LA-based singer-songwriter Mikey Pauker’s inspirations come from across the map. From contemporary pop music to Jewish liturgy, hasidut, kabbalah, and his own Jewish experiences, Pauker skillfully combines upbeat folk songs with classical Jewish texts. Check out, for instance, “Hinei Mah Tov,” but beware: the infectious “Eeoohh!” hook will be stuck in your head for the rest of the day.
In addition to the fine songwriting chops heard in his debut album, Extraordinary Love, Mikey has the distinction of founding Merkava Mentors, an innovative Jewish music program that fosters education and collaboration between aspiring songwriters and more established tunesmiths.
Pauker’s love and appreciation for Jewish spirituality and music developed through his involvement in summer camps, his university’s Hillel, and a sojourn to Israel. Along the way, he found himself continually writing music, and devised one of the main goal’s for his art and for Merkava Mentors: to spread what he calls “spiritual music”: melodies and lyrics that are Jewish in content but accessible and relatable by all.
Judging by Extraordinary Love, he’s well on his way.
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Check out a song off Extraordinary Love:
Listen to Mikey breathe new life into a Friday night classic:
