Description

Lipa Schmeltzer is a bright star in the world of Jewish music; only his music sounds nothing like traditional Jewish music! He has become known as the ‘Jewish Lady Gaga’!

Growing up in an ultra-conservative Hasidic community, Lipa was always different. He was told at school he was dumb and would never amount to anything. When he started writing and performing his own songs, his father and rabbi told him to abandon it, and concentrate on studying the Bible. But Lipa couldn’t.

BBC’s Colm Flynn talks to Lipa about his memories of growing up in the Hasidic world, and how his music has remained an outlet for him to express his feelings.

For

BBC World Service