Your husband is your business manager. How does that work for you all?It’s the best thing, thank G-d. I wouldn’t want it any other way. For me family is No. 1 and I wouldn’t be able to do this for a living if it weren’t a lifestyle that we could all enjoy together as a family.Your songs have appeared widely on television and in the films Blacktino, directed by Aaron Burns, and Que Pena Tu Vida (“F*** my Life”) and Que Pena Tu Boda directed by Nicolás López. How does that process work?We grant licenses so that TV and film productions may use my music in their show, film etc. It is usually a one-time use of that song, for that particular show/episode, or film, etc. There are various agents who are dedicated to shopping and pitching music for film and TV, and some things have come through those relationships, but we have also been building a small record label for the past few years. And part of our job is to meet people in the industry who make these kinds of decisions (choosing music for films, commercials, TV and video games) and making sure that the music is available for them.How does Judaism impact you?It is everything to me. I have based my whole life, the way I do business, the way I raise my family, the things I want to communicate, what I want my life and work to do and mean in the world and why I believe that I am alive in Judaism, Jewish teachings, Jewish thoughts and Torah. I have always been very strongly connected to what it means to me to be Jewish and I have always been very proud of it. I am not loud and vocal about it in my everyday working life because to me part of living and being Jewish is being able to go out into the world and share, relate, collaborate, communicate, work, mingle, etc. with different people, respecting and accepting the differences that make each one of us unique, and creating a peaceful environment where everyone feels valued for who they are. However, it inevitably comes up from the very beginning in most of my relationships, first of all because my name is Yael, which is a Hebrew name, and second because I am pretty observant, so I usually end up having to explain why I will not perform on a Friday night, or why I can only perform after sunset on Saturday, or why I really can’t eat while everyone else is having a burger (I keep kosher).What advice would you offer emerging singer/songwriters?If you really want it and feel this is your path, be strategic... keep at it, work harder than anyone you know and don’t give up. Practice and experience make you better.What are your aspirations?To be happy and healthy and stay true to the voice in my heart.
Sharing a ‘Common Ground’
Singer-songwriter Yael Meyer sat down with ‘The Jerusalem Post’ to talk about Judaism, family and musical inspiration.
Your husband is your business manager. How does that work for you all?It’s the best thing, thank G-d. I wouldn’t want it any other way. For me family is No. 1 and I wouldn’t be able to do this for a living if it weren’t a lifestyle that we could all enjoy together as a family.Your songs have appeared widely on television and in the films Blacktino, directed by Aaron Burns, and Que Pena Tu Vida (“F*** my Life”) and Que Pena Tu Boda directed by Nicolás López. How does that process work?We grant licenses so that TV and film productions may use my music in their show, film etc. It is usually a one-time use of that song, for that particular show/episode, or film, etc. There are various agents who are dedicated to shopping and pitching music for film and TV, and some things have come through those relationships, but we have also been building a small record label for the past few years. And part of our job is to meet people in the industry who make these kinds of decisions (choosing music for films, commercials, TV and video games) and making sure that the music is available for them.How does Judaism impact you?It is everything to me. I have based my whole life, the way I do business, the way I raise my family, the things I want to communicate, what I want my life and work to do and mean in the world and why I believe that I am alive in Judaism, Jewish teachings, Jewish thoughts and Torah. I have always been very strongly connected to what it means to me to be Jewish and I have always been very proud of it. I am not loud and vocal about it in my everyday working life because to me part of living and being Jewish is being able to go out into the world and share, relate, collaborate, communicate, work, mingle, etc. with different people, respecting and accepting the differences that make each one of us unique, and creating a peaceful environment where everyone feels valued for who they are. However, it inevitably comes up from the very beginning in most of my relationships, first of all because my name is Yael, which is a Hebrew name, and second because I am pretty observant, so I usually end up having to explain why I will not perform on a Friday night, or why I can only perform after sunset on Saturday, or why I really can’t eat while everyone else is having a burger (I keep kosher).What advice would you offer emerging singer/songwriters?If you really want it and feel this is your path, be strategic... keep at it, work harder than anyone you know and don’t give up. Practice and experience make you better.What are your aspirations?To be happy and healthy and stay true to the voice in my heart.