Naomi Less Talks About Brooklyn’s Music Scene, Dream Collabs, And New Single ‘Eitz Chayim’

Naomi Less is back!

Bringing Jewish representation to the music industry, Naomi Less is quickly becoming an artist to know. And today, she released ‘Eitz Chayim’, alongside fellow musician Matthew Check.

We had the amazing honor of talking with Naomi about working with Matthew, the Grammys, and more!

When did you first realize that you wanted to pursue a career in music?

N: “While I’ve been singing and studying music since I was 5 years old, I didn’t take the plunge and pursue a career in music until I was over 30. I’ve always had gigs, a band, sung for ritual events, but my husband, a professional musician, looked at me one day and said: why aren’t you doing this professionally? It was the wake up call to my soul I needed to figure out a way to both pursue music and continue on my path of ritual and spiritual work.”

Tell us more about your amazing new single ‘Eitz Chayim’.

N: “This song is so filled with joy – it was written in a pastoral setting lined by gorgeous, ancient trees. The words describe the Tree of life, another way of saying that ancient scripture can help us walk paths of peace. The idea is that when communities gather to read from the ancient Torah scroll, ideally it’s a journey that inspires doing good in the world – and that’s worth celebrating. So we picked up on the celebratory vibe of being in community and found a hook that can bring people together.”

What was it like to co-write the song with songwriter Matthew Check?

N: “Like chocolate and peanut butter. Like ice cream and hot fudge.  They just go together. That was our process – we knew what we wanted to capture, and the musical ideas just flowed.  We harmonized naturally and laughed along the way.  Form and content – we were so filled with joy when writing it that the joy just erupted in the musicality.”

How important do you think jewish representation is in the music industry?

N: “Actually – there’s a problem with lack of representation in the Grammys – and has been for some time.  I have friends who are campaigning to have a category for Jewish music – we don’t fit in the Christian music category – and have a huuuuuge catalogue of music being created each year.  I’m hopeful that this campaign goes somewhere.”

If you could collab with a music artist on a song, who would it be and why?

N: “I would lose my mind to collab with Sia or India Arie. I think they are amazing writers with powerful messages and lyrics and brilliant hooks.”

How would you personally describe the music scene in Brooklyn?

N: “The music scene is so expansive – anything goes – and whether small or large venue, there’s something for everyone.  With that kind of music saturation, it’s hard to stand out.  I’m unique in that I’m pretty focused in music that is able to be used in worship settings – but when I play out in a club, folks respond fabulously to the music.”

Can we expect more music from you in the future?

N: “I have a bunch of projects in the works right now – pretty excited about it – it’s going to be extremely meaningful and may ruffle some feathers!”

Where can we follow your amazing journey?

N: “Best place is my instagram @naomiless1.”

Stream ‘Eitz Chayim’, available now on all music platforms! #Naomiless #Matthewcheck

Photo Credit: Jesi Kelly

Je’Kayla Crawford– Founder and Director– Je’Kayla has been a journalist for years and decided to start a publication of her own, New Scene. When not helping her team and working on the monthly issues, you can find her watching a movie on Netflix or baking using a viral Tasty recipe.