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about
Ayeka is a song based on the story of Cain and Abel, the first story of murder in our ancient texts, between the first brothers.
And Gd says to Cain after he has taken Abel’s life, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground.”
Hashem hears the ground shaking, hears the cries of every child, every world of a human who has been taken from us in the last 132 days.
Ayeka asks us to look at ourselves, at everything. At every Palestinian and Israeli death that is the result of occupation, apartheid, and colonization, because these systems keep no one safe. At how the world is expected to grind on, to look away from what’s happening in Gaza and the tens of thousands of people who no longer get to have their one wild and absolutely precious life. All for profit, for war, for oil, lining the pockets of Western powers who have never cared about using Jews and don’t mind making Palestinians disposable. Ayeka asks, where are we? And how do we find our humanity again?
Proceeds from this song will be donated to mutual aid for Gaza (i.e. GoFundMe sites for families evacuating) and the Palestinian Children's Relief Fund (PCRF). If you can, please give directly and generously to these organizations and pages:
(what have you done?
the voice of your brothers blood cries out to me from the ground)
ayeka,
ayeh achicha
ayeka
אַיֶּֽכָּה
אֵ֖י אָחִ֑יךָ
אַיֶּֽכָּה
(where are you? where is your brother? where are you?)
from the ground I
hear them calling
your brother’s blood
what can grow here
what have we done?
from the soil I
hear them crying
your sister’s blood
what can grow here
what have we done?
from the ground I
hear them calling
your sibling’s blood
what can grow here
what have we done?
from the soil I
hear them crying
our family’s blood
what can grow here
what have we done?
credits
released February 21, 2024
Music and English lyrics composed by Aly Halpert
Hebrew text from Tanakh
Music direction by Aly Halpert
Produced by Aly Halpert
Recorded at Tonal Park Studios on Piscataway land (Takoma Park, MD), January 3, 2024 / 22 Tevet 5784
Engineered, mixed & mastered by Don Godwin
Artwork by Jay Smith
Text chosen in consultation with Chana Rusanov
Singers and Musicians:
Aly Halpert - lead vocals, guitar, piano
Maia Kamil - vocals
Yoni Battat - vocals, viola
Jessie Reagan - cello
Sam Weisenberg - percussion
Ruach Neshama is an incredible album, and is definitely worth listening to. Just wonderful all around.
Thank you for putting out such great music. Kamani
More folk-inflected confessionals on love, loss, and anxiety — plus a Kacey Musgraves cameo —from the Nashville indie pop auteur. Bandcamp New & Notable Feb 11, 2024