Darshan mixes hip hop with Hebrew

Hebrew chant mixed with hip hop and folk rock — it's just not a musical combination one often finds, and seems particularly difficult to pull of. Brooklyn-based duo Darshan, however, live up to the musical challenge and will release their debut EP Lishmah (Modular Moods/Shemspeed) on Dec. 15.

Darshan consists of Shir Yaakov and Eprhyme, performing performing melodic liturgical chants and Jewish-laced hip hop, respectively.

The album title term Lishmah refers to the proper state of mind for Torah study. In a blog entry earlier this year, the men behind Darshan explained the origin of their band name: "The Darshan is another ancient archetype.  Active in the realms of exploration and creativity, the Darshan represents the seeker.  Literally translated as "the midrash maker"- one who delves into the Torah and tradition to seek out hidden or novel insights.   The Darshan, like Rabbi Akiva of the Talmud, can take the crowns of the Torah letters, or the blank spaces behind the letters on the biblical page, and use them to find and express truth and beauty.

A Darshan communicates through words, art, music and other forms of creative expression; interpreting the flow of sacred text and tradition in ways that animate, elevate and illustrate the timeless spirit in our times."

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