guest either Benor, Elitor. Elitur probably. I don't know who Benur is. Who's the next game you're aiming for? So, I'm working. If any of you have been joining the low-key live streams, the behind the scenes that I do, I think one I left public for now because I'm waiting for something to load. So, right now it's public from yesterday's stream, but I'm working on hopefully to come out after uh a podcast with Rabbi Angelar. I have on the pipeline interview with Dober Nich who did Space Rabbi. He writes for Tvito, Netflix, all that. Then I have Rona Herskowitz who is from Biker Boys True Enemy Jewish Revenge. That was a great conversation. So those on the on the pipeline, but right now I'm editing that one. What? Benny Freeman next. Yeah. So, okay, I'll give you a scoop about Benny Freeman. I am doing something currently with Benny Freeman when it comes where I react to his album Kanle, but we did not finish the recording. So once that's finished, I'll put it out. It's going to be a cool stream video. You're going to check it out. It's going to be fun. What's your dream singer to interview? Ava Freed, Benny Freeman. No, sorry. Uh uh Moram and David. That would be great. You should get Ben Shapiro, the Jewish rapper. I should get Ben Shapiro. I would love to interview Ben Shapiro. The thing is it when I talked to if I tal interviewed Ben Shapiro, it's going to be like it has to be something really unique. Just give any talking points that everyone already knows. Like everyone could just look up any subject on any opinion from Ben Shapiro. So it's not going to make a difference. Emanuel Lavine says, "Yussie Green. I've contacted Yasi Green. He said yes. I didn't catch up with him since then. It's been a while. So, definitely definitely uh BLP Kosher. Who's BLP Kosher? BLP Kosher. I don't Oh, doesn't I was just not expecting that picture. Uh Zusha. Yeah, exa would be great. All right, guys. That's it for today. Thank you so much for joining. Thank you, Beny. Um, this episode is going to be live already on YouTube. I'm going to try to put it on Spotify. You just have to edit it tonight and then put on Spotify. That will be great. Uh, uh, so that's going to be great. Um, also we have uh our so during Spirro, we're having our live streams instead of just the music reactions. So stay tuned for that. Uh, we've done I'm I'm still trying to see what we do for the next one. I'm going to try to continue our agents deep dive series, so stay tuned for that. But that would be great. Yakov T9Ner. Yeah, that would be happen. All right. It's not about It's not about that he's he doesn't look Jewish. He just I was just not expecting that picture of him when I just look up a guy, you know? I mean, it's just like whoa. All right, guys. Thank you so much everybody for joining. It was a great audience. Thank you everyone for coming and and uh I would love to see everybody come back for future episodes. Stay tuned for the Podcast. More episodes coming up, live streams and all of that. See you around everybody. It'll be This was great. See you next time. Live for you to join along. Life life is life for you to join along.