Alma Zygier on jazz, Judaism and her rising star

Becoming a musician was never part of the plan for Alma Zygier.

That shouldn’t come as a surprise for any other 26-year-old, but for Zygier – daughter of musicians Deborah Conway and Willy Zygier – such a career choice was practically written in the stars.

“My parents have been a big inspiration for me, but I never had major plans to be a singer growing up. I didn’t have real ambition for it,” Zygier told The Jewish Independent.

“When I was in year 12 and had to choose a university, I tried my luck at the jazz schools at Monash University and the Victorian College of the Arts – I ended up getting into both.”

Over a few short years, Zygier has made a name for herself in the genre of jazz and blues, regularly selling out gigs across Australia.

She’s appeared at the popular Melbourne International Jazz Festival, Adelaide Cabaret Festival, and Sydney Festival – the latter of which she says brought a “surprising” crowd of around 700 people – and even teamed up with Australian legend Paul Kelly for a song on his much-loved Christmas album.

Zygier’s raw and commanding voice is beyond her years and her repertoire follows, often playing covers of her icons – Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Bessie Smith and Memphis Minnie are among her favourites – backed by a band that sometimes includes her dad.

Up until now, Zygier has released a handful of singles, but her latest venture is changing that. Recorded over a three-night run at Melbourne’s The Jazzlab in February, Zygier’s “live album” includes an eclectic line-up of songs from across the decades.

“There's a lot of songs that are done over and over again, classics that we've come to know. But this album is not that,” Zygier said.

On one night of the performance, audience members were treated to a feisty take on Elvis’ Hound Dog, a passionate Be My Husband by Nina Simone and a vulnerable Maybe This Time from the musical Cabaret. The final cut, name and release date of the album are yet to be announced, but Zygier is clear about its intention: to make her music more accessible and allow her to go on tour.

“I do a lot of Melbourne shows and I really want to branch out to interstate and overseas. I have a little career in Israel, it’s small but it’s there.”

When it comes to her Jewish identity, Zygier’s connection is strong. She had a bat mitzvah; has Holocaust ancestry; and while she admits that not going through the Jewish education system – Zygier attended Wesley College's St Kilda Road campus – made it challenging to initially make Jewish friends, that hasn’t stopped her from making it a priority later in life.

“I have found my own connection to Judaism that’s different to those who were taught [at school],” explained Zygier, who has recently started learning Hebrew.

“It’s a hugely important part of me. Everything that I do is Jewish because I’m Jewish. Even though it may not reference Judaism the religion, I feel culturally, ethnically – whatever you want to call it – Jewish.”

Much of Zygier’s music also pays homage to Jewish composers such as George Gershwin and Richard Rodgers, which she says is a result of them “contributing so heavily to the music [she] loves”.

“They've influenced me a lot because I sing their music and I'm so grateful for that.”

Before October 7 and the resultant Israel-Hamas war, Zygier never thought about the implications of being a Jewish artist, but she says the way the conflict has played out in Australia has had an “absolute” impact on her career as a creative.

“I’ve had a few musicians who don't want to work with me anymore," Zygier explained.

"I haven't expressed any of my opinions about the [war], but people just assume because I'm Jewish, I have a certain opinion that they find abhorrent.

“My whole life has changed. Everything feels very fragile for us Jews. It’s reminiscent of the things we were told by our parents and our grandparents.”

Zygier – and Conway – are among a long list of Jewish artists, writers and other creatives who have been targeted by pro-Palestinian and anti-Zionist activists.

In Melbourne’s northern suburbs – where Zygier calls home – a gift shop was forced to close following an antisemitic boycott campaign, while other Jews received death threats and had their personal information leaked online in a doxing scandal.

“The word progressive does not fit the people that they are, they’re regressive,” explained Zygier, referencing the abandoning of the Jewish community by the far left.

“They don’t want peace, because if they did, they would be listening to people on all sides with all experiences instead of telling people to attack or go to someone’s work or house or give their address online. That’s not peaceful.”

Despite the backlash, Zygier remains firm in her belief in Israel and hopeful for the future.

“I love Israel. It’s got a lot of flaws, but every country has a lot of flaws, and I don’t love everything about Israel. I love my friends and my family there and the connections that I’ve made.

"I’m really looking forward to going back to Israel and playing there again."