Rafi Suss, a 17-year-old rising senior at TABC, created the song “My Soul” at his house with the help of his brother Eytan, and Eytan’s friend Shaya Fink, both 19. The song was released on June 26 and Rafi and Fink are now working on releasing a second song, “Tov L’Hodot.”
Rafi developed an interest in music in late middle school and his parents created a music studio for him in their basement. A self-taught producer and composer, Rafi also plays ukulele, guitar and piano. He was able to create the entirety of “My Soul” in his own house, composing and producing the song using his own equipment as well as singing on the track. Eytan chose the pasuk and a lot of the lyrics for the song and Fink helped brainstorm lyrics and also sang on the track.
The inspiration for “My Soul” came from Eytan’s and Fink’s experience as HASC co-counselors; the pair wanted to make a song about how “the HASC campers have special neshamas.” Fink, who performed in the Yeshiva Boys Choir between the ages 10-14, already had extensive experience in performing and recording music and had started to release his own music at the beginning of his gap year at Aish Gesher a year earlier. Eytan, who didn’t have any prior music experience, came up with most of the words for the song. The two brought the idea to Rafi, who worked with them to actualize it. Fink explained that the song is “thanking Hashem for the soul you put inside of me,” saying, “you should be thankful for every soul you have, [because] they’re all special.”
Rafi and Fink also created a second song together, “Tov L’Hodot,” which was produced by Jacob Spadaro, director of the TABC Music Conservatory and Rafi’s music teacher. Rafi wrote part of the melody as a freshman and returned to it as a junior to finish composing the song with Spadaro, who then encouraged Rafi to find words for the piece. “I remembered that my dad walked down the aisle to the song Tov L’Hodot and it’s his favorite Jewish song,” Rafi explained, “so I figured I’d make a new version with those words.”
Rafi enlisted Fink’s help to sing on the track, which they hope to release soon. “It’s the best song I’ve ever had,” Fink gushed. “I want to say it’s a masterpiece in a way. When you listen to it, it’s not like you’re listening to a song; it’s like you’re listening to an experience.” Fink explained that Eytan, who was present during the making of “Tov L’Hodot,” is his “biggest supporter,” saying, “Every time I release a song, he’s pushing it out, sending it to as many people as possible…He’s always there for support.” Fink insisted that most of the credit for “My Soul” lay with Eytan and “Tov L’Hodot” with Rafi.
Fink, who released the song “Ani Maamin” with Eli Dachs two months ago, explained that he “would love to become a full-time singer and just inspire the world.” He’s had 30,000 plays on his songs during the past month and had this to say about his desire to become a professional musician: “If it happens, it happens. If it doesn’t, I’m always going to be doing music for my whole life.”
You can find My Soul on Spotify at https://tinyurl.com/bdhv2zvk, YouTube at https://youtu.be/B6iw3_WCFR0, and Apple Music at https://tinyurl.com/3epb8crv.
