OFF THERECORDwith Yosef Kugler
The songs that stay with us.
The music stops and the stories begin. A conversation about Jewish music, creative courage and finding your own sound.
From Greater Washington
to Jewish playlists everywhere
A voice with
something to say.
Originally published in the March / Purim 2025 issue of Washington Jewish Journal, pages 40–41. The interview, streaming figures and album plans reflect that time.
There is a moment when a song becomes part of someone else’s life. It finds its way into a wedding, a drive home, a quiet prayer. For Yosef Kugler, that connection is the reason to keep creating.
Born and raised in Greater Washington and based in New York, the Jewish singer, composer and wedding performer has built his sound around emotion, layered harmonies and the language of faith. Songs including Nolda, Tamid Itcha and Gomel Alai have brought his voice to listeners well beyond the community where he began.
At the time of this interview, WJJ reported more than 40 singles, 19,461 returning monthly listeners, a reach of 158,825 playlist followers and over seven million streams across platforms. Behind those figures is a musician thinking carefully about what a song can give its audience.
Avraham Moshe Sommers sits down with Yosef to explore the stories behind the songs, the collaborations that challenge him, and the creative passion that keeps him writing.
Hear the music
Gomel Alai
Yosef’s uplifting original composition, with lyrics by Eitan Finkelshtein and arrangement, mixing and mastering by Moshe Siegel.
When did you know music was your path?
I’ve loved singing and Jewish music for as long as I can remember. As a kid, I was obsessed with Miami Boys Choir and Yeshiva Boys Choir, always dreaming of being on stage. My journey officially began with the Torah School Boys Choir, first led by Eitan Katz, and years later, I had the incredible opportunity to perform with him and the Torah School Choir last summer—in my uncle’s backyard.
For a long time, I never saw myself as a songwriter, but Baruch Hashem, one day everything clicked, and I haven’t stopped writing since. Music isn’t just about the notes—it’s about creating something people can truly connect with. My goal is to bring my unique sound to life in a way that resonates with others.
When did things start to take off?
My song Nolda in 2018 was a turning point. I never expected it to take off the way it did, but it started gaining traction, especially in seminaries—they were playing it nonstop. It was even sung in a few competitions, which was pretty surreal. The feedback has been constant, and to this day, I still hear from people about how much they love it.
Right now, Nolda is about to hit 900,000 streams on Spotify, Gomel Alai is at 400,000, Ein Omer is climbing toward 500,000, and Keil Hakavod is approaching 200,000. Seeing these songs take on a life of their own is a reminder of the power of music.
When I released my first single in 12th grade, it was almost unheard of for someone my age. Today, young singers drop singles all the time, but back then, people were shocked. I’d get reactions like, What are you doing? But that early start helped pave the way for others.
Are you working on any new music?
Alright, here it is—I wasn’t planning to say this yet, but… my first full album is officially happening! This album has been a dream of mine for a long time, and I feel incredibly grateful that it’s finally coming together. A few songs I’m especially excited about are Keil Avos (or Magen Avos, still deciding on the name), Ahavas Yisroel, and Ein Kamocha. Each one carries its own message and emotion, but they all stay true to my sound.
I’ve been working with some incredible mentors and artists, and while there’s no official release date yet, it’s coming in the next few months. I truly hope this music inspires people the way it has inspired me while creating it.
Who’s a collaborator that really stands out to you?
I’ve worked with many incredible artists, but Ari Goldwag stands out. We’ve collaborated multiple times, and each experience pushes me to grow. This past summer, we released an a cappella version of Gomel Alai, which hit 67,000 streams on Spotify in just a month.
His talent, creativity, and professionalism take every project to the next level. Working with him has been inspiring, and I’m grateful for the music we’ve created together.
What makes your music instantly recognizable?
It’s all in the energy, emotion, and the way I build my sound. My music has a signature feel—whether it’s the harmonies I layer, the way the melody flows, or the niggunim I incorporate. I like to take traditional elements and give them a fresh, modern edge while keeping the soul intact.
People tell me they can feel my music—it’s not just a song, it’s something real, something that resonates. I put a piece of myself into every track. But at the end of the day, it’s all a gift from Hashem. I feel incredibly blessed to be able to create music that speaks to people, and I’m grateful for every opportunity to share it.
How has streaming changed the Jewish music industry?
The industry has completely changed. Ten years ago, if you wanted to make a name for yourself, you had to release a full album, which could easily cost $10,000 or more. Even then, there was no guarantee of success. Now, anyone can put out a song, reach an audience, and gain traction without a huge budget.
There aren’t really record labels anymore—at least, not in the same way. If you have talent and a supportive community, you never know how far your music can go. That’s exactly what happened to me. I didn’t have to spend a fortune, and my songs still reached tens of thousands of listeners. Spotify has been a game-changer—it puts everyone on the same playing field.
The artist behind the music
About Yosef Kugler
Yosef Kugler is a New York–based Jewish singer, composer and wedding performer whose musical roots reach back to Greater Washington and the Torah School Boys Choir. His work brings together contemporary production, expressive vocals and themes of faith, gratitude and connection.
His debut single, Shira Chadasha, arrived in 2017, followed by Nolda in 2018, the song he identifies as a turning point. His catalog includes Ein Omer, Tamid Itcha, Gal Einai and Gomel Alai. Alongside his solo recordings, he has collaborated with Ari Goldwag on a cappella music, including the 2024 recording of Gomel Alai on A Cappella Soul 11.
From recorded singles to live simchas, Kugler’s approach centers on music that listeners can connect with personally. His official artist pages bring together his recordings, performances and streaming links.
Publication notes & music credits
The six interview answers are reproduced from WJJ’s March / Purim 2025 feature, with paragraph breaks added for online reading. Streaming totals and references to upcoming releases belong to that original interview. The introduction and artist biography were prepared for this web edition.
- Yosef Kugler’s official artist links
- Shira Chadasha debut release and credits, August 2017
- Nolda release and credits, October 2018
- Gomel Alai official audio and credits, February 2022
- Gomel Alai with Ari Goldwag, A Cappella Soul 11
Portraits and feature photography are drawn from the original WJJ materials and Yosef’s official artist profiles.
About the contributors
Avraham Moshe Sommers
Avraham Moshe Sommers is a contributor to Washington Jewish Journal. He interviewed Jewish singer and composer Yosef Kugler for “Off the Record,” the magazine’s March 2025 Notes of Inspiration feature, exploring Kugler’s musical beginnings, songwriting, collaborations and the changing Jewish music industry.
More by and about Avraham Moshe SommersYosef Kugler
Yosef Kugler is a New York–based Jewish singer, composer and wedding performer who grew up in Greater Washington. His recordings include Shira Chadasha, Nolda, Ein Omer, Tamid Itcha, Gal Einai and Gomel Alai. His work combines expressive vocals, contemporary production and themes of faith and gratitude. He has also collaborated with Ari Goldwag on a cappella recordings. In WJJ’s March 2025 interview, he reflects on his choir beginnings, the songs that helped him reach new listeners, and his approach to creating meaningful Jewish music.
More by and about Yosef Kugler
