Spirituality and self-discovery bleeds into each and every one of New York City-based alternative singer-songwriter Jeryko’s songs. Co-produced by Jeryko (née Yaniv Hoffman) himself with Grammy-nominated Taylor Larson (Asking Alexandria, From First To Last, I See Stars) and multi-instrumentalist Thavius Beck (Saul Williams, Mars Volta, Nas) Jeryko’s upcoming EP, Human is a powerful collection of songs written through a lens of faith and mission. Lyrically, the EP explores Hoffman’s sense of identity, his experience working on himself, his unexpected path to neo-Hassidism, his search for his other half and ultimately finding love. His personal and vulnerable music serves as the perfect introduction to Jeryko if you’re listening to him for the first time, and you’re bound to find something that resonates with you.
With a handful of singles out now and the Human EP arriving soon, we caught up with Jeryko to discuss his new music, his faith and more. Read the full interview now below.
Can you tell us a little bit about yourself for anyone who might not be familiar?
I’m just a guy making music, melding tunes and ideas from modern pop to ancient Chassidic.
What first inspired you to get involved with and begin writing your own music?
I’ve been writing and playing music since I was a kid, it’s always been a tool for me to interact with life and internalize my surroundings. When I served in the military my writing took on a new identity as I decided to release that music to the world and see how other people connect to it.
Your music and upcoming EP, Human is deeply connected with your faith and the Jewish community you’re surrounded by. How do you feel that these two different aspects of your life are intertwined?
I write what’s on my heart and I try not to hold back. My faith is what pushes me to be an open book, to be real, to be vulnerable, to be honest and to embrace life with all it’s ups and downs – and that’s where my music comes from. The music is a reflection of where I’m at and what sources of life I’m connected to, the spirituality is the fountain in the middle of it all.
What goals did you have in mind when you first started working on the EP?
Approaching an EP for me is like telling a short story, and for this one it was the journey to finding my other half. I just got engaged to an amazing woman who lost her husband and is the mother of three children and the songs on this EP are ones of coming into myself as a new man, finding love, facing big decisions, gathering strength and hope through suffering and building life. So for me it’s a pretty personal piece of work but I try to make it so everyone can hear something in the music that they connect to, because everyone is really just trying to find love and overcome darkness in some way in their life.
How do you feel you’ve grown as an artist or even just as a person while working on the EP?
It’s always a growing experience when you have to go deep inside of you to pull out something real. The trip inside and the work of bringing it out into a cohesive work of art causes you to learn a lot about yourself.
If someone is hearing you for the first time when listening to Human what would you want them to take away from your music?
Strength. I think one of the reasons we love music so much is because we hear things that connect to us and make us feel like we’re not alone in this world, and that gives strength.
With Human coming out soon, do you have any other big plans coming up? Any shows or tour dates?
Played the big NYC show and now I’m off to South Africa, Florida, LA, my wedding in Israel, and then a college tour. Hope to catch you along the way somewhere. If it’s my wedding please let me know beforehand.
Do you have any goals for the new year?
Go big. Hopefully the music catches on and we’ll see each other at a stadium show or a big festival one day.
Thank you for taking the time to talk with us! Is there anything else you’d like to add?
Thanks for doing what you do and bringing good music to people’s attention.
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