Empowering Jewish women through song

“WITHIN each of us there’s an unspoken voice,” says Rivka Leah Cylich.

The 24-year-old is the curator of Silent Prayer, a new album she hopes will empower women in the Jewish community.

“Any artist wants to take their talent forward and it’s a huge investment. Many of the people in my project are mothers with children and that’s their focus – but they have this beautiful talent,” she explains.

The project was born in the middle of the night seven years ago, when Cylich, a pianist, was suddenly inspired.

It was the makings of the single, the album’s title track, and ultimately the album itself.

Around four years later, Cylich had written and released the song, which she performed along with Debra Jacobs at a launch in Sydney.

“The positive response encouraged us to continue,” she explains.

Cylich worked tirelessly over the next three years to write and compose the 10-track album, which is set for release later this month.

All the songs on the album are performed by different artists, who took ownership over their tracks by infusing them with personal style and flair.

When asked why she didn’t just sing all the songs herself, Cylich explains: “Being in the spotlight was never my goal, I really just wanted the music to get out and touch people.

“I felt an urgency as a writer to get my music out, but appreciated that the women needed to share their voices just as much . The best part was being in the recording studio with them and seeing them come into their own in an incredible way,” she says.

Produced by Robyn Payne, the album will be launched later this month at a women’s only performance at St Martin’s Youth Theatre.

Proceeds will go to The Friendship Circle, a non-profit organisation catering for children with special needs, which inspired one of the songs on the album.

Silent Prayer will be launched on March 21 at a women’s only performance at St Martins Youth Theatre at 8pm.

Enquiries: www.rivkahleahmusic.com.

LIVIA ALBECK-RIPKA

comments