OUT OF THE REEDS from page 65

"My second album (Out of the
the TV documentary Sacred Music,
Reeds) and fourth album (being
broadcast on ABC.
planned) are both Jewish, while my
"There's a commentary in Jewish
first (Daddy's Pockets) and third
text that explains the daughter was
(almost finished) are both singer-
given a special name by God, Basya,
songwriter pop recordings. I use dif- which means daughter of God. How
ferent albums to express different
perfect to have a name for a band
sides of me."
which is actually my name and com-
Schechter grew up with Chasidic
bines Middle Eastern influences."
and Israeli music in keeping with
As the popularity of her band
her strictly religious environment. It
grows, Schechter spends less time
wasn't until she became a teen that
doing other jobs to supplement her
she began listening to pop stylists.
income. Currently, the only other
"While I was at Barnard College
work she does involves playing per-
studying English literature, I started
cussion in an unaffiliated synagogue
playing guitar because everyone else
on Friday evenings and teaching
was doing that," says Schechter,.
Hebrew. Her other jobs have includ-
whose father worked at becoming a
ed writing for a Jewish newspaper
singer-songwriter
and working
before choosing a
on a film fes-
more practical career
tival.
in accounting.
Schechter,
"I took my brother's
who is sin-
chord book and taught
gle, has been-
myself how to play. As
to Israel
soon as I put my fin-
some six
ger on the guitar, I
times.
was composing, and it
Besides visit-
became very clear that
ing family,
I was a songwriter.
she has
Toward the end of col-
attended
lege, I was finding
yeshivah
people to perform
there,
Basya Schechter
with me.
although she
Schechter's style
had to leave
developed from het travels. "I did a
because of her difficulties in com-
lot of hitchhiking and meeting peo-
plying with the personal behavior
ple who were local musicians. I
code. That circumstance led to exot-
spent a lot of time absorbing their
ic travels, where she supported her-
folk music and learning their songs
self by cleaning buildings in
and instruments," she says. "I heard
exchange for food and accepting
the music in the streets and market-
gifts from friends.
places, and it really got inside me."
"Part of me feels very defined in
As Schechter learned about new
the indoctrination and socialization
cultures and their music, she slipped of growing up Orthodox," the per-
away from Orthodoxy and was
former says. "It put me in a mindset
drawn into the Jewish Renewal
of religion and ethics. At the same
movement. While her sounds lean
time, part of me always was very
toward the international, her lyrics
aloof from all that.
revert back to memorable passages
"I had a streak of trying to beat
from Jewish texts. "If I'm not for
the system, and part of that is still
myself, who will be?" is among
with me. There's a certain level of
many familiar ideas communicated
intuitiveness and instinct toward liv-
in new songs.
ing that I feel draws me more
The story of Pharaoh's daughter
strongly than Orthodoxy. I want to
saving Moses has appeared in many
constantly surprise myself with cre-
different ways in Schechter's work-
ativity." ❑
ing life
as a yeshivah teacher
reciting the story in Yiddish and
Hebrew, as a cantor performing in
synagogue and as an entertainer
Pharaoh's Daughter will perform
using Middle Eastern improvisa-
in a free concert 7 p.m. Sunday,
tions.
April 28, at Congregation Beth
"I'm actually named after
Shalom, 14601 W. Lincoln Road,
Pharaoh's daughter and gave that
Oak Park. (248) 547-7970.
name to my band," says Schechter,
whose group recently appeared on

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1

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onm
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