Matisyahu and Israeli singer-songwriter and Eurovision runner-up Yuval Raphael have released their new single, “Carry On.” The pop-R&B-informed track, which was written by Rachel Sapoznik with music and production by producer, songwriter and recording artist Rico Love and co-produced by Samson Rawls, has been described as “a unifying message of hope and overcoming adversity—a song of power and strength and pride—and an anthem for healing, for all people, everywhere, who are hurting, who are afraid, who feel forgotten or defeated.”
“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,” Matisyahu explained. “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,” Raphael added. “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,” Sapoznik said. “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,” Rico Love added. “That’s the beauty of music. It reminds us of our shared humanity and has the power to bring people together.”
The October 7, 2023, attacks at the Nova Music Festival served as the inspiration behind the lyrics for “Carry On,” which Sapoznik wrote in the summer of 2026. She says that 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.”
She adds, “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 decided to sign on as a vocalist on the song. Raphael was so moved by Rachel’s lyrics that she flew to the States to record with 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.
Matisyahu will perform at Boca Raton, FL’s Sunset Cove Amphitheater on November 14. Wiz Khalifa, Steel Pulse, Little Stranger and several others will round out the bill.
