New Music Alert! on JM in the AM with Eli Schwebel for the debut his latest single "Kaylie"

Ellie Scheel is standing by. A new music alert Tuesday. So glad to welcome Ellie to the airways, which we will in a moment. He's got a brand new single. It just came out earlier this week. Uh I sort of feel bad because um when life 6 came out, we said we would do something on the air. We still haven't done that. We got to get to Leifar at some point, but I wasn't going to give up the opportunity to introduce a brand new song and speak with Ellie Schwebel here at JM in the A.M. America's one and only Jewish moments in the morning radio program heard on listener sponsored digital radio around the world.com and the single network and of course in the beloved NSN app. Ellie Schwebble himself with us live via telephone on a Tuesday morning broadcast. Ellie, a pleasure to welcome you back to JM in the AM >> as always. No. Oh my goodness. You are an absolute you're an absolute king. >> I appreciate it. I FEEL BAD. I FEEL BAD. YOU GUYS DID an amazing job on Laor 6. I really thought we would do something on the air. We haven't gotten to it yet. >> Well, you know, we were so busy in the studio till the last second. And then, you know, you're Listen, you're a jam-packed show. I mean, we can we got to plan this earlier. You know, we got to plan it earlier. >> Oh, no. Not not at all. Once in this case, once we got this brand new single from you, I said, I don't care what we've got planned. We got to sneak you into this show as soon as possible. Sure enough, you're in prime time right now, baby. So, uh, >> and everybody, by the way, just to reiterate, felt the same way that I felt and continue to feel about the latest from Leifar. You guys, you talk about being in the studio. I don't know what you guys do to, you know, stay so current and so 2026 sounding, but uh, you have to be really, really happy with that product. >> Oh my goodness. I you know what it is. We have we kept on developing. I did not stop making music and I've been producing. So as a producer, you know, Gotti and Ari Gotti and Ari uh they got married, had kids, and I kind of I'm single. So I I uh I had all this time to work on music. I really really all the nights I've been sitting in the studio learning and getting better and better and better and developing myself and to be able to sit there with the boys and really get the vocals out of Gotti and Ahri and form them and layer them and there's a thousand tracks sometimes a thousand layers on one track. Gosh, like I it's just a lot of amazing work. It's so much it's such joy for me. So thank you. Yeah. And by the way, and and and by the way, and and this is again, I mean, we always talk about you coming in doing like a full hour with us, but but there are a couple other big topics that have been dominating your life. Obviously, the incredible commitment you made to being back and forth to Israel over the last 2, three years has been unbelievable with plenty of live performances and a lot of uh uh great sessions with Israeli soldiers and people that just needed a lot of and then on top of that, we're seeing you on these videos at so many weddings and so many great concert events in this area. So, it's not just that your music creating ability has gotten better, your live performances have have gotten to a whole new level. >> And you're right. You know what? You're right. It is two separate it's two separate things you know it really really is two separate uh it's two separate talents two separate pieces of work and that takes a lot of takes a lot of work too yeah I I have to tell you being an inro um during the war specifically the first six months um really trained me it really really because I was on the road every day um and having to be on the road shleing the gear getting to know the gear sitting there setting up with bands and sitting there singing with soldiers it's like it just trained you like uh like you you know and it's like I became a wedding singer for for six months you know every day >> right >> and uh it was it was one of one of the greatest experience it's the greatest experience of my life I must say being being with the being with the soldiers being with those literally those kids with 18-year-olds with guns uh scared like crying on my shoulder it was just great like giving them tongue it's just you can't imagine what the what the what the the ability to be able to be that for for these soldiers was such a really unbelievable. >> And you learned how uh how big tiny Israel is because in all seriousness, as you said, you were doing this from north to south, from east to west. I mean, everyone thinks Israel's small till they do have till they go ahead and embark on the project that you did during the war. uh where you had to go to so many different places and uh you know just bring joy, sima and inspiration and uh a shoulder to cry on as you just described uh to so many soldiers who are all throughout Israel and of course on the border. >> Yeah. And you know to sing the song of my father and Amy Rottenberg au right >> able to sing that song and all of the soldier I see no matter where they're from religious not religious Ashkanazi to hear them all singing the same song that my father's vocal was and then AB wrote this like it's like it's just and see like singing again song of of of of to be able to see that just inspiring millions of people and me singing my father's song and a it's just it's it's other world it's not to be believe it's I I this out of body experience >> and I'm sure and I'm sure when you mentioned to those soldiers that the song is over 40 years old they probably doubted you because >> I think they I actually I think they thought it WAS A THOUSAND THAT'S [laughter] RIGHT. >> But they they thought it was the original tune when au was actually written. And I'm talking about the words, not the tune. [laughter] >> Right. Exactly. Exactly. >> Ellie Schweble is with us live via telephone. We're calling this a new music alert Tuesday. And obviously just based on these first couple of minutes, you hear how much there is to talk about with Ellie Schweble. It's why he's one of our favorite guests. I was so happy we could schedule him for this morning. Uh but today we have one focus uh one main focus and that's a song that he's released entitled Kaye and normally of course Ellie you know when you come on or other artists come on we'll play some music and then you know talk about it et but but this is one single we're not playing it yet because we want to discuss it first and get your whole perspective on it. I mean it's obvious from you know the the different uh releases that have accompanied uh this album and that are posted you know on various sites etc. It's obvious that this was written in a very very personal situation. I don't know how personal you want to get. I mean, you've been open and honest in different forum over the years about, you know, h about the complexities of life, right? You've observed that and been part of it firsthand. Um, how did this come about? How how did Kaye uh as a song uh relate to what you were going through? Well, I was I was at the piano one night uh and I was just dabbing. I was just playing and uh and and and you know it was a very very lonely time in my life. I forgot to be honest with you. I forgot it's six years ago or so like that. I forgot I was going through I was going through a very very lonely time and I it was a time when I was I was questioning my relationship with God and I felt so alone and I was like this where are you? I don't have I don't feel I don't I I don't feel like I can talk to you. I don't feel like I have a I don't feel the relationship at all. I just feel nothing. It was a time where I think I was just feeling very numb and you know and I couldn't relate to God and music is able to unlock that for me. And the the dichotomy of of that is that I'm talking to God from a piano with an emotion that's so deep that just by me doing that actually connects me to God. Yeah, I was just I was just going to I was just going to say so a song a song could actually connect and it's not this is not a concept that's lost on the people who are listening right now. I think everyone gets it. But when you're an artist like yourself and you're at that deep level composing and you know coming up with with the tunes to different songs and thinking of what words you want. I think it's even more so. And uh >> did it did it work? Did it work? Were you able to >> Oh yeah. Oh yes yes yes yes. So the thing is right as I develop it, it works. But the what the inspiration was is I'm sitting there and and I'm I'm I'm writing I'm like hold on to me writing the hold on to me right and and and I was inspired because I'm doing at the piano by when he said kay kay lamai and because in tim like when he says kay k lazani right that word why did competent. Why did I say Hashem? Why did I say Hashem? When I say what I say, you know, I mean, there's a lot of different ways to describe the song. When I said Kaye, when I used the word from that that's that Kaye Kay Lafani which which hit me um that's when it all connected for me and I I you know it becomes this forever uh quest to to connect to and it it connected me to to all of the yidden and to and to all of our to the to the Elvis, right? going all the way back into the quest to connect to and this song um you know the core of this now I'm remembering exactly because you're asking me and I'm just remembering this was actually written um when I was I was I was trying to connect to my parents in a certain way and it was kind of I always write in layers right that means that like when I write something it's not like I love you or I miss you right it's me It's not me. Yes, there's a part of me in this relationship, in that relationship, and mainly if I thought about it, it's God. So, I don't know if anybody who's listening understands what I'm talking about, but I but I as a writer, as a writer, there's always whether you're telling a story, for example, I always tell this to Abby, my rebu I tell Ay, I say, Ay, you know, you know, you're writing about yourself even though you're not writing about yourself. Good. You know, it's like I always say, he's like I'm like I don't you know, you're telling a story about the cat ate the canary. You're telling a story about the >> right >> uh you know, the shot. You're telling the M. You're talking about this person, that person. But I know it's all you coming through. You know what I'm saying? >> And by the way, who are the most successful artists? Who are the most successful artists everywhere? Whether it's Jewish music or outside of Jewish music, it's those who who turn everything into, you know, personal matters and those who share who share on >> share. Exactly. Right. >> But but the the key lyric over here was that when I when I I I say when with every note and every night I knew it. Every song that I wrote it was you coming through. I knew it. I was talking about Hashem, >> right? >> Every song. And you know that was that was what that you see that's what Drael it who is the the greatest Jewish songwriter of all time. [laughter] That's I'm sure what that's the way he would talk about it, you know. I'm sure. And the experience to know that the Raan's when you're writing a song, when you're singing that you know that that um that the Raan's coming through to talk to you through the music and to engage with you and it opens you up when you realize all of these beautiful notes are coming through you are connecting you to to God on a on a level that um most things in the world can't, you know. >> Unbelievable. >> Yep. >> Ellie Schweble with us live via telephone live music alert Tuesday. We'll get to Kaylee in a second. You know, I think one of the reasons that your family and friends are so proud of your work and everyone sticks by you. I think I think you'll agree with that. For decades, everyone has stuck by you is because you're always giving a message of hope. It's easy to give up. It's easy to, you know, veer off the road. It's easy to, you know, to to to make adjustments that, you know, that that, you know, again, are are easier than, you know, fighting the fight or, you know, uh standing up to the challenges. And I think that that's uh you know one of the great things about you is that even during the toughest of times you you've always known that there's you know hope at the end that there's you know the the old you know light at the end of the tunnel so to speak and it seems like almost every time we're speaking you know you're telling us about personal experiences have been very challenging but thank God you've been able to persevere >> yeah and you know there was a time when I was it was really tough for me right um and a I brought my song. Uh, we are the broken people. I brought it to Aie cuz you know I used to really really sit down with him and go through the lyrics and and and he said to me, he goes, "Ellie, um, and I had the chorus was not as hopeful as it should be." He goes, "Ellie, give them hope. Give them hope." I'm like, "But I don't feel like that right now." He said, "I don't care. You have to do it anyway." >> And he pushed me and he pushed me and I had to re I did I dumped I don't know a ton of work. I I put in the garbage and I said, "You're right. You're right." And I had to rewrite the chorus to we are we are whole together. And you know, you're right. You're right. That was the one time where I just really wanted to veer off cuz I wasn't feeling like I I wasn't I wasn't being truthful. But the em is that that I'm here also I'm here to tell the truth for my own experience and to serve the cl. Yeah. So, and that's that's the way I uh yeah, that's that's definitely the mahalak and it's been really really I've been really grateful that I've been able to make this impact. >> Pretty amazing. Pretty amazing. And and folks, if you're not familiar, when when Ellie refers to AB, he means the legendary AB Rottenberg. And um you know AB has always been really open and honest with us. He's not always in the mood to write music or or more accurately you know you got to be inspired to come up with new tunes and new concepts and sometimes there's writer's block. You know how it is. When you have these sessions with him are they different? Are there sometimes when you know his creativity advice you know just pour forth and there are other times when you know it's more subdued? Does that happen or as an adviser he's always on? He's always on. Oh my goodness. Oh wow. He he's a and you know he's a sniper also. [laughter] Like he's he's a sniper. And and but but sometimes he's not even a sniper. He's just he will come in like a bulldozer. He'll say that lyric. Nope. That but and and the crazy thing is I was trained I was trained by him because when I sang on Journeys 4, this is 2020. >> He sat in the studio and he made me say, "No, no, no. The lyric goes exactly like this. Let me tell a tale. Not let me tell a tale. Let me let that >> Oh boy. Now Now we're getting What's that? >> I I get so frustrated by this because I know that you AB and other really musically talented people, they hear the difference. I never can hear the difference. [laughter] And it drives it drives me nuts. I I've said this on the air. I saw this interview with Billy Joel and he and he was frustrated that everyone sings a song of his a certain way like this and he plays it on the piano and it's supposed to be like this and he plays on the piano. THEY WERE BOTH THE EXACT SAME THING. [laughter] >> YEAH. NO, listen has the same problem. >> Correct. of will go nuts if somebody sings uh did I not I I just heard this about a certain song that people do some some instead of one >> correct one note one note >> go nuts no it's not the way it goes >> in Yakad I think in Yakad he had >> yes in he had a tina about one note that was done wrong and that one I sort of heard but even that was hard for me but I remember him making a big deal about it. And and boy, when it come and and now I get it. Now I get why you have to sit through sessions like that with AB because it's got to be done 100% right. >> Yeah. Yeah. You know why? I'll tell you why. Because when you're when you're a composer, it's like Trump in in it's like Trump in the it's like Trump in Torah reading >> and it's like the lyric in the Torah reading. There's there's >> I'll tell you it's like it's because the melody when you understand music and you understand lyric and you understand how lyric and melody flow together and you're telling two stories at the same time. You have to really you're speaking two languages at the same time, right? >> The language of melody and the lang and and the English language and the Hebrew language. So, it's like I'm I'm trying to say something specifically a certain way and musically and you're you're saying it the wrong way. You're not saying it the way I said it and I'm trying to give a message. I'm trying to tell you something. It's so so specific and you don't hear it. But yeah, >> right. So subtle, so specific and again to the regular ear sometimes a challenge to to cop it. Uh Ellie Schweble with us. All right. Um, it's time, Ellie. I mean, we've done it already because we've played it a couple of times over the last couple of days, but we'll make this the official world debut. Why not? [laughter] Yeah, we creative license. Don't you agree? Creative license. >> Take it. >> Even in radio, you can have creative license. So, [laughter] >> oh my goodness, >> ladies. And we're not letting Ellie go. We'll he'll join us after the song for a minute or two as well. A new music alert Tuesday. The song is called Kaye. It's Ellie Schweel. World debut. Why not for you at the best place for brand new Jewish music? JM in the AM. >> I gave it my all. [music] What more could I do? I [music] answered the call, but I disappointed [music] you. What if I intervene [music] broken apart? Could you find that place for me still in [music] your heart? Could you hold on? [music] Hold on to me. [music] Hold on. Hold on to me. Cuz I'm bound to you. I'm bound to [music] be [music] every [music] night. I know. Every [music] song that I wrote, it was you coming through. I know. [music] What if I came to be broken [music] up? Could I find a place [music] for me still in my heart? Would you hold on? [music] Hold on to me. Hold on. >> [music] >> Hold on to me cuz I'm bound [music] to you. I'm bound to the [music] every note and every night I know it. [music] Every song that I wrote, it was you coming through. I know you. Would you hold [music] on? Hold on to me. [music] Hold on. Hold on to me [music] cuz I'm bound to you. I'm bound to be >> JM in the A.M. brand new Ellie Schwebel song called Kaye and it's a brand new one on this new music alert Tuesday and you know what you acknowledge in that song by the way Ellie which is so important you recognize that when you're composing it's really God giving you the skill to do so >> yeah yeah [clears throat] >> lot of people think it's them themselves you know what I'm saying >> anybody who's any musician who's worth their salt knows that there's something something else going on right >> let me tell you >> it's really really uh it's the the song means a lot to me. Um it really does and I'm I'm so glad that I'm able to share it, you know. Uh it's hard to share these things, you know. It's uh it's not easy to it's not easy to talk about these things, but if David Am can do it, I sure can do it. >> Quite a quite a composer that King David, huh? >> Oh my god. >> What What do you think he can get per song in 2026? [laughter] >> I think he I think he deserves royalties from Sya. >> That's right. [laughter] He's got he's got music and lyrics, you know. Usually they're music and lyrics by uh you know by who? By Domino, you know. >> Come on. Royalties from the whole gang, not just from Slay. [laughter] Everybody owes him royalties. That's for sure. Um but sure. And why six years? Why do you think it took till now to share this with the public? >> Oh. Uh >> or was it just not ready? >> Uh no. You know what it is? I I I uh >> [laughter] >> It's funny. I uh I I it was not ready. It was ready. I I did I did the strings for this song. I did brand new strings. Gorgeous. Gorgeous string section. There are no strings in the song. >> And the war happened October 7th happened >> and and I ended up spending too much time in Israel and I I I I tried to get back to work on it. And I had other projects like this laid to heart thing that happened and um and I I tried to get back to the strings and this it's gorgeous and then all of a sudden I listen to the original song the way I finished it and I'm like this is great. This is great. Why am I trying to redo it and add those strings and I just I took all that work that I did. I was like, you know what? This is it's I don't I I I I realized it's such a personal song and this grand strings I don't need it and I should really just go with the original. So, here it is. Amazing. Well, Basha Kak Mazle on the release. I'm sure everybody's been reacting with tremendous comments since you uh put it out a couple of days ago and I assume it's on all the streaming platforms, right? It's everywhere. >> It's every It's everywhere. It's everywhere. And the yeah on the 246 uh I get all the kids I get from all these uh I have a lot of friends that uh uh that send me videos of their kids singing the song of these little kids and it just means so it's so so meaningful to me. Really really it's so means so much to me. >> Oh it's amazing. I'm glad we're able to do it. Um we'll do this again. You know it. I love when you're on the air with us and I appreciate you joining me today. Best regards to your leifaror colleagues and everybody else of course and thanks for joining us this morning. >> Oh what a joy. Thank you so much Malcolm for having me. Thank you. >> Are you kidding? An absolute honor. Ellie Schweel everybody. New music alert Tuesday here at JM in the AM.