It's been four years since I interviewed Daniel Cainer, multi award-winning songwriter, performer and broadcaster. At that time Daniel was performing his show Jewish Chronicles at the Soho Playhouse in NYC.

Now, Daniel, who lives in London, is getting ready to return to NYC for one-night-only with his new concert Daniel Cainer presents God Knows Where: A concert for the Jewish New Year.

In this NEW interview, Daniel once again answered my call, but this time he shares:

• How he came up with God Knows Where: A concert for the Jewish New Year
• Why he wanted to collaborate with Grammy Award winning songwriter Julie Gold for this show
• His experiences with anti-semitism
• What he feels God knows that we don't
• So much more

Connect with Daniel: Website, Instagram

Join multi-award-winning musical storyteller Daniel Cainer and special guest Grammy Award winner Julie Gold for, Daniel Cainer presents God Knows Where: A concert for the Jewish New Year, a special Jewish New Year concert to warm you heart and touch your soul. Daniel has much to say about how it feels to be Jewish given the current state of the world and if there was ever a time to heed the message in Julie’s world famous song ’From a Distance’, it is now.

Daniel Cainer presents God Knows Where: A concert for the Jewish New Year will play at The Triad in NYC for one-night-only, September 24, 2024 at 7pm!

1. On September 24 you are bringing Daniel Cainer presents God Knows Where: A concert for the Jewish New Year to the Triad Theater in NYC, which will feature Grammy Award winning songwriter Julie Gold. Let's start at the beginning. How did you first come up with the idea for this concert? I’d love to tell you that it was all a part of a clever calculated plan but like most things it just so happened. And in this case it just so happened that I will be visiting the US from London where I live for a few other gigs (Rochester, Long Island etc) and the Jewish New Year just happened to be happening also. So I thought ‘let’s make it a happening’ because let’s face it, there’s been an awful lot happening and it's been quite a difficult year to say the least. So this is a chance to come together and sing and feel and contemplate and laugh and cry at the mystery of it all.

2. What should audiences know before attending? As the LA Times so elegantly put it: "You don’t have to be Jewish or British to get a kick out of Cainer’s schtick, but you do have to like beautiful music, virtuoso piano-playing and brilliant lyrics."

3. What made you want to collaborate with Julie Gold for this concert? I’ve known Julie for years and we’ve done the occasional thing together. So I thought who better to have as a special guest and stop it being all about me.

4. Julie's Grammy Award winning song, "From A Distance," famously sung by the legendary Bette Midler, is all about how beautiful the world is from far away, but as you look more closely, you can see all the hurt and suffering that is really going on. How do you think Julie's song applies more today than when it was first released? Does it apply more today? Or does it apply just as much as it always has (and probably always will). It certainly sounds different when Julie sings it today. None of those big synthesizers and echoey drums of the eighties for a start!

Daniel Cainer

5. With an increased hate towards Jews, and in presenting a Jewish-specific concert, have you ever experienced any kind of anti-semitism yourself either before, during, or after a performance? I’ve had some trouble. I’m specifically thinking of one year in Edinburgh when my posters were defaced but (perhaps I’ve been lucky) I’ve not encountered it knowingly at or during a show. It might be that people who were previously better disposed to the word ‘Jewish’ in the titling may not be feeling so warm and fuzzy about it currently. But I can’t give you any evidence to support that. It’s just a feeling. I should also say that I’ve had trouble in the past from some Jewish people who think my political position is too liberal. And of course I’ve experienced basic old fashioned anti-semitism overtly as a kid and as micro-aggressions all my life. I have material about all this of course.

6. Without giving too much away from your concert, how do you personally feel about being Jewish at this time? Conflicted. You can’t get more Jewish than being conflicted about being Jewish. Thus has it always been.

7. Since the concert is called God Knows Where, what do you think God knows that we don’t? I think God knows whether there actually is a God. And if there is a God then God knows everything we don’t (as well as everything we do). I’ve called this concert God Knows Where because it is the title of the opening song. ‘We are all on a journey to God knows where’. In other words; we don’t know where we are going or why we are going there. Nor do we really know what we are doing or why we are doing it. I should say at this point that there is some funny stuff in this concert too.

8. What is something we didn't get to talk about in this interview that you would like my audience to know about you? If anyone is still reading this I should like them to know that this will be an evening full of love and hope and fun and joy as well as being contemplative at times. It is about the human condition. We’re all on a journey to God knows where… as long as it is via the Triad on 24th of September!

Daniel Cainer

More on Daniel Cainer:

Daniel Cainer is a multi award-winning songwriter, performer and broadcaster based in London, but frequently touring in the US and other countries. He is a veteran of six off-Broadway runs and eighteen at the Edinburgh Fringe with his Jewish themed musical storytelling shows. He has written songs for folk singers, actors, rabbis and cantors and he performed custom written topical songs for many years on the BBC.

As a composer and musician he’s worked in studios across the world from Abbey Road to the Record Plant. He’s written for film and television and his music has accompanied the launch of at least one car and many washing machines.

Lately he has specialized in longer form storytelling songs with a unique blend of humor and pathos. His songs are a witty and insightful exploration of life, love, family and everything in between.

He was nominated for a MAC Award in 2023 and 2024.