By Bob Makin
originally published: 04/25/2025
The Makin Waves Song of the Week is "I Know Your Number," the second single from Jersey Shore troubadour Arlan Feiles' brand-new LP, "Diaspora."
Jersey Shore troubadour Arlan Feiles’ latest album, “Diaspora,” is a collection of stories lost to time and without a home.
On his most personal album to date, the internationally acclaimed singer-songwriter explores his origins and juxtapositions the struggles of his Jewish ancestors in the face of atrocities, such as the Holocaust, against the anxieties of today’s rising tide of fascism.
The LP’s second single, “I Know Your Number,” is the Makin Waves Song of the Week.
As the Makin Waves Song of the Week, “I Know Your Number” also can be heard between 6 and 8 p.m. on April 25 on “Radio Jersey” at ThePenguinRocks.com. If you miss it, you can tune in any time in the archives at The Penguin and Mixcloud.
"’I Know Your Number’ is a love story between two prisoners in the death camps of Poland in WWII,” Arlan said. “The number refers to the tattoos given to the Jewish prisoners in an effort to catalog and dehumanize their victims.”
The song features David Mansfield of Bob Dylan’s legendary Rolling Thunder Revue on Weissenborn slide guitar and mandolin. Track personnel also includes Gift Horse drummer Brad Gunyon.
“I Know Your Number” was inspired by the Feiles family's story of living in the Jewish Diaspora after fleeing the Russian pogroms of the 1880s and death camps of WWII.
“With the huge rise in Jew hate inspired by right wing conservatism and the left wing's desire to rewrite Middle East history due the terrible, horrible war between Israel and Hamas, I felt it was important to focus on mine and my people's humanity lest it be stolen again as it has so many times in history before,” Arlan said.
Just released, “Diaspora” is available at streaming outlets and on CD at arlanfeiles.bandcamp.com and arlanfeilesmusic.com.
“I Know Your Number” was preceded late last year by “Ceasefire Shalom Achshav),” a plea for peace in the Middle East that closes the nine-song LP. The powerful anthem was included in several year-end Top 10 lists, including Makin Waves’.
David Mansfield also plays violin on “Broken World Order” and mandolin on “Oh, St. Louis.” Other contributors to the LP include legendary Asbury Park vocalist Layonne Holmes on “Oh St. Louis” and Carmen Sclafani on slide guitar on “Ceasefire (Shalom Achshav),” which also features Arlan’s children on backing vocals.
Arlan produced, mixed and mastered the album at his Foundation Studio in Matawan.
The LP coincides with "The Devil and Daisy Dirt,” a bluegrass musical about the Jersey Devil that Arlan composed, scored and performs in. Upcoming performances include April 26, LoMotion Live, Boonton; April 27, Bernard Township Library, Basking Ridge; May 17, Vampa, Doylstown, Pa. For more about the show, visit thedevilanddaisydirt.blogspot.com.
Arlan also plays first Fridays at The Polo Club in Holmdel. Other upcoming dates include July 19 at Albert Music Hall in Waretown. He’ll also participate in tributes to Warren Zevon on Aug. 1 at The Vogel in Red Bank and Leonard Cohen on Nov. 15 at Bellworks Theater, also Holmdel.
Bob Makin has produced Makin Waves since 1988. Follow Makin Waves on Facebook and contact Bob at [email protected].
About the author:
New Jersey Stage is proud to be the home of Bob Makin's Makin Waves column since 2017. His Song of the Week column comes out every Friday. He also writes an Album of the Month and Interview of the Month as well.
EVENT PREVIEWS
McCarter Theatre Center presents Mei Semones on September 4th
(PRINCETON, NJ) -- McCarter Theatre Center presents Brooklyn-based singer-songwriter Mei Semones in the Berlind Theatre on Friday, September 4, 2026 at 7:30pm. Drawing on her background in jazz guitar and her Japanese heritage, she blends inventive harmonies, intricate rhythms, and bilingual lyricism into a sound that is both intimate and exploratory.
51st NJ Clearwater Festival to Take Place Labor Day Weekend in Asbury Park
(ASBURY PARK, NJ) -- New Jersey Friends of Clearwater invites everyone to start their Labor Day Weekend at its free 51st Annual Clearwater Festival Saturday September 5, 2026, a late summer, family-friendly celebration of great live music, Mother Earth and more in Sunset Park near the ocean in Asbury Park.
The Machine performs Pink Floyd at The Newton Theatre on September 5th
(NEWTON, NJ) -- The Machine Performs Pink Floyd on Saturday, September 5, 2026 at the Newton Theatre. The band has forged a nearly 40 year reputation of extending the musical legacy of Pink Floyd. Showtime is 8:00pm.
MPAC presents Melissa Etheridge: Rise Tour on September 9th
(MORRISTOWN, NJ) -- Mayo Performing Arts Center (MPAC) presents Melissa Etheridge: Rise Tour on Wednesday, September 9, 2026 at 7:30pm. Known for her confessional lyrics and raspy, smoky vocals, Etheridge has remained one of America's favorite female singers for more than two decades.
Prudential Center presents Ella Langley on September 10th
(NEWARK, NJ) -- It's been a landmark year for Ella Langley. Fresh off a sweep at the ACM Awards where she won all seven awards she was nominated for, two recent American Music Award wins, and being the soundtrack of the summer for a trio of German fans on Twitter traveling through America during the World Cup. Ella continues one of the most dominant runs in music. She brings The Dandelion Tour to the Prudential Center in Newark on September 10, 2026 at 7:00pm. Special guests ERNEST and Gabriella Rose will open the night.
The Soundtrack of Resilience: Explore Music's Role in Post-9/11 America at the Lacey Library
(FORKED RIVER, NJ) -- In honor of Patriot Day, the Lacey Branch of the Ocean County Library will host "The Soundtrack of Resilience: Music and 9/11" on Thursday, September 10, 2026. The event begins at 2:00pm.
Tony Award Nominee Joshua Henry to open Kean Stage's 2026-2027 season
(HILLSIDE, NJ) -- Kean Stage is thrilled to announce that Joshua Henry, three-time Tony nominee and star of Lincoln Center Theater's Ragtime, will open their 2026-2027 season with two performances of his show Get Up, Stand Up! on Sunday, September 13, 2026 at 2:00pm & 7:00pm at Enlow Recital Hall (215 North Avenue) in Hillside.
Carteret Performing Arts & Events Center presents Country Icon Trace Adkins in September
(CARTERET, NJ) -- Multi-PLATINUM entertainer Trace Adkins will bring his 30th Anniversary Tour to the URSB Carteret Performing Arts & Events Center on Friday, September 18, 2026, for one night only. The show is part of Adkins' nationwide headline tour celebrating 30 years of chart-topping hits and powerhouse live performances. Showtime is 8:00pm.
The Levoy Theatre presents Big Bad Voodoo Daddy on September 22nd
(MILLVILLE, NJ) -- The Levoy Theatre presents Big Bad Voodoo Daddy on Wednesday, September 22, 2026 at 7:00pm. This year marked 33 years since the band arrived on the music scene.
NJPAC presents Salsa icon Tito Nieves on September 26th
(NEWARK, NJ) -- The internationally celebrated Salsa icon, Tito Nieves - affectionately known as "El Pavarotti de la Salsa" - is set to electrify the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) on Saturday, September 26, 2026 at 8:00pm with his tour, "50 Años La Historia... Continúa." The performance will take place at NJPAC's prestigious Prudential Hall, Betty Wold Johnson Stage.
FEATURED EVENTS
