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GRAMMY-nominated singer, songwriter, and genre-blending musician Matisyahu and Israeli singer-songwriter and Eurovision runner-up Yuval Raphael have released their new single “Carry On.” The pop-R&B track – written by Rachel Sapoznik with music and production by GRAMMY-winning producer, songwriter and recording artist Rico Love and co-produced by Samson Rawls – is a unifying message of hope and overcoming adversity. It’s a song of power and strength and pride. “Carry On” is an anthem for healing – for all people, everywhere, who are hurting, who are afraid, who feel forgotten or defeated. CLICK HERE to listen.
“When I was recording ‘Carry On,’ I was having a really hard time getting through the song because I was getting really emotional in the first verse,” shares Matisyahu. “In the first lines of the song, I was thinking a lot about Rachel Goldberg-Polin and all of the mothers who’ve lost a child. It was just a powerful moment for me in the studio. I’m so happy to be a part of this song. Thank you, Rachel, for writing such beautiful lyrics. I hope Yuval and I get to perform it live. This is very special.”
“‘Carry On’ is about the choice to get back up and keep going, even after moments when it feels everything has fallen apart,” shares Yuval Raphael. “Moving forward doesn’t mean forgetting what happened or leaving the pain behind, but learning to live alongside it and choosing life, every single day. At a time when so many voices around the world try to tell us that we don’t belong, the choice to stay strong, remember who we are, and keep moving forward feels more meaningful to me than ever. Releasing this song now, so close to October 7, is deeply meaningful to me. That day changed my life and the lives of so many people, and the words of this song carry an even deeper meaning at this time. To remember who we are and those we have lost, to hold our heads high, and to keep living, dreaming, and creating. I’m grateful for the privilege of singing these words and sharing them with the world, especially now.”
“While the origin of writing ‘Carry On’ came from a Jewish place in my heart, I don’t want its message to stop there – it’s bigger than any one community,” explains songwriter Rachel Sapoznik. “Everyone knows what it feels like to hurt, to grieve, to feel alone or unwelcome, or to be knocked down. If this song can give people a little hope, a little strength, or remind someone that they can get back up, then we have accomplished something very special. Life isn’t only about what has happened to us, it’s about what we choose to do next. We get back up, we stand tall, we hold on to who we are and bow down to no one. And we Carry On.”
“This song speaks to overcoming adversity, regardless of our background, beliefs, or where we come from,” adds Rico Love. “That’s the beauty of music. It reminds us of our shared humanity and has the power to bring people together.”
October 7, 2023 changed a lot of people and served as the inspiration behind the lyrics for “Carry On,” which came to writer Rachel Sapoznik in the summer of 2026. She thought about Jewish history and how no matter how many times anyone has tried to knock down or destroy the Jewish people, they always get back up, rebuild, and move forward. As someone who’d never written a song before, the words flowed out of her rather quickly. But then she realized the more universal message she had in front of her: no matter who you are – where you’re from, what religion you are, who you love, or how you identify – we, as humans, experience the same emotions. We all hurt, cry, grieve, and get angry. You may feel knocked down, but at some point, you have to get back up. You can’t let somebody else take away who you are. Be proud, stand up for yourself and don’t apologize for being exactly who you’re meant to be. That is what “Carry On” ultimately represents.
When Rachel learned about the inspirational story of Yuval Raphael, a survivor of the Nova Music Festival, she knew she had to have her as a vocalist on the song. Yuval embodies so much of what “Carry On” is about. She went through the unimaginable and yet got back up and sang again. She didn’t allow what happened to her to take away her future. Thankfully, Yuval was so moved by Rachel’s lyrics that she flew to the States to record with renowned producer Rico Love (Beyonce, Usher), who was also so inspired by the lyrics that he instantly created the music to capture the feeling of the song. Then, Matisyahu heard the demo and felt passionately about being part of it as well. His anthems like “One Day” and “Live Like a Warrior” are not just songs of hope but of freedom. He truly knows the power of music and its impact on creating a better world. These different artists with very different stories have all come together around the same message – when they say you don’t belong, carry on.
