Let us introduce you to Michal…..
AskaNewYorker: How is your day going?
Michal: Long. Today I was basically teaching.
AskaNewYorker: What do you teach?
Michal: I teach vocals (singing) and Hebrew. I have private students and I also teach at an after school program at a Hebrew school.
AskaNewYorker: OK, let’s move on to a somewhat jucier topic, dating. How is it going in that world for you? It’s tough in New York.
Michal: Well, everybody knows that finding somebody is pretty hard and sometimes you meet people and you think they are a certain person and later you discover they’re not who you thought they were. Basically in New York you can never really know who is in front of you, it takes time. And, I’m not much in to dating. I don’t get this system of dating. I just don’t connect with it. Correct me if I’m wrong. I understand you date, you meet some guy for dinner, but you don’t make a commitment unless there is this specific talk about “I’m sleeping with only you now”. So, everybody is doing whatever they want, unless there is this specific talk that says we’re exclusive, or something like that. So, for me, I don’t see how you can really get to know someone if at the same time you are going out with a few people. Really, how much energy can you have to get to know someone if your attention is so divided amongst so many people.
AskaNewYorker: I think you just summed up the woes of so many women in New York. (Michal hands me a CD) Thank you, what’s this?
Michal: This is a CD of the Yemenite, music which is very, very old. The songs are very old. Ancient, actually. Songs which were sung by men and women, secular songs by women and sacred songs by men, but on the CD I’m singing the whole thing. The band and I bring this music in a contemporary setting with electronics and a live band. It is very powerful and enchanting.
AskaNewYorker: Why is the CD called “Henna”?
Michal: Well, everybody knows Henna as a hair color, but in the Yemenite tradition it is the wedding party and they usually put the henna on the hands during the wedding and then, I remember as a kid, they used to put henna on our hands and we would hold it for a half hour to get the color so we would be less crazy, more calm, because we were afraid it would wear off.
AskaNewYorker: Cool. Are you playing anywhere these days?
Michal: We have a show soon at Pianos on the lower east side. And, there’s a documentary in the works of Israelis who make music in New York.
AskaNewYorker: What kind of music do you like to listen to?
Michal: I listen to many kinds of music, from jazz to heavy metal.
AskaNewYorker: And for peace and quiet?
Michal: I love the beach for relaxation but here it’s a bit harder to get to a beach. A park is a good solution.
AskaNewYorker: On that note, what are you reading now?
Michal: I’m just finishing a book called “Men’s Seach for a Meaning”.
AskaNewYorker: Love it! Happy Holidays! (be sure to see www.michalcohen.com)
