After Matisyahu lost his signature beard late in 2011, he found himself in a new place spiritually. The world's first Hasidic reggae star had rid himself of his most visibly recognizable trait, but the sense of freedom that accompanied it was liberating, fueling last summer's Spark Seeker. "No one recognizes me, so I can kind of be incognito . . . and just chill with people," he told Rolling Stone last August.
Photos: Rock Stars Bearded to Baby-Faced – Matisyahu
Though Spark Seeker was inspired by Matisyahu's reinvigoration and reinvention, the singer wanted to peel back and expose even deeper, more personal layers of himself, so he decided to explore songs from the album acoustically. "It allows me to express a deep level of intimacy that I feel connects with my fans," Matisyahu tells Rolling Stone of his new acoustic EP. " I love playing the songs stripped back . . . it gives the subtleties of the song and voice the ability to come to light."
Spark Seeker: Acoustic Sessions is out January 29th. Matisyahu is also on a short acoustic tour that wraps up February 19th in Annapolis, Maryland. For full tour dates, visit Matisyahu's website.
