New Music Alert! with Sholom Simcha on JM in the AM

And you are listening to America's one and only Jewish moments in the morning radio program heard on listener sponsored digital radio around the world the webc.com and the single network and of course in the beloved NSN applom is scheduled to join us hopefully that'll happen in the next few minutes a new music alert Wednesday he's scheduled to join us to talk about his brand new album his most recent album the one that came out between Purum and Pesak at least I think that's when it came Well, actually ask him. We'll ask him what the release date was. Why not? years. is going to face this by his body. I say by his body AM in the AM with Schlommo Simka song is entitled Berkas. It's actually the very first track on the brand new Brahot Vulim album released by Schlommo Simka. 11 tracks total and we are officially calling this a new music alert Wednesday. A new music alert Wednesday. Schlommo Simai. Pleasure to welcome you back to JM in the AM. >> Thank you very much. How are you? >> Barak Hashem, this uh conversation is long in the making. We tried to put this together before Pesak didn't work out. So glad we're able to reunite and talk about the album this morning here at JM. I was debating with myself this morning. I was trying to remember exactly when you released it. Was it it was after Porum and before Pesak, right? Does that make sense? >> That is correct. That is correct. Yes. >> And a lot of people these days in the world of Jewish music, and you're obviously a veteran, you're somebody who's uh been on the scene now for God knows how long, 30, 35 plus years. Um most people are are using the approach releasing singles, some releasing what some people refer to as EPs with four or five songs, etc., etc. It is unusual these days to see a collection come out and it actually be a full 11 track album. What was your thought process as you were going through all this? Did you want to wait literally until you had a full album to release anything? I um I actually there is a couple that we did release uh earlier but for the most part um I think uh you know it's it's listen the the scene has changed dramatically as you know. >> Yeah. >> We've witnessed we have witnessed uh tremendous transformation here and I just find that you know everybody needs a home. Everyone needs a home, including a song to have a, you know, it needs to belong somewhere. So, it's a song from this album, it's a song from that album, it's from that period. I just find it that it just there's so much coming out, it just gets lost. And I just felt that, you know, it needs to have a home. It needs to have a place. Okay, it's the album. >> You know, it's funny. >> I just couldn't get away from that. >> I don't know. I don't know if everybody in the younger generation would hop that, but I think you're making a really good point. I think you're making a really good point that there that there needs to be a point of reference. It needs to be known which collection a song is part of etc etc. Tell us about the title not the title track but the first track on the album beer habias we just played it. What can you tell us about it? Who composed it etc. >> So the the song was composed by Yi Dickman. >> Ah >> and extremely extremely creative uh creative. No one no wonder that song jumps like crazy. >> Right. Right. So it was it was a very interesting very interesting approach to the album because I wanted to stay true to myself who I am and what my expression is. That that's you know if you can't I I think the success of any any performer any artist is is is to deliver what what's in him and it either resonates or it doesn't. >> Right. >> But at the same time things have changed. So what I did is I started I did the first uh six songs with Yi Berry. >> Nice. >> And um we we completed seven songs. Uh and then I sat with with Yi and uh and he we kind of that tug of war worked very very well together. Uh in fact interestingly some of the things on this song he recorded with me was very interesting. He he played it to me on piano and then he recorded it with me on piano but he already had the whole arrangement figured out in his head and then you two weeks before the album came out I kept saying I want to hear it I want to hear it he said don't worry finally he sends it to me and I was like oh that's he put it together actually after he sang him saying the you know the whole and it actually I liked it I liked it >> yeah he he was he was he was worried that you'd think it was too uptempo. That's what he was probably concerned about. >> Right. Right. But it but it works because it's it's my it's my flavor and it's Leic and it's good that you know I I I really it worked very well. That combination worked very well. >> It's funny you say that. We played some of your classics early this morning in anticipation of this conversation >> just to reacquaint ourselves with some of your classic material. on your right uh that the song does fit in with your you know traditional motif and obviously he gives it that 2026 sound ends up being a really good combination. Uh first song on the album folks becas habias that's the one you heard minutes ago here at JMA. The album is called Brahot Vulim. We'll get into the title track and talk about excuse me talk about the meaning behind the title track etc etc coming up uh here at JM and the AM. So I mean one of the and and it it's hard to say this because I think only artists would really completely understand what I'm referring to. Um, people, listeners may not always think that albums have a theme, but I think as artists put together albums and again going back to the era of, you know, where everything was coming out in a collection, um, I I think you you as a performer, as a as an artist, always had some type of theme going through your head. So, you know, you speak to, you know, some of the greats in the world of Jewish music and and they may be able to, you know, transmit to us a message of what, you know, the thread was throughout the entire album. And again, to the average listener, it just sound it might just sound like, you know, nine or 10 individual songs. So, as you approach this collection, was there a theme? Was there a uh, you know, a system that you wanted in place in order to put this thing together the way you did? It's it's um it's a it's a very good it's a good question because we do like to have a theme. Um but it doesn't always work that way because as you're collecting excuse me as you're collecting compositions, you got to pick the compositions that work for you. But usually as you as you get closer to the album >> I was very much for I'll tell you honestly we took you talk about the title track. Um there's a song from Yalik that I was just totally in love with and I I felt it had such um such a powerful message about TA um that I really that's what I wanted to call the title track. Um it was also it was play on words because the last album was called I an ice cream and bring it down a notch. >> That's good. Um but I and I was completely set on it and um for the for the first time I mean when we used to come out with albums you know you ran you ran an ad in the Jewish press that was like your big you know >> and it was very very different and now just to be able to to to uh to to be able to manage what's going on with social media and make a mark >> to catch people's attention something. It was Yeah, it was something new. So, you know, I was I was introduced to um Frigman and he's a he's um that's his thing. He's a PR guy and he literally for the first month he's he's there all the way through and everything and even the album cover, the design, everything. And he said to me, you know, and I was very much I you know, I like the idea of there's so much going on in the world that I wanted to keep it positive. Um, and he came to me and he said, "You want to keep it positive?" >> Yeah. I mean, >> yeah, >> you want to keep it positive. Why don't we go with something like, >> right? >> Um, there's so much negative going on. And I I thought about it for a little bit. >> Right. >> Well, well, well, the title the title makes a difference and the title of the album appears obviously next to every song. I wonder if the album cover is is even slightly significant. Obviously in the old days, you know, the album cover and album art would played such a role not just in the sales but played a role in getting your message across. I wonder if today it has even, you know, a drop of that. What do you think from your perspective? >> It's definitely definitely definitely plays a big role and I I learned a lot from working from working with him because it it definitely plays a role. Today it's visual. And the other thing today is >> the mark has to be made immediately. People see they either stop or they don't stop. You have you have 10 seconds to make your point. It's just the way it is. >> That's true. >> Um and I just thought that upbeat I like that idea and the beginning say the Americans are going to know it doesn't matter. >> It doesn't matter. It's blessings and is not curses obviously. blessings and and wishes and well wishes, >> right? >> Which is what we need now. It it just to be positive and to drive through I thought was a fantastic message and it does represent the theme of the album. Um, you know, with the songs of weddings and etc. It just really really you know I I connected with it. I felt it. Um and then um you know then he did you know and then the whole album cover. I've never done a picture before. I I was not a >> Oh, good point. >> Good point. Right. It's very I was uncomfortable at the beginning, but his idea was >> put your hand out there. You're not you're not you're not being into you know everyone. It might it might have been a little while, but you're just you're reaching out. You're reconnecting. And I like this. >> Yeah. The only the only the only way people actually saw you was like in a concert ad, like that type of thing, you know, never on an album. >> Right. Right. So it was it was it took a little convincing but but he did it with taste and um you know it it worked very well. >> Yeah, I think it looks good. Slommo Sima with us everybody. It's a new music alert Wednesday. Yes, even though it's been out a couple of months, we now call it a new music alert. Finally, now after Bomer after we have an opportunity to speak to Schlommo Sim about the brand new album. It's 11 tracks. You mentioned you said the composer was Salic. Yoel Sik. Yoel Sik. Let's do it. You you mind? We'll do the Manoki selection for you. >> Absolutely. >> It's a Yoel Solic composition. Schlommo Simra is with us. You are listening to JM in the AM. No escal. for you know he's falling Oh god. is he Little shore. JM in the A.M. new music alert Wednesday with Schlommo Sim with us live via telephone. Album is entitled Vulim. That one is MI here at JM in the A.M. Schlim. I'm assuming it's available everywhere. Am I right? It's on all the platforms. People could access this. They just search your name, I assume. Yes, absolutely. And all the platforms. >> You were introduced to us decades ago. Um, if I remember correctly, I think I have the story right. I think I was there. Uh, you were actually backstage and you started singing backstage and uh, that was really the beginning. You know, you walked out on stage, people discovered you, saw you for the first time. If I'm right, that that's how it went. How long ago was that? That was 1992. >> 1992. Wow. 1992. >> So, we're coming up on the 35th the 35th anniversary of you being introduced to the Jewish public. >> That is correct. That is correct. >> Pretty amazing to say the least. Tremendous uh staying power, I must say. a lot of lasting value in the stuff that you've introduced to uh the Jewish audience around the world over all these decades. Uh the album is called Let's do the title track. Tell us about this. Who composed it? Uh you mentioned the positive message. Certainly uh deserves to be um heralded on the cover, which it is. Um so I'm assuming this is a uh this is what we would consider a very uh positive song with a very positive message. Am I right? >> It's a It's another Yola Dickman. It's a It's uh just just a song about it's just a great wedding song. A happy song coming in wishing and their house should be full of blessing. It's you know it's it's it's just very happy. Happy good >> and and it's wedding season. >> Yes. Yes. >> Lot of cussins and kalas out there. you know, you've had this unique um you've had this unique career because uh obviously, you know, it's not unusual to see you performing at a wedding and it's certainly not unusual uh for people to be enjoying uh your material whether it's uh you know, in the old days with CDs or now with the uh the digital sources, but you've also had this opportunity to to be a kazin, to be somebody who leads services in, you know, in in a very serious way. And I mean that not just that being a is a serious task, meaning that you've been in large congregations with, you know, big responsibilities in that area. And I wonder what that's like. You know, you sort of like have a a multifaceted career. Is that how you look at it? >> It's very uh it's it's very interesting because it's it's it's music related, but it's a very different part of it. very different part of it. >> Um, and it's it's um, it's it's it's it's very it's interesting. It's been a challenge over the years because it's it's a different some people hear Kazanos and they they run, >> right? But actually I I think part of the success that I had in Kazanus is that as Kazanos was becoming less less popular. I think Kazanos it's not it became less I think that there was a period after the war where people did you know there were people that just didn't know how to read and and led most of the service right >> and as people became more literate they they wanted to get up there themselves there was just less of a need. Um, so it just it it it changed in that way. And actually the the success that I had was to be able to make the dubbing more melodic and and less operetic. But I had enough enough of the appar of the oparetic to be able to keep the the uh you know the the older generation happy and and the younger generation happy and kind of managed war. But it did become challenging for the you know for the music career because sometimes people said oh isn't he a cousin but it but it you know it it is what it is. The fact is that it's something that that um you know again it's about communicating with people through music and whether that's on you know on a disc or whether it's in davining um they're both something that are very satisfying and and it's a tremendous to be able to do this and how it lasted all these years is nothing short of just God's will. I often when people come to me and say, you know, would you suggest I go into this? And I always tell them, make sure you have a day job and any success that you have, just thank God. >> Yeah, I'm still looking for that day job, but we're getting there. But I certainly understand your point. Um, do how many times do do guys approach you and say, "Boy, was I intimidated domining for the um with you in the room?" Does that happen a lot or not? >> It doesn't. It does happen and it's uh it's so strange because >> like you're you're you're wondering why on earth were you intimidated and they're giving you this whole this whole thing about it. Right. >> Right. Yeah. Yeah. No, exactly. Um it's interesting. It's just it's just it's so nothing. It's just a state of mind. It's the whole the whole celebrity thing. You you meet a celebrity. >> Yeah. But it's by the way, >> but in this case, I don't even think it's a celebrity thing. I think a guy gets up in Davin and he knows in the room is someone who's an expert at doing it. Forget the celebrity just just that you you can keep track of every single mistake they're making. You know what I'm saying? >> Yeah. But in my to be honest in my mind you can't make a mistake. You're expressing yourself. You know listen it's one of the gifts that God gave us that we can get. I remember I used to be so intimidated. I used to do the hy right. I used to be in such a state of fear and I said, "What are you waiting? The whole thing's a joke. How does a human being get up and and and d for everything that's going to happen next year?" >> The whole thing is a gift from God. It's nothing to do with your standard. So So take it easy. >> No, I get that. I I I get that. But come Yeah, >> I'm saying it's a wonder at the end of the day. It's a Yum because we we have that ability. I'm saying talk to me. >> No, I >> as you are talk to me. >> I get it. You know, when the when the guy when the guy ends Sim Shullum without the yunt of tune, you know, when he's about to go into hollow, that's got to frustrate you. Come on. Like you want you want you want to go over and slap the guy like come on. How'd you forget that? By the way, I did that at the 500 a.m. minion on uh on Friday, meaning first day. I was so focused, and you all appreciate this, by the way. I was so focused on the clock because you know you got to say Gal at exactly 5:33 that I that I literally forgot I for I forgot to to end gust you know in yunt fashion so I had to bang just to make sure people went to the right shimon estre but you know I've been doing this a long time and I made a rookie mistake. What do you think of that? You know, if you do it with confidence, nobody notices. He once did Russia. I remember my teacher that was teaching me this told me, "If anybody asks you something about what you did, just ask me." >> Oh, is that funny? >> You'll be fine, you know. >> Oh, is that funny? >> I had once I start I went up to the and I was just doing, >> right? >> Not a word from anybody. I was just going >> you know what we discovered >> the late great Sherwood Gaffin told us and who knew Nus better than he did and he told us that literally Mina and Russ you literally start you know till you get to Kadusha you start as if it's a weekday that's what he told us many many years ago and I was really shocked about that but it makes sense because there is no rush >> that's interesting >> yeah because there is no I I do shabas like I do like the shabas men which is why I ended up with that mistake. >> Right. Unbelievable. Um, oh, you just uh you just struck a chord with something else I wanted to mention. Uh, oh yeah, it's funny you say that mini shalai whatever because I've been dominating in New Springville out on Staten Island in my brother's synagogue, you know, all these years for over over four decades, I'm proud to say. And uh, and when my kids started domining for the in their own synagogues or their own, you know, jobs for us, Johnny M. Kipper. Um, I said to them, "Start from scratch." Meaning, you know, get the recordings and, you know, practice a million times cuz what you've heard growing up is Mig New Springville and and I'm not sure every single thing lines up with, you know, the traditional way of doing things. So, they they took that lesson to heart. They made sure to ignore everything they had heard as they were growing up. Schlommo Sim is with us. The title track, as we said, Vulim, the album is available. We're highly recommending it. And now we get an opportunity to listen to the title track together on a new music alert Wednesday at JM in the A.M. Boy, boy, boy is anious. That's how you boy. Liby. Fore boy boy line boy line boy Boy, you boy. This She lift. Foreign Oh, JM in the AM title track to Schlommo. here on a new music alert Wednesday is with us live via telephone. You know, Yo Elli is uh is my colleague. We're both working at Radio Coldplay in Israel, although I do it from 6,000 miles away. And I got to tell you something uh the Yoi Dickman Schlommo Simka partnership uh sounds really good. It works really really well, frankly. Uh, thank you, Barash. Bar. Yeah, it's been a been an amazing an amazing experience. He's he's really talented. >> Yeah. Um, >> sometimes sometimes he gets so nuts on stage, I think he's about to explode, frankly. You've you've seen his live performance, right? >> Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. And and by the way, like he naturally the studio goes, "Okay, yes, I'll I'll meet you at midnight." Yeah. Yeah. I'll finish a wedding. I >> And he comes and he soaks head to toe. He doesn't change. He comes and he's like, "May let's go." He >> correct. He He never sleeps and he's never and he never comes down from that energy eye. It's amazing. Really is amazing. >> It's an amazing It's really an amazing thing. >> Good combo. The brand new. It's available everywhere on all the platforms, folks. It's a new music 11 track um album. As we say goodbye, we have time for one more. How would you like to wrap up this conversation with which selection off the brand new uh collection? >> Uh I would go with Antu on the trailer. It is uh it's um with the guest appearance on there with um >> Oh, that's the one with Ara Sam >> with Ara Sam. And it's very it's it's Kina has taken up very very well. He's such a good schmuck he to work with. It was beautiful. was a pleasure and honor and uh and it's got a very warm joyous thing and it's really people enjoying it very much. I think it's a good song to end with and uh Barashem Borashem there's a lot of sai with this album. >> Really appreciate you joining us. Where are you today? You're in Canada. >> I am actually I I live in I I live in BOATON RIGHT NOW. >> OH, NO more no more no more two feet of snow for you. No, no, no. We're done with all that. I've been here for the last five years since co and I just completed third year of a yeshiva high school for kids uh kids that need music and that's what I do during the day and we have a studio and we we work with music and it's it's really something amazing. >> Wait, what position do you what position do you have in the school? I'm from actually >> and uh we've had tremendous success with with turning kids around Barashem through music through unconditional love. >> How do you keep this a secret from us? >> And you know what I I I I fell into it. I came over here and I was at the beginning of the first few weeks I was like what am I doing here? Like I I had to get out. I couldn't like Canada it was it I just couldn't. The borders two weeks quarantining I couldn't do it. So I just workwise it just wasn't working. So I I figured it's time to move to the states and I came here and I was like I have a married daughter here. Okay, but this is just a place that from here I go to a job and come back and sitting next to a guy in Shu and he says to me Ben Klein uh also a little music connector if you remember the album Ben Katan. >> Yeah. >> And uh he says to me, you know, there's a lot of kids over here. They're not being catered to that. everyone's moving here and there's kids literally, you know, doing nothing. They're not being accepted in the local institutions and we got to do something. I said, "Look, I I I've always, you know, I I had my struggles as a teenager and I'm always wanted to give back." I said, "You if you'll handle the admin, I'll I'm happy to get involved." And we started and we started with like 15 boys and we are at 50 now. >> What do they call you, Rabbi Simha? Rebel call me Rebby. They call everybody Reb. >> I'm gonna call I'm gonna call you Rabbi Simra. >> So if not I actually there's a family sim in Chicago when you met in the airport. We we never laughed so hard because they could get in regards people regards from your cousin and I get regards from them. We're not related. We have no >> Oh. I finally met a sim because it was like, >> "Oh, is that funny? That's Gavaldi. I didn't realize someone actually had that last name. I love it." Um, so if not for CO, you wouldn't be down in Florida. And that's where we could find you. So, and and literally Bokeh, like the the middle of the hot area of Bokea, and I don't mean hot weather. I mean hot meaning the growth >> bagels. Everyone knows Lux and Bagels. That's where they come for breakfast or upstairs from there. >> Unbelievable. >> And yeah, Barash, it's been amazing. I'm actually on the end. We're on the end of year trip right now in Orlando. I got in my car. I drove out somewhere quiet and here we are. >> Fantastic. Oh, meaning with the yeshiva. >> I'm with you on the end of your trip, but I left because there's no way we could do this interview with >> Oh, is that funny? >> Uh, yeah. Yeah. Yeah. >> Well, call a cavode to you. Ka cavode. Un unbelievable. And with all this, you were able to put together this collection of music. We are going to wrap up with on two as you just suggested. I'm going to thank you very much for joining us this morning and uh continued success when I get down to the sun. >> You know my first interview on my first album. It's very nostalgic. It's really incredible. Continue for many years to come. >> Amazing. >> You're amazing. >> And when I get down to Bokeh, I'm going to look you up. >> Absolutely. Please do. >> Uh Sima, everybody, new music alert Wednesday. We wrap up with his song Aunt Who. And you're listening to JM in the A.M. Aunties. Aunties on the paradise. Aunties. Auntie down. Oh. I am foreign. I I'm Aunties on the I'm the I high on the bumpies on the on the on on the I don't I