Perhaps as a kind of invocation, Bala and Shivani chose to play the song Allah Elohim, a piece that now resonates more deeply than ever before. The song dares to speak both—Allah and Elohim—in the same breath, offering not just music, but a radical act of spiritual unity.
Shye Ben Tzur, a New York-born Israeli Jewish musician, found spiritual transformation in Ajmer, Rajasthan, where he immersed himself in Qawwali, fell in love with a Rajasthani Muslim woman, and began weaving a bold musical tapestry. Blending Hebrew poetry, Indian classical motifs, Rajasthani folk rhythms, and rock, he created a sound that defies borders.
Allah Elohim—produced with Jonny Greenwood of Radiohead—fuses two sacred names for God, Arabic Allah and Hebrew Elohim, into one breath. Shivani Joshi wonderfully captures the emotional essence of this piece, doing justice to the melody that is the heartbeat of the song.
Lyrics for this song are written in Hebrew, Urdu and Hindi. Part of the song translates as:
To the infidels, I’m religious,
to religious law ‒ an outlaw.
My Lord’s house is within me
and I have my temple in his heart.
To Jews I am a Jew,
to Muslims ‒ a Muslim,
In any tongue I speak
My language is one!
It’s inspiring to see people from diverse backgrounds— Hindus, Muslims, Jews, and Christians—coming together to create and play music. It evokes a sense of peace and hope, reminding us of the enduring possibility of unity and harmony.
Language: English, Hebrew, Urdu and Hindi
Lyrics: Various
Composed: Shye Ben Tzur
Arranged & Produced by: Balamurali Balu
Featuring Shivani Joshi on Vocals
Rohan Misra, Sarangi
Satya Vaidyanathan, Tabla
Sudeip Ghosh, Electric guitars
Mario Diaz, Acoustic guitars
Michael Dougherty, Bass guitar
Martín Zarzar, Drums
Audio: Aloha Sounds & Portland Center Stage
Audio Mixing & Mastering: Balamurali Balu & Rishi Varman
Cameras: Jesus Contreras, Lani Milton, Julio Romano & Karen Weliky
Light: Joel Ferraro, Portland Center Stage
Video Editing: Sam Gaty
Video Postproduction: Katy Gilmore
Technical Manager: Todd Baize
Rehearsal: St. Andrew Lutheran Church
Stage Manager: Carissa Rodriguez
Location Manager: Kelsey Tyler
Executive Producer: Sankar Raman
Recorded Live in The U.S. Bank Main Stage at the Portland Center Stage, Portland, OR, USA
Recorded on September 22nd, 2023