Raz Mesinai

Influential composer, producer, and multi instrumentalist, Reuel "Raz" Mesinai (born 1973 in Jerusalem and raised in New York City) composes innovative avantgarde electro acoustic music under his own name and is also well known for his hybrid Middle Eastern and Dub productions under the alter ego Badawi. Mesinai's music is usually highly rhythmic with a particular keen sense of microtonal sound. Considered by some to be a "sound alchemist", Mesinai began playing frame drum and piano at the age of seven and was highly influenced by shamanic and trance ritual music as a child by his single transient mother who raised him in the Buddhist, Jewish, Sufi, and Christian traditions. At the age of twelve Mesinai left his mother to study religion in the ultra orthodox community of Mea Shearim and was influenced by the anarchist Hassidic sect the Neturei Karta. Later Mesinai abandoned religion and became fully devoted to music at the age of 15 upon returning to New York City. Mesinai later became influenced by the hip hop and dub scenes of the early eighties and was also a DJ in New York City from 1991 to 1999. Mesinai's ability to combine ancient rhythms with highly modern sound designs has made him a key figure in the electronica and the experimental music scenes in New York City. In the nineties Mesinai became a regular artist in the downtown improvised music scene along with such composers as John Zorn and Elliott Sharp. Mesinai currently writes ensemble works, operas, and solo pieces as well as creates remixes of his own recordings which he produces for night clubs. Mesinai also is known for his innovations in film scoring and sound design, and performs as a soloist on percussion, piano, and electronics.

Discography

Badawi

* Unit Of Resistance (ROIR, 2007)
* Safe (Asphodel, 2006)
* Clones and False Prophets (ROIR, 2003)
* Soldier of Midian (ROIR, 2001)
* The Heretic of Ether LP (Asphodel, 1999)
* Final Warning EP (Asphodel, 1999)
* Jerusalem Under Fire LP (ROIR, 1998)
*Bedouin Soundclash feat. Honeychild LP (ROIR, 1996)

Raz Mesinai

* Cyborg Acoustics (Tzadik, 2004)
* Resurrections for Goatskin (Tzadik, 2002)
* Before the Law (Tzadik, 2001)
* The Unspeakable (BSI Records, 2002)

ub Dub

* Original Masters 1993-95 LP (the Agriculture, 2001)
* Dancehall Malfunction LP (Asphodel, 1997)
* Sub Dub LP (Instinct, 1996)
* Dawazangpo EP (Totally Killing It Productions, 1995)
* Babylon Unite EP (Totally Killing It Productions, 1994)

LADYMAN

* Viagra Opus (the Agriculture, 2004)
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External links

* [http://www.razmesinai.com/ Homepage of Raz Mesinai]