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Veteran Israeli blues and roots musician Lazer Lloyd traces his unlikely journey from the US music industry to Israel back to a series of chance encounters, abrupt decisions, and a growing sense of Jewish connection.
In an interview on The Jerusalem Post Sessions podcast, Lloyd recalled that in the late 1980s, he was on the brink of a major breakthrough in New York. After graduating from Skidmore College, his band, The Last Mavericks, drew interest from Atlantic Records and began recording demos with industry backing. But creative pressure to conform to a narrow commercial sound left him uneasy.
That period coincided with a pivotal visit to Israel, originally intended as a short family trip. Within days, Lloyd said he felt compelled to make Aliyah, abandoning plans to relocate to North Carolina and pursue a recording deal. Shortly afterward, a chance meeting with a homeless man in New York led to a collaboration with the late Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach, whom Lloyd described as a major spiritual and artistic influence.
Building a music career in Israel
After immigrating, Lloyd built a career in Israel by leaning into high-energy blues and rock, a style that transcended language barriers. Performing in Tel Aviv clubs while living in religious communities, he navigated what he described as two worlds, secular and Orthodox, while seeking authenticity in both.
Over the past two decades, Lloyd has released multiple English-language albums and cultivated a significant following in the United States, particularly in the South. Following October 7, however, he shifted his focus inward, performing for soldiers and communities across Israel.
Lloyd said the war reinforced his decision to remain in the country permanently, even as opportunities abroad narrowed. He is currently completing a new English language album while continuing to perform locally, describing music as a bridge between communities at a time of deep social strain.
“I realized how much people here need connection and healing,” he said, adding that music remains his way of fostering unity in a fractured society.