|
|
 |
Interview/Feature
|
| Click Here to go back. |
NY Blueprint, Interview/Feature >>
A Lot In A Name For Jewish Songstress
by: Alan Zeitlin | Sep 17 2010
When Galeet Dardashti leads the members of Park Slope’s Congregation Beth Elohim in Nei’lah on Saturday night, it is possible she’ll feel a kick. But it won’t likely come from someone who wants her to pray faster so they could break their fast, but rather from inside her belly. The singer is expecting her second child in a few months. Sitting in the pews of the synagogue, the singer, who comes from a line of cantors and singers, said it’s been a hectic time. The release party of her debut CD “The Naming,” at Le Poisson Rouge on Sept 14 in downtown Manhattan, on the heels of her doctorate in cultural anthropology is a lot but not too much.
I like to stay busy,” she says with a smile.
The singer said she came up with the title to dedicate it to many women in the Bible who weren’t named. And she said she isn’t one that believes in stereotypes.
“In a way, this is like giving the nameless women a voice,” she said.
Dardashti said people stereotype women who are pregnant and need to get with the times.
“I don’t think pregnant women need to run and hide,” she said. There’s no reason why they can’t be active, and on stage, pregnant women can still be sexy.”
Dardashti, who started the all-girl band Divahn about 10 years ago, said she didn’t expect the group to take off like it has. She said she expected to be an academic. While she plans to teach classes at SYNY Purchase and Hebrew Union College as well The Jewish Theological Seminary, she is excited about her career in music. Her band played all over the country, and her solo project was helped by securing a grant from the Six Points Fellowship, run by the Foundation of Jewish Culture, Avoda Arts and JDUB Records. Dardashti got $45,000 as part of the competitive fellowship
“Galeet was selected because not only is she a great singer, she also is well educated and can tell the story of her songs with an intellectual authority,” said Elise Bernhardt, President and CEO of the Foundation For Jewish Culture. “And she can handle a lot on her plate. When you look at what she’s been able to do in a short time, it’s pretty remarkable.” Next year, Dardashti will be touring on a recently announced project relating to Selichot services.
As for making a CD, having a show and doing high holiday services while being pregnant and showing, one person wasn’t a bit surprised.
“Nothing is too difficult for her,” says her father Farid, who is the chazzan of Beth-El Synagogue in New Rochelle. He recounted a story where he said his daughter was fearless and showed some charm.
“She was four or five, but could jump in the pool and swim like a tadpole,” he said. “My father-in-law was understandably nervous and kept telling her to be careful. So she took him by the hand to a sign that was posted and I don’t think she could have read what it said, but she said ‘see that sign? It says no grandpas allowed.’” He added that his wife and other two daughters sing and as the family members would perform, they were dubbed the Jewish Von Trapp Family.
His father Yona, Dardashti’s grandfather, was a huge sensation in Iran about 50 years ago and he was helped by an artist named Ghamar Molouk Vaziri, who asked why he was not on the radio.
“I’m Jewish,” he replied according to Farid Dardashti “What the heck does that matter?”
Dardashti said she feels there’s great power to the stories of women from the Bible.
“It’s not always a pretty picture for them,” she said. “The way the women in the Bible deal with the hand their dealt is inspiring.”
She cited Leah, who wasn’t loved as much as her sister Rachel by Jacob as well as Eve, who was punished for the apple by having to suffer the pain of childbirth.
As for her first child, Dardashti says she decided to go sans medication in order to have a completely natural birth.
“I have a high tolerance for pain,” she said. “But this was like a hell on earth. I won’t be doing that this time.”
And she has scheduled performance dates shortly after her due date for this child.
“It’s no gig deal,” she says with a confident grin. “I was playing at Joe’s Pub two weeks after I gave birth last time. You’re not a cripple afterwards.”
Dardashti, boasts soaring vocals on such songs as “Michal,” and “Vashti.” Her performances often include dancers and art that was designed to match a specific song.
“It’s something I’ve known I wanted to do since I was young,” she said. “I think it’s important to be provocative and am really excited about the opportunity to release my CD and bring it to the world. I’ve been singing since I was a little kid.”
Dardashti, who remembers that she was a bit geeky and it was hard being the daughter of clergy. And her father remembers how as a three-year-old she had her eye on the prize.
“I’ll never forget her coming to sing with us and she was upset,” he recalled. “She screamed. ‘where’s my mic?’ Now she definitely has one and I am sure a lot of people will be listening.” 09/17/10 >> go there
|
| Click Here to go back. |
|
 |
|
|
|
