Zusha (band)

Formed in 2013 by lead vocalist Shlomo Gaisin and guitarist/vocalist Zachariah Goldschmiedt, their music pairs traditional Hasidic nigunim (wordless vocal melodies) with elements of folk, rock, soul, jazz, ska, and reggae.

They began rehearsing in friends' apartments, recording their sessions via iPhone, until Bronstein and Rabbi Avram Mlotek encouraged them to share their music publicly.

[1][6] Zusha's self-titled debut EP was recorded and produced by Mason Jar Music and released on October 28, 2014, two days after the band's first show at the Mercury Lounge with Levi Robin.

[12] They played a Havdalah concert at the Atlanta Jewish Academy during the Atlanta Jewish Music Festival [13] and also performed at the Kulturfest Yiddish Soul concert at Central Park's Rumsey Playfield, alongside Hasidic pop stars Avraham Fried and Lipa Schmeltzer, cantors Joseph Malovany and Yaakov Lemmer, and klezmer trumpeter Frank London.

In 2020, the now-duo were featured on the singles "Anim Zemirot" by The Portnoy Brothers and "Karvah" by Eitan Katz, and in December they released Likavod Shabbos, a collaborative EP with singer Beri Weber.

The following year, a fourth studio album, Open the Gates, was released on January 17, 2022, featuring collaborations with Eitan Katz, Ishay Ribo, and Eviatar Banai.

[5] Zusha's music combines the wordless vocals and improvised nature of traditional Hasidic nigunim with elements of folk, rock, soul, jazz, funk, reggae, ska, and EDM.

[7] The St. Louis Jewish Light quoted a description of their 2016 album Kavana as "Beirut, Bon Iver and Sufjan Stevens meet the Crosby, Stills and Nash of Hasidic music".