Matisyahu Quotes

Powerful Matisyahu for Daily Growth

About Matisyahu

Matisyahu (born Matthew Miller on June 30, 1979) is an American singer-songwriter and reggae musician known for his distinctive blend of Hasidic Jewish philosophy with reggae, hip hop, and rock music. Born in West Chester, Pennsylvania, Matisyahu grew up in White Plains, New York. He was introduced to reggae at a young age by his father, who played Bob Marley in the car. At age 13, he discovered the Hasidic community in Monsey, New York, and began studying under Rabbi Menahem Mendel Schneerson, the Lubavitcher Rebbe's personal secretary. In 2004, he adopted the last name Matisyahu, which means "gift of God," as part of his formal conversion to Orthodox Judaism. Matisyahu's musical career began in 1998 when he started performing at local venues. His breakthrough came with the release of his debut album, "Shake Off the Dust... Arise" (2004), which garnered critical acclaim and mainstream success. The album, featuring hits like "King Without a Crown," showcased Matisyahu's unique fusion of reggae and Jewish spirituality. His subsequent albums, such as "Youth" (2006) and "Live at Stubb's" (2007), further cemented his status as a trailblazer in the world of reggae music. In 2010, Matisyahu shocked fans by announcing he no longer adhered to Hasidic Judaism. This change was reflected in his music, with albums like "Spark Seeker" (2011) and "Akeda" (2012) exploring broader themes of spirituality and self-discovery. Today, Matisyahu continues to push musical boundaries, blending genres while remaining true to his roots. His music, resonating with fans worldwide, is a testament to the power of faith, personal growth, and the universal language of music.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"Life is about finding your rhythm."

This quote by Matisyahu suggests that life, in essence, is a journey of self-discovery and personal growth. Finding one's rhythm symbolizes identifying one's purpose, passions, and the unique cadence at which they live their lives. It underscores the importance of understanding oneself and living authentically, where the harmony and balance achieved in one's life reflect a sense of fulfillment and contentment. In other words, living true to your rhythm is synonymous with living a meaningful and joyful life.


"When I found my faith, it filled me with a purpose and a passion that I had never known before."

This quote suggests that finding one's faith provides Matisyahu with a profound sense of purpose and enthusiasm that he had not experienced prior to this discovery. It implies that his faith offers direction, motivation, and a renewed zest for life. The quote underscores the transformative power of faith in shaping an individual's identity, drive, and overall outlook on life.


"I don't want to just be a musician; I want to make a difference in people's lives."

This quote signifies that Matisyahu, as a musician, desires more than just musical success; he aims to use his platform to positively impact the lives of others. He wants his music not only to entertain but also to inspire, educate, or uplift those who listen to it, thereby leaving a meaningful and lasting impression on society.


"Everyone has the power to change their life if they find the rhythm within themselves."

The quote emphasizes that each individual possesses an innate ability to transform their own life. This transformation is facilitated through discovering one's inner rhythm or personal balance, which can serve as a guiding force for self-improvement and positive change. In other words, tapping into our unique sense of purpose and resilience empowers us to navigate life's challenges effectively and create the change we desire.


"Faith is the fire that burns away all of our fears."

The quote emphasizes that faith serves as a powerful tool to alleviate fear. By equating faith with a "fire," Matisyahu suggests that it has the capacity to purify and transform, in this case by burning away (eliminating) our fears. This perspective underscores the idea that when one deeply believes in something or someone, they find courage and strength to face their apprehensions and move forward with confidence.


We're so quick to go to make things black and white, and to put things in their box. But everything is this mixture - and that's what this world is - is this blend of different things.

- Matisyahu

Go, Blend, Quick, Mixture

When a person listens to a good song, and they can look out at the world and their lives and see the dark and the light, the negative and the positive, all the different elements, all come together in one holistic poem, that is a very healing and very reductive thing, and that's what my music is about.

- Matisyahu

Good Song, Very, About, Poem

I think there is a tendency for people to get rigid and caught up in their beliefs of what is right and wrong, and they lose sight of humanity. Being human has to come first before right or wrong.

- Matisyahu

Think, Caught, I Think, Being Human

It's a holistic process for me during a show. I'm always focusing on the technical aspects of my voice. I try to make my voice do what I want. One big thing I do to improve on each show is to listen back to performances on CD while on tour.

- Matisyahu

Voice, Big, Technical, Holistic

When I first started, everything happened at once. I became religious, my musical career took off, I got married, I had kids, and all that happened within the course of a year. I had an excitement about this newly found faith, and so I was writing about that in a very evident kind of way.

- Matisyahu

Religious, Very, Became, Newly

I do what I love, thank God. I get to make music and get inspiration through Judaism. I can see why people might be surprised, because it's not been done before. It's certainly not typical. People are always trying to wrap head their around it. But it's probably simpler than everyone thinks.

- Matisyahu

Love, Through, Been, Simpler

There's something really powerful when I, for example, hear Bob Marley's 'Exodus' - we know where we're going. We know where we're from.

- Matisyahu

Something, Going, Really, Exodus

When there's light shining on a tree, that tree takes on different meaning. If there's no light at all it just looks dead. If you look at light as godly meaning, the world comes alive in a certain way.

- Matisyahu

Tree, Alive, Certain Way, Shining

I did some acting in college. But then everything stopped when I was a junior, in the fall of 2001, when I started becoming religious. Once I became a full-on Hasidic, I stopped everything. I stopped music. I stopped acting.

- Matisyahu

College, Some, Religious, Full-On

When people feel a certain religion claims to have all the answers, that's what turns them off.

- Matisyahu

Answers, Feel, Them, Claims

Judaism is my life. Everything I do is through the lens of Torah.

- Matisyahu

My Life, Through, Judaism, Torah

I don't think you could pull one Bob Marley song that didn't have quotes from the Torah or the Old Testament.

- Matisyahu

Song, Think, Could, Torah

When I was 17, I listened to reggae music. I loved Bob Marley. I started growing dreadlocks. It's always been my way, that the outside matches what's going on with me inside.

- Matisyahu

Always, Going, Been, Reggae

My mother's sister married a man from Barbados, and my cousins were raised in Barbados. So we traveled down there, they came up every summer for camp, and I started paying attention to their music. And that was the first place I ever remember hearing reggae and liking it.

- Matisyahu

Summer, Remember, Down, Reggae

When I listen to music, there's usually some aspect of that music that I like, and that's what I take and try to bring into my own music. Bringing in other musicians to collaborate with is a good way for me to test out new ways or make music that I might have not discovered on my own.

- Matisyahu

Some, Other, Discovered, Collaborate

I have a whole regimen to my day: my vocal warm-ups, my prayers, my meditations... I pray three times a day. I try to have a real experience praying, not just do it. I really get deep into the idea and really try to get somewhere with it, to have an in-depth understanding of the idea.

- Matisyahu

Deep, Idea, Vocal, Meditations

The No. 1 best-selling Christmas album of all time is from Kenneth Bruce Gorelick, the Jewish smooth-jazz legend Kenny G. American Jews have always produced a lot of holiday music, just not Hanukkah music.

- Matisyahu

Legend, Christmas Album, Kenneth

Is it possible Hanukkah doesn't inspire folksy songs? Plot lines may be a part. The Christmas story has a lot of material to work with. There's Jesus and his birth, the wise men, their gifts and tons of frankincense.

- Matisyahu

Part, Lot, His, Tons

Growing up, the way that I looked was very important to me. I was always trying to impress people, and when I grew my beard there was a certain freedom, a separation, getting past this the way I looked, identify myself as a spiritual seeker.

- Matisyahu

Growing, Very, Getting, Seeker

I enjoyed coming home to Crown Heights. There was a certain order to life there. You know, Shabbos, spending time with your family, eating and being in 'shul.' Prayers at nighttime, prayers in the morning. Everyone knows everybody; you walk your kids everywhere.

- Matisyahu

Life, Everybody, Your, Coming Home

Songs that aren't even remotely connected to Christmas are now officially canonized Christmas tunes. 'Frosty the Snowman,' 'Jingle Bells' and 'Winter Wonderland' never mention anything religious but are still notches in Christmas' belt of musical dominance.

- Matisyahu

Winter, Religious, Bells, Wonderland

The place that I'm trying to come from and where I'm trying to make music from is when I feel like I'm able to somehow, like, transcend it all and just speak right to God.

- Matisyahu

Feel, Like, Come, Transcend

There was a time when I was fighting with the decision as to whether or not a Hasidic man could go out and have a music career in the world and be involved in pop culture. For me, I was able to bring those two things together for quite some time.

- Matisyahu

Career, Some, Bring, Music Career

I'm not an expert in instruments, beat programming, or electronics. For some people it's all about doing it themselves. But for me, it's all about find the people that can help make my vision come true.

- Matisyahu

Expert, Some, Electronics, Programming

I think that listening to music or creating music is a spiritual undertaking, so the process of creating music, you know, involves listening. It involves sensitivity, it involves humility, you know, and then also it's something which is higher than words.

- Matisyahu

Listening, Think, Which, Sensitivity

The best part of touring is the opportunity to make the music. You get to do what you love and have the ability to go out on stage every night and create.

- Matisyahu

Love, Night, Part, Best Part

In 2004, when I started recording my first CD, I was coming right out of yeshiva. So I had spent two years completely immersed in the Hasidic culture, disconnected completely from the secular world - movies, music, people.

- Matisyahu

Two, Recording, Had, Disconnected

In Judaism, there are a lot of rules - everything from which fingernail you cut first to which side you sleep on in bed, to the way you get dressed in the morning, to actual ideas, like ideas about being chosen people or ideas about female/male and how to interact with people from the opposite sex.

- Matisyahu

Bed, Cut, About, Opposite Sex

I get on a real serious health kick when I'm on the road, because as a singer, you can't really get sick. If you get sick, your whole instrument stops working. I've done all these different vitamin drinks. I drink coconut water, and I run. I eat food. I juice.

- Matisyahu

Singer, Drinks, Whole, Coconut

It was a really strange way that I came into music. Once I gave voice to it, the pit of emotions that I guess I knew was inside of me for a long time, the stream never really stopped.

- Matisyahu

Voice, Emotions, Stopped, Strange Way

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