Dalia Shusterman

Dalia Shusterman
Birth name Dalia Garih Shusterman
Born (1973-12-25) December 25, 1973
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Origin Crown Heights, New York
Genres Alternative rock
Occupation(s) Drummer, songwriter
Instruments Drums, vocals
Labels Priapus, Burnt Hair
Associated acts New Orleans Klezmer All-Stars, Blood 'N' Grits, Casa Samba, Cirque de Ville, Michigan Impossible, 7 Mile Ford, Timo Ellis, Hopewell, Bulletproof Stockings

Dalia Garih Shusterman (born 1973) is an American musician, best known as the drummer and vocalist for the alternative rock bands Hopewell and Bulletproof Stockings.

Biography

Early life

Dalia Shusterman was born December 25, 1973 in Montreal, Canada to a French Modern Orthodox Jewish family. She played piano as a child, but discovered her talent for drums at an Earth First New Year's Eve party when she was 16, after playing the hired band's hand drums while they were on break and getting a positive response from the people in attendance. Inspired by this, she started hitchhiking across the country and giving street performances. This was particularly successful in New Orleans, where the jazz music she was playing got her access to several local stages, Mardi Gras parades, and even onstage at the New Orleans Jazz Festival.[1]

Shusterman attended the State University of New York at Purchase, where she studied philosophy and literature. While still an undergraduate, a friend convinced her to play a full-on drum kit in the opening act for the band Boss Hog.[1]

Hopewell

Main article: Hopewell (band)

In 1993, Shusterman and bassist Jason "Whip" Merrit joined brothers Jason and Justin Russo of Mercury Rev to form the psychedelic rock band Hopewell. The group recorded a series of 7" singles before releasing their 1998 debut album Contact on Burnt Hair Records. The record was promoted by a small string of shows until the band went on hiatus, during which time the Russos toured with Mercury Rev and Merrit recorded a solo album, Song Song.[2]

The band regrouped in 1999 to record their second album, The Curved Glass, which was released in October 2000 by Priapus Records. The album received critical acclaim and was promoted by a performance at the English Reading and Leeds Festivals, as well as an extensive European tour.[2]

Return to Judaism and retirement

In September 2001, Shusterman, while in Manhattan, received a flyer for a Sukkot event in the Crown Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn and decided to attend. Her experience there motivated her to join Chabad, marry a young Hasidic rabbi she had met at the event, and quit Hopewell. She subsequently moved with her new husband to Los Angeles, where their four sons were born.[1]

Bulletproof Stockings

Main article: Bulletproof Stockings

After her husband's death in the spring of 2011, Shusterman and her children moved back to New York. There, a friend introduced her to Perl Wolfe, a very promising singer-songwriter and fellow Lubavitcher; the two subsequently formed an all-female Hasidic alternative rock group called Bulletproof Stockings in December of that year.[1][3] The group released their debut EP, Down to the Top, on April 1, 2012. Since then, they have toured throughout New York and Los Angeles[3] and announced plans to expand their lineup and release a full-length album.[1]

Discography

With Hopewell

With Bulletproof Stockings

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Ghert-Zand, Renee (October 2012). "Ladies (and not gentlemen): The Bulletproof Stockings!". Times of Israel. Retrieved April 9, 2013.
  2. 1 2 Nicholls, Dale. "Hopewell". Allmusic. Retrieved April 9, 2013.
  3. 1 2 Tabachnick, Toby (August 2012). "Indie band Bulletproof Stockings refreshingly original". The Jewish Chronicle. Retrieved March 31, 2013.
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