Jewish Music in Berlin

From Yiddish Pop to Unkosher Parties

More than just klezmer: in Berlin's vibrant music scene, young artists combine Jewish traditions with modern styles.

Anyone who associates Jewish music exclusively with klezmer will be in for a surprise in Berlin. Increasingly, young artists are combining Jewish musical traditions with elements of modern styles. The range covers the entire gambit of genres. While events across the city have looked back on the capital's cultural diversity in the 1920s as part of Berlin’s current theme of the year, "Diversity Destroyed", a vibrant and forward-looking development can also be seen on the stages of today.

This is because Jewish Berlin is much more than just a past phenomenon to be remembered and commemorated; it is an active part of the present-day identity of the city. It's exciting to discover the diverse ways Berlin artists are mixing their own styles with Jewish traditions and experiences to create something entirely new. We've put together a small selection for you here below.
Yiddish Evergreens in a New Guise

Classics such as "Bei mir bist du sheyn" are anything but old-fashioned or pure nostalgia for singer Sharon Brauner. Brauner, who grew up in West Berlin, combines the songs of her childhood with elements from jazz and pop, Balkan polka, Arabic music, and even South American rhythms on her album Jewels.

Yiddish Way of Life in the 21st Century

On her album Jewdyssee, German-Israeli artist Maya Saban celebrates the "Yiddish way of life in the 21st century" by taking us on a musical odyssey through tradition, present and future, in a mixture of electro beats, trumpets and clarinets. The musician has been recently working for Lena Meyer-Landrut’s team on the German TV show The Voice Kids, but also appears regularly on Berlin concert stages.

Jewish Avant-Garde with Tradition

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