Matisyahu's "Release The Bound" Out Now

Article Contributed by Big Picture Media | Published on Friday, November 18, 2016

Grammy-nominated Reggae artist Matisyahu has officially released his new EP, Release The Boundtoday via Thirty Tigers. This highly anticipated EP features collaborations with electronic artist The Polish Ambassador, and Columbian pop duo Salt Cathedral. Fans can experience the new EP live when Matisyahu kicks off his 'Festival of Light Tour' on December 14th, visiting 10 cities along the way! Release The Bound is now available to stream via AXS and Spotify, and available for purchase via iTunes.

Release The Bound comes on the heels of Matisyahu's last album Akeda (June, 2014), playing into the same theme of Abraham's final test of commitment by sacrificing his greatest love to God. When he gets to the top of the Mountain and binds his Son to the altar an angel appears and tells Abraham to unbind him, that he has passed the test and proven himself. On the inspiration of the Akeda, Matisyahu explains, "Outside of my own self therapy I create music for The Bound, people who are stuck or struggling on their journeys. This EP is a narrative of Abraham facing this climatic moment when his whole life is in question and finally the RELEASE as he passes his ultimate test. I hope it brings inspiration to those facing similar questions."

When Matisyahu first started touring to packed clubs more than eleven years ago, it was prior to the release of Live at Stubbs, the now Gold record, and prior to that record's single "King Without A Crown" reaching #1 on the alternative rock radio charts.  His performances were a raw expression of his spirituality at that time and were supported by musicians who played a foundation of roots reggae augmented by the energy of a rock trio. Fans latched on quickly for a variety of reasons, but in August of 2005, just months after the release of Live at Stubbs, Matisyahu found himself on stage at the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival with the de facto leader of improvisational rock-n-roll; Phish's front man Trey Anastasio.

"King without a Crown" climbed the charts and Matisyahu's follow up record Youth was nominated for a Grammy, but the blessings and curses of mainstream success each took root. While Matisyahu's bands have always been comprised of serious multidimensional players who have artfully molded the foundations of roots reggae into many genres, that early; if only a brief display of complete surrender to the music, seemed in some way to take a back seat. Through his lyrics however, Matisyahu developed a more personal, artistic, and sophisticated way to express the yearning for deep spiritual meaning, and as his own beliefs opened up to find more variety and depth, the desire for his performances to match the unpredictable flow of life developed as well.

Now, more than a decade and 9 records later, Matisyahu has formed a band that truly gives itself over to the music on par with his lyrical desire to connect to something beyond the self. The band features original Stubbs guitarist and longtime staple of the downtown New York improv scene Aaron Dugan, Dub Trio bassist and long-time Matisyahu collaborator Stu Brooks, Joe Tomino drummer of the dub trio and drummer for Matisyahu since 2009, percussionist and Cyro Baptista go-to-drummer Tim Keiper, and Virtuoso keyboardist Big Yuki.

Release The Bound has officially released today, November 18, 2016 via Thirty Tigers. For more information, please visit: http://matisyahuworld.com.