Brooklyn Music Studio Launches Jewish Songwriting Contest with Prizes of Professional Recordings

By Yehudit Garmaise

Have you ever thought you could possibly write a Jewish hit song?

A Jewish Songwriting Competition, in which winners will professionally record their tracks at Music Studio NYC, in Crown Heights, now gives everyone the opportunity to submit their original compositions with the possibility of getting them professionally produced.

The contest includes separate competitions for men and women, who can submit either fast or slow songs. One winner from each category will be chosen to win free professional productions of their songs at the studio. In addition, several runners-up will receive significant discounts towards professionally recording their compositions.

On their submissions, all contestants can indicate whether they want their songs shared with Jewish singers who might be interested in buying any of the contest’s entries.

 Moishy Goldstein, the studio’s owner, thought of the idea for a songwriting contest after he noticed, thinking like a musician, that a daily entry of the Lubavitcher Rebbe’s HaYom Yom, did not just have a beautiful Chassidic idea, but that the words of the Maggid of Mezritch had a “catchy” ring to it as well.

So Goldstein, who plays the piano and sings, posted a challenge on his WhatsApp status for followers to create a tune that would use for lyrics the Maggid’s teaching how a Jew’s small effort can evoke a much greater response from Above.

After several followers submitted melodies, Goldstein immediately took the best compositions and recorded a new song.

Wanting to give others the chance to record songs in his studio, in which singers such as Benny Friedman, Eli Marcus, and Mendy J. have been commissioned to record, Goldstein sparked the idea to create a Jewish songwriting contest.

Contestants are asked to submit their composition, consisting of an original tune and original lyrics or lyrics from the Torah, by Motzei Shabbos on June 25 on WhatsApp to (347) 988-0780.

Participants in the Jewish songwriting contest can receive updates on the contest at https://wa.me/message/JDRPZT4WPZJOG1.

For people who feel they might have ideas for great songs, Goldstein’s advice was to remember, “If you want the song to enter the heart of the listener, it should come from your heart.”

For tips on how to best create a tune, Goldstein said the best tunes often just come to those who are receptive to them when they are not trying to force it.

“Tunes that are too strongly thought about or calculated often are not as good as ones that come in flashes of inspiration,” Goldstein said.

“Many creators of songs shared with me that they just woke up in the morning and the tunes were in their heads, or similar unplanned scenarios, and then they record the songs on their phones so they don’t forget them,” explained Goldstein, who is currently receiving training as a certified vocal coach to better help his clients “achieve their best performances.”