Ben-Shalom views his music as an act of engaging with the oral tradition of his ancestors. These songs come through a lineage of storytelling that stretches back to the beginnings of shared human thought. Diving into this rich tradition has had a profound impact on Ben-Shalom:
“In ancestral knowledge, I find the hidden truth and the struggle to reveal it. The same struggle that exists within me existed within my ancestors. Lifetimes over generations since time immemorial have been dedicated to telling these stories, preserving this knowledge, and illuminating it so that it is new again in each generation.”
As a songwriter, vocalist, instrumentalist and producer, Ben-Shalom has had a rewarding career. He has released seven albums with various ensembles, been nominated for a JUNO Award, won a Western Canadian Music Award, and performed on stages across North America. His work has been featured by broadcasters across much of the English-speaking world. Along the way he’s collaborated with Canadian icons, having co-written and co-produced a song with Bif Naked and played banjo on a Tegan and Sara record.
Ben-Shalom’s first solo album, Known and Unknown, was released August 5, 2025. Known and Unknown is the most deeply conjured work of his career to date. A bold, avant-folk record drenched in Jewish tradition and ripe for this current moment in a world longing to feel connected.