Yiddishka Mama on the Dance Floor

By Jessica Youseffi

USC students were wowed and dazzled to an electric performance at Chai Fever as Jewdyssee rocked our stage. The Berlin based funk band is bringing the old school shtetl to a hot and sweaty Euro-club. Gevalt!

The infectiously catchy tunes, coupled with the pure passion and charisma exuded from the lead singer Maya Saban was enough to establish an immediate fan base at SC.  Not to mention getting more than a few of us asking Maya to have our babies, with the reply “yes, but how?”  (See facebook group: Maya Saban Turned Me Gay).

“German-Jews giving Yiddish music a new kick—who’d of thought?” But Maya Saban (singer), along with Walera Goodman (music producer) and Elina Tilpan (manager) are doing just that.

When some people first saw you perform they felt you were flirting with them? What do you think about that?

MS: Well actually I’m just trying to have fun. And ye, why not? I’m flirting with guys, and girls.

And does everyone always come up to you after a concert saying they fell in love with you, or is that just at USC?

MS: In Germany it’s not that often but actually it's a point to come back!

Why did you start up Jewdyssee, you were originally a solo artist right?

MS: When I did my two solo albums in German it was cool because I could write about my feelings and emotions but this is something different.

At the age of seven I started singing Yiddish and Hebrew songs, and a year ago I was sitting at home listening to the Adon Olam song, then I met Walera. We wanted to do something new, bring the old Yiddish or Hebrew songs in a contemporary version.

ET: That's how I got involved pretty much.  We were friends and I’ve been managing bands in different kind of genres. We just sat down together and said what about starting a project that kinda takes all the old stuff, Yiddish and Jewish music and brings them to the new world. Kinda gets the youth back to listening to it.

What is it like as a Jew living in Germany?

MS: I’m a European girl and Berlin is my hometown. It’s not that difficult to live in Germany

ET: Not even for religious people. I mean of course you can always have problems wherever. But it's also the fastest growing Jewish community in the world.

I think were making good steps to getting really really open to everyone. It’s preety cool right now being a Jew in Germany. I mean I like being German and being Jewish.

Is the holocaust not hanging over your head?
ET: We think about the holocaust probably a lot different right now than other Jewish people that are coming to Germany. For us we will never forget, but we have to keep on living.

You've been doing this for a year, what has been your best moment?

MS: Actually you know what, it was at your event at USC. All of you were singing Adon Olam with me, and you knew all three verses. In Germany not every Jewish person knows it. It was so cool.

ET: They usually know the first verse and don't know anymore so they stop singing along, and it was really cool we were standing there and everyone was singing with us.

I heard your music is being played in German clubs, what’s that like?

MS: When we sing in front of non-Jewish audience there’s also a good feeling. They love the music and the passion we have.

Our Jewish music is so alive and the stories in Yiddish are so wise. There’s always a hard story but in the end of the song there’s always a hope and happy ending.

In Germany they understand Yiddish since the language is similar. They can’t understand Hebrew, but the melodies are so strong I think you will know what I’m trying to say.

What are all the songs in Yiddish about?
MS: There’s a song Papirosen, which is about a little boy in a war who lost his family and the only way to survive was to sell Papirosen, which are cigarettes. But in the end of the song he’s a strong boy. That's what Yiddish music is all about. His will to live is so strong that he could do it, and the glass is always half full.

And the song A Bissle we’re saying Oh oh just laugh a bit, oh oh just drink a bit, oh oh just talk a bit and have fun and then everything is easier.

To hear their funky sound go to Jewdyssee.com and watch out for their album coming out!