Redemption Song

NEW SOUNDS The draw of Meilech Kohn’s music is undeniable exerting a pull even on those ears that don’t quite know what to make of it on first listen. His voice is supple covering great range and negotiating rapid changes with ease but it also has a rough-hewn quality that suggests a certain grit. His songs resist easy classification; no two sound the same none of them really fits a ready-made category. The first two singles “V’nahafoch Hu” and “Ein Trop Vasser ” brought him attention but the third “V’uhavtu ” brought him prominence. (Photos: Shulim Goldring Lior Mizrachi)

I t’s hard to believe it’s been only 28 months and two weeks since a cheery “ ‘ello!” announced the arrival of Meilech Kohn on the Jewish music scene at the beginning of his first single “V’nahafoch Hu.”

In that span of time Kohn — who despite the East London inflection of that initial salutation was born and raised in Williamsburg Brooklyn — has followed up that offering with three more singles: “Ein Trop Vasser ” “V’uhavtu ” and “Yoimum ” all of which have entered heavy rotation on the radio waves and simchah playlists. Meanwhile work is nearing completion on his first CD scheduled for release on Motzaei Shabbos Nachamu under the working title Yeder Einer/Kulanu/Everyone.

And even though Israeli radio host Menachem Toker recently touted him on the air as “the man who has conquered every stage every chasunah every radio station in the world ” Kohn himself professes bewilderment at the adulation.