Shana Cohen, Ariela Freedman, and Amy Robertson make up The Mamalehs, a group of Jewish women who have been singing together for a decade. They sing for fun, for comfort, and for connection, and on Saturday, Aug. 24, they’ll be singing for a sold-out crowd at Eddie’s Attic in Decatur.
The Mamaleh’s vibe is ethereal folk meets spiritual reflection rooted in Hebrew, Hungarian, Yiddish melodies – and the occasional drinking song. The trio met about 12 years ago through a children’s music class at Congregation Bet Haverim in Decatur.
“We started off singing with a few other women in our synagogue community, and we met whenever we could drop the kids off and find a common place to meet,” Cohen said. “We would sing for the love of singing and the joy of being able to connect with other adults of like-minded interests.”
Although the band members are dedicated to the craft, none have formal music training. Growing up in the theater and playing piano, Freedman didn’t start voice lessons until adulthood. All three Mamalehs have trained under Gayanne Geurin and Jonathan Pilkington. Robertson grew up playing classical piano and cello, which tapered off during her college, graduate school, and parenting years. Cohen participated in musical theater at the MJCCA in high school, sang in an all-female college a cappella group, and has been a member of the CBH chorus for a decade.
Over time, the group condensed to the three current members. What had started as singing together with “no destination in mind” led to performing at Jewish holiday services, a coffee house, and festivals.
The Mamalehs went on to produce their first song in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, recording individual parts in their own homes and then mixing their voices.
The band members reflected on what they’ve accomplished since – an interfaith festival performance in the freezing cold weather, singing while wearing masks for a 30-minute set for a music festival, and overselling a coffee shop concert.
A Mother’s Day concert left Robertson, who had resisted taking the show on the road, on cloud nine.
“We all had fun, but I was so delighted by how happy Amy was,” said Freedman, who is working on her own album. “We’ve spent a while trying to figure out what is each of our energetic draws around a concert versus a Shabbat service versus an informal singing in the park.”
When The Mamalehs take the stage at Eddie’s Attic, they’re “leveling up” professionally. The band doesn’t have to worry about sound, ticket sales, or food and drinks. Freedman said the band is being “low key,” but added that Cohen “still doesn’t want to know that we’re sold out. It’s a very different experience from being in an institution that we already know. This is new.”
Cohen is the only band member who grew up in metro Atlanta. She recalled seeing Dar Williams at Eddie’s Attic in the 1990s.
“I already was in love with her, because she played the soundtrack to my college years,” Cohen said. “I remember just seeing her there, sitting on a stool, all of us filling in the space around her. I remember being struck by the power of being that close to a to a singer who was already a celebrity.”
Williams brought the audience together in a way The Mamalehs want to replicate.
“It’s a gift as a performer to be able to go places with the people listening to you. You’re all on a journey together. That’s the theme of our upcoming concert – we’re all on a journey together, both in the performance setting as well as in our life experiences,” said Cohen.
What’s after the Eddie’s Attic show? “We are kind of open to what unfolds, and what we might what we might find ourselves getting into,” Cohen said.
Robertson doesn’t want to get too strategic, although people ask her all the time where the band will be in five years.
“Right now, every dime we make from a concert we’ve already spent on all the work leading up to the concert. This is a hobby. This is a passion project, and I needed to stay playful and alive,” she said.
Joining The Mamalehs at Eddie’s Attic are Robertson’s husband, Will, who is the band’s arranger, accompanist, and studio producer; Henry Farber on percussion; Sarah Zaslaw on violin; and Beth Schafer joins for a song. The trio is coached by Rebecca Downs.
