Tuned In http://www.jewishtimes.com/index.php/jewishtimes/tuned_in en RFrieman@PensEyeView.com Copyright 2011 2011-11-14T14:51:46+00:00 One Wild Road To A Grammy http://www.jewishtimes.com/index.php/jewishtimes/tuned_in/one_wild_road_to_a_grammy/ http://www.jewishtimes.com/index.php/jewishtimes/tuned_in/one_wild_road_to_a_grammy/ A manager that consistently sends me quality artists, emailed me a few weeks ago about a rare “find”, that I had to read about right away. This one contact always sends me great talent, so I’m eager to open his emails, since the artist he’s bringing me will surely be one of those that I should be watching.  I get emails stressing how someone should be “watched” or a rare “find” all the time - it’s buzz words that PR agents use to get writer’s attention. Some times they’re right, some times they’re exaggerating but with this particular agent, he doesn’t throw it around often. So, “Okay, I’ll bite. Let’s see what we have here.” Then, I open the email, and start reading. Next thing I know, my jaw hits my keyboard—hard. This artist was a rather rare find indeed. I use the term “find” loosely, since at only 31, Ruslan Sirota, an award winning pianist and composer, has been discovered for a very long time. A long time?... At only 31? Yes, Ruslan, like many musical geniuses before him was identified at a young age to have talent that surpassed those around him. Ruslan is not like the artists I am pitched every week. There was no, “After playing dive bars in New York…” Or, “While working the coffee house scene in LA…”. Ruslan was different, and in a good way. Yes, he is where he is today from doing his “time” like every other artist but it’s how he did that time, where he came from and how he got here, that makes him stand out. After all, it’s not every day I get an email about a music phenom, that went from a humble upbringing in the Ukraine, growing up in Israel, receiving a scholarship to a premier music university, to travelling the world playing with some of the biggest names in jazz as well as pop music, and oh yeah, even racking up a Grammy in 2011.  Ruslan knows that his story is not an everyday tale and he it’s that mindset that has allowed him to soak up all he experiences his background offered. “I’m a cultural mutt,” Ruslan says sarcastically when describing his background. “I’ve spent large parts of my life in cultures radically different from one another.” Born in Uman, which is now within the Ukraine, Ruslan’s family is rich in its musical roots.  Both of his grandfathers learned and played by ear, which gave way to his father becoming a professional musician in the Ukraine.  However, even though his family shared their love for music with Ruslan, it was a lot harder for him to capture the sounds of music outside of his own house, due to the state of affairs under the then Soviet Union. “In my early childhood in USSR (at the time) it was very difficult to get a hold of American, British or any other Non Soviet music. It was only sold on the black market and musicians like my dad would hunt it down and buy it for amounts of money that would constitute half of their monthly salary. And then make copies of copies of copies of these forbidden records.” Ruslan stresses that his father’s passion for music, fueled his father to instill music of the world into Ruslan’s life, despite those restraints that were put on him. “I remember my dad spinning a Beatles vinyl at home. It was almost ritualistic. I grew up hearing that and hearing my dad’s band play every week.  It was so special!  I can only wish to preserve the level of excitement for music I experienced in those years (so far so good). Every rehearsal of my dad’s band was a real important event for me! I was just so into it!” There would be many other important events in Ruslan’s life, starting with a move away from the Ukraine at the age of ten. His family fled to Israel, where his musical studies continued, however it was at age 17 when Ruslan would make his way to the States after a prized scholarship to the Berklee School of Music, with personal assistance from legendary vibraphonist Gary Burton. And this is the part of Ruslan’s story that seems to have the “Wow Factor”. After all, here you have a child whose father had to save up his earnings to buy bottom-of-the-barrel-quality black market records to now sitting in the classroom of one of the most prestigious music institutions on the planet. Come on, say it with me, “WOW!” After graduation in 2003, Ruslan began playing with the most prolific and legendary names in Jazz and writing material for Stanley Clarke’s The Toys of Men on the track “Jerusalem”. As well, his talents earned him touring gigs around the world with Dennis Chambers, Marcus Miller, Seal and Brian McKnight. And in 2011, he reached the pinnacle of success in the music industry when he won a Grammy in 2011. Again… WOW! Here is a video of his acceptance speech at the Grammys: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3i0CCqgUKP0 Ruslan’s latest work, a self-titled album is an eye opening look into his heart and mind, that even he is unsure where this journey will lead him next. I asked him about this work, and what makes it different – from other albums he’s worked on, other artists he’s worked with and his answer is rather, well I can only call it, Ruslanian. “Do you know how first dates go? There are two kinds of people on first dates; ones that slowly and cautiously open themselves up, afraid to overwhelm or scare the other person. And then there are those who just let themselves be fully themselves from the get go. The “Love it or leave it” kind of deal.  I’m somewhat like that with my music. This is my first album and I simply made a point of allowing myself full self expression. Allowing all of my experiences and emotions take shape in the form of music.” His path to his point is picturesque but his more direct response is equally profound.  “What can you expect from this record? Honesty.  And expect to find yourself somewhere in it, you probably will.” Honesty is the best way I can describe Ruslan as well. If you put the “tale” behind you, if you shelve the Grammy and forget where he came from, it ultimately comes down to the music. It was music that was handed down to Ruslan like a family heirloom. It was music that was smuggled into his house at time when the world around him was not allowing him to venture out his front door. And ultimately it’s his honesty of staying true to where he came from, that has mad Ruslan a leader in today’s music. “My music is just a pallet of emotions, like I am. Transmitting directly from one’s emotions and experiences is the way to go.” For more information on great artists, follow me on Twitter @RichieFrieman A manager that consistently sends me quality artists, emailed me a few weeks ago about a rare “find”, that I had to read about right away. This one contact always sends me great talent, so I’m eager to open his emails, since the artist he’s bringing me will surely be one of those that I should be watching.  I get emails stressing how someone should be “watched” or a rare “find” all the time - it’s buzz words that PR agents use to get writer’s attention. Some times they’re right, some times they’re exaggerating but with this particular agent, he doesn’t throw it around often. So, “Okay, I’ll bite. Let’s see what we have here.” Then, I open the email, and start reading. Next thing I know, my jaw hits my keyboard—hard. This artist was a rather rare find indeed. I use the term “find” loosely, since at only 31, Ruslan Sirota, an award winning pianist and composer, has been discovered for a very long time. A long time?... At only 31? Yes, Ruslan, like many musical geniuses before him was identified at a young age to have talent that surpassed those around him.

Ruslan is not like the artists I am pitched every week. There was no, “After playing dive bars in New York…” Or, “While working the coffee house scene in LA…”. Ruslan was different, and in a good way. Yes, he is where he is today from doing his “time” like every other artist but it’s how he did that time, where he came from and how he got here, that makes him stand out. After all, it’s not every day I get an email about a music phenom, that went from a humble upbringing in the Ukraine, growing up in Israel, receiving a scholarship to a premier music university, to travelling the world playing with some of the biggest names in jazz as well as pop music, and oh yeah, even racking up a Grammy in 2011.  Ruslan knows that his story is not an everyday tale and he it’s that mindset that has allowed him to soak up all he experiences his background offered.

“I’m a cultural mutt,” Ruslan says sarcastically when describing his background. “I’ve spent large parts of my life in cultures radically different from one another.” Born in Uman, which is now within the Ukraine, Ruslan’s family is rich in its musical roots.  Both of his grandfathers learned and played by ear, which gave way to his father becoming a professional musician in the Ukraine.  However, even though his family shared their love for music with Ruslan, it was a lot harder for him to capture the sounds of music outside of his own house, due to the state of affairs under the then Soviet Union. “In my early childhood in USSR (at the time) it was very difficult to get a hold of American, British or any other Non Soviet music. It was only sold on the black market and musicians like my dad would hunt it down and buy it for amounts of money that would constitute half of their monthly salary. And then make copies of copies of copies of these forbidden records.”

Ruslan stresses that his father’s passion for music, fueled his father to instill music of the world into Ruslan’s life, despite those restraints that were put on him. “I remember my dad spinning a Beatles vinyl at home. It was almost ritualistic. I grew up hearing that and hearing my dad’s band play every week.  It was so special!  I can only wish to preserve the level of excitement for music I experienced in those years (so far so good). Every rehearsal of my dad’s band was a real important event for me! I was just so into it!”

There would be many other important events in Ruslan’s life, starting with a move away from the Ukraine at the age of ten. His family fled to Israel, where his musical studies continued, however it was at age 17 when Ruslan would make his way to the States after a prized scholarship to the Berklee School of Music, with personal assistance from legendary vibraphonist Gary Burton. And this is the part of Ruslan’s story that seems to have the “Wow Factor”. After all, here you have a child whose father had to save up his earnings to buy bottom-of-the-barrel-quality black market records to now sitting in the classroom of one of the most prestigious music institutions on the planet. Come on, say it with me, “WOW!”

After graduation in 2003, Ruslan began playing with the most prolific and legendary names in Jazz and writing material for Stanley Clarke’s The Toys of Men on the track “Jerusalem”. As well, his talents earned him touring gigs around the world with Dennis Chambers, Marcus Miller, Seal and Brian McKnight. And in 2011, he reached the pinnacle of success in the music industry when he won a Grammy in 2011. Again… WOW! Here is a video of his acceptance speech at the Grammys: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3i0CCqgUKP0

Ruslan’s latest work, a self-titled album is an eye opening look into his heart and mind, that even he is unsure where this journey will lead him next. I asked him about this work, and what makes it different – from other albums he’s worked on, other artists he’s worked with and his answer is rather, well I can only call it, Ruslanian. “Do you know how first dates go? There are two kinds of people on first dates; ones that slowly and cautiously open themselves up, afraid to overwhelm or scare the other person. And then there are those who just let themselves be fully themselves from the get go. The “Love it or leave it” kind of deal.  I’m somewhat like that with my music. This is my first album and I simply made a point of allowing myself full self expression. Allowing all of my experiences and emotions take shape in the form of music.”

His path to his point is picturesque but his more direct response is equally profound.  “What can you expect from this record? Honesty.  And expect to find yourself somewhere in it, you probably will.”

Honesty is the best way I can describe Ruslan as well. If you put the “tale” behind you, if you shelve the Grammy and forget where he came from, it ultimately comes down to the music. It was music that was handed down to Ruslan like a family heirloom. It was music that was smuggled into his house at time when the world around him was not allowing him to venture out his front door. And ultimately it’s his honesty of staying true to where he came from, that has mad Ruslan a leader in today’s music. “My music is just a pallet of emotions, like I am. Transmitting directly from one’s emotions and experiences is the way to go.”

For more information on great artists, follow me on Twitter @RichieFrieman

]]> 2011-11-14T13:51:46+00:00 Overcoming Heartbreak with Meital Dohan http://www.jewishtimes.com/index.php/jewishtimes/tuned_in/overcoming_heartbreak_with_meital_dohan/ http://www.jewishtimes.com/index.php/jewishtimes/tuned_in/overcoming_heartbreak_with_meital_dohan/ I’m at a loss about where to start when it comes to Meital Dohan. I mean, I’ve rewrote this line ten times already, and I can only think of, “I’m at a loss about where to start…” Odd, I know but let me say that rarely do you get to interview a person with such an impressive record of success that it’s hard to put only one label on them.  With Dohan, this is the case. You’ve heard of the triple threat when it comes to entertainers but Dohan is more like the secret weapon—more of the Renaissance Woman feel than your “typical” celebrity.  It’s this reason that Dohan is known across the globe for not only her incredible beauty and poise, but her amazing gift to well, pretty much excel in every genre she dips her toe into. “Let’s just say it’ll be something people won’t forget.” This is how Meital Dohan describes her live performances. It’s this confidence, swagger and pride that has taken the Israeli born (and raised), Oscar and Emmy nominated, Tony award winning actress, writer and world renowned singer to become of today’s biggest stars.  Whew, that was a mouthful! Although, Israel has known Dohan’s face for years, American audiences were first captivated by her with American debut as the sexy rabbinical scholar Yael Hoffman, in the Showtime original television series “Weeds” and as “Aurora” in the Sony Pictures comedy “Woke Up Dead”. Once you watch Dohan, it’s hard to imagine her not being on stage or in front of a microphone, but this artist admits there are times when she wasn’t too sure “entertainer” would be her job title. She talks about show shy she was as a child and describes life as “a wild creature”. “Maybe I would have been fishing or teaching diving in Costa Rica,” Dohan says when asked about other career paths, however, music is a calling and she answered with open arms. Now, Dohan is bringing her talents back to the states with her upcoming album “I’m In Hate With Love” a heart pounding, yet sultry pop album that has a bit of everything you hope for but don’t expect, from today’s artists.  “As you know the cliché is that there needs to be a little bit of heartbreak to create good music. I guess it won’t be a lie to say that’s where I was.” From heartbreaking songs to those that make you want to run out and dance until the sun rises, Dohan finds her music as a passion project, a discovery and a method that has allowed her to reach down deep into areas of her mind, that has been waiting a lifetime to get out.  “I think music came into my life in an unexpected way. It’s all about the people you meet and the energy around you. I’ve met people who really believed in my music and I felt it too, so that’s why it’s going in this direction right now.” For more information on Meital Dohan, check out: http://www.MeitalDohan.com As well for the latest in all the best music interviews, check out http://www.PensEyeView.com and http://www.RichieFrieman.com I’m at a loss about where to start when it comes to Meital Dohan. I mean, I’ve rewrote this line ten times already, and I can only think of,
“I’m at a loss about where to start…” Odd, I know but let me say that rarely do you get to interview a person with such an impressive record of success that it’s hard to put only one label on them.  With Dohan, this is the case. You’ve heard of the triple threat when it comes to entertainers but Dohan is more like the secret weapon—more of the Renaissance Woman feel than your “typical” celebrity.  It’s this reason that Dohan is known across the globe for not only her incredible beauty and poise, but her amazing gift to well, pretty much excel in every genre she dips her toe into.

“Let’s just say it’ll be something people won’t forget.” This is how Meital Dohan describes her live performances. It’s this confidence, swagger and pride that has taken the Israeli born (and raised), Oscar and Emmy nominated, Tony award winning actress, writer and world renowned singer to become of today’s biggest stars.  Whew, that was a mouthful! Although, Israel has known Dohan’s face for years, American audiences were first captivated by her with American debut as the sexy rabbinical scholar Yael Hoffman, in the Showtime original television series “Weeds” and as “Aurora” in the Sony Pictures comedy “Woke Up Dead”. Once you watch Dohan, it’s hard to imagine her not being on stage or in front of a microphone, but this artist admits there are times when she wasn’t too sure “entertainer” would be her job title. She talks about show shy she was as a child and describes life as “a wild creature”. “Maybe I would have been fishing or teaching diving in Costa Rica,” Dohan says when asked about other career paths, however, music is a calling and she answered with open arms.

Now, Dohan is bringing her talents back to the states with her upcoming album “I’m In Hate With Love” a heart pounding, yet sultry pop album that has a bit of everything you hope for but don’t expect, from today’s artists.  “As you know the cliché is that there needs to be a little bit of heartbreak to create good music. I guess it won’t be a lie to say that’s where I was.”

From heartbreaking songs to those that make you want to run out and dance until the sun rises, Dohan finds her music as a passion project, a discovery and a method that has allowed her to reach down deep into areas of her mind, that has been waiting a lifetime to get out.  “I think music came into my life in an unexpected way. It’s all about the people you meet and the energy around you. I’ve met people who really believed in my music and I felt it too, so that’s why it’s going in this direction right now.”

For more information on Meital Dohan, check out: http://www.MeitalDohan.com
As well for the latest in all the best music interviews, check out http://www.PensEyeView.com and http://www.RichieFrieman.com

]]> 2011-09-01T10:16:18+00:00 Sunset Over Hope Street http://www.jewishtimes.com/index.php/jewishtimes/tuned_in/sunset_over_hope_street/ http://www.jewishtimes.com/index.php/jewishtimes/tuned_in/sunset_over_hope_street/ Two weeks ago, I had the chance to speak with New York based artist Ari Hest, a voice that has become legendary in the modern singer/songwriter world.  If you’re not familiar with what the “modern singer/songwriter world” is, then turn off MTV, ignore anything with auto-tune attached to the vocals and listen to artists like, Ray LaMontagne, Donavon Frankenreiter, Brett Dennen, Trevor Hall, Amos Lee, Paolo Nutini and of course, Ari Hest.  If artists like Bob Dylan, Paul Simon, James Taylor are the roots of the singer/songwriter, these artists are an eclectic array of branches with vibrant leaves - a different color and pattern on each.  I don’t want to say that Hest is leading the pack, because the category of artist Hest falls into has no leader – it can’t. This group prefers rather to work as one, sharing the same mantra of “let the music speak for itself”. They dispose of any “formula” and can’t stand to be a carbon copy. In fact, it was Hest that said no to “formulas”, “boxes” and any other form of ideologies that large labels like to place musicians into. I asked Hest what it was like being on a big label versus doing his own thing -  he admits to feeling achievement for signing at the age of 23, however he explains, “I didn’t know myself that well, and I wasn’t creating stuff that was coming from a real place. I think I’m in a much better position now to do what I like.” What’s that position you ask? Well, it’s best shown in a series of incredibly poetic albums such as “Twelve Mondays”, the result of Hest’s “52 Project” where every week for a year, Hest wrote, recorded and released a tune to his eager subscribers. The project culminated in a year-end vote for the 12 best songs to be reworked and digitally released on “Twelve Mondays”  (NOTE: I highly encourage everyone to listen to the song “Cranberry Lake” - it will blow you away!). Most recently, Hest released his finest work to date - the heavily praised “Sunset Over Hope Street”.  “Sunset Over Hope Street” is a collection of Hest’s storytelling at its best and most affectionate. With “52 Project”, “Twelve Mondays” and of course “Sunset Over Hope Street” Hest has proven he’s more than capable of formulating his own songs to create something that fans haven’t heard before. “You know I did it because I wanted to see if I could do it. I did it because I wouldn’t have been able to do it if I was on a big label like Columbia. They were not willing to do any new concepts and they were not willing to do something like that. They do things a certain way and you can’t really argue with it. When I got off in ’07, I knew I wanted to try something crazy and reinvent myself and see where it takes me.  And I was really into it and I just throughout the year I kept a really good mentality about it. There were a couple of weeks where I struggled, but I got through it. I think on a personal level it was good to work that hard and I think a lot of good things came from that.” And even though Hest’s self confidence allowed him to go out on his own, he jokes that his first live appearance (during a high school Battle of The Bands) was a disaster, spending the entire show with his eyes closed and looking down at his guitar. Whereas the winner (an Axel Rose impersonator who was also the Math teacher) ended up stealing the show. “I couldn’t compete with that,” Hest laughs. Now though, when Hest takes the stage, the nerves disappear. “It’s more of a thankfulness that I get to do what I’m doing. I’ve kind of taken it all in and know that I’m a performer and know that I’m a writer and know that this is what I want to do. Depending on the show, there may be some jitters but once you get out there, it all makes sense.” Simply put – where Hest is now, despite any thinking that leaving the “big labels” behind was crazy, makes sense. It takes a real artist to not only believe in themselves but to prove to others they are capable. In the end, telling someone you can do something is only part of it - you have to deliver. And whether it takes 52 weeks, Twelve Mondays or a Sunset Over Hope Street, no one can deny the magic and power of the modern singer/songwriter. For more information on Ari Hest and to check out “Sunset Over Hope Street” check out www.AriHest.com And for the latest in all things music, check out www.PensEyeView.com Two weeks ago, I had the chance to speak with New York based artist Ari Hest, a voice that has become legendary in the modern singer/songwriter world.  If you’re not familiar with what the “modern singer/songwriter world” is, then turn off MTV, ignore anything with auto-tune attached to the vocals and listen to artists like, Ray LaMontagne, Donavon Frankenreiter, Brett Dennen, Trevor Hall, Amos Lee, Paolo Nutini and of course, Ari Hest.  If artists like Bob Dylan, Paul Simon, James Taylor are the roots of the singer/songwriter, these artists are an eclectic array of branches with vibrant leaves - a different color and pattern on each. 

I don’t want to say that Hest is leading the pack, because the category of artist Hest falls into has no leader – it can’t. This group prefers rather to work as one, sharing the same mantra of “let the music speak for itself”. They dispose of any “formula” and can’t stand to be a carbon copy. In fact, it was Hest that said no to “formulas”, “boxes” and any other form of ideologies that large labels like to place musicians into. I asked Hest what it was like being on a big label versus doing his own thing -  he admits to feeling achievement for signing at the age of 23, however he explains, “I didn’t know myself that well, and I wasn’t creating stuff that was coming from a real place. I think I’m in a much better position now to do what I like.”

What’s that position you ask? Well, it’s best shown in a series of incredibly poetic albums such as “Twelve Mondays”, the result of Hest’s “52 Project” where every week for a year, Hest wrote, recorded and released a tune to his eager subscribers. The project culminated in a year-end vote for the 12 best songs to be reworked and digitally released on “Twelve Mondays”  (NOTE: I highly encourage everyone to listen to the song “Cranberry Lake” - it will blow you away!). Most recently, Hest released his finest work to date - the heavily praised “Sunset Over Hope Street”. 

“Sunset Over Hope Street” is a collection of Hest’s storytelling at its best and most affectionate. With “52 Project”, “Twelve Mondays” and of course “Sunset Over Hope Street” Hest has proven he’s more than capable of formulating his own songs to create something that fans haven’t heard before. “You know I did it because I wanted to see if I could do it. I did it because I wouldn’t have been able to do it if I was on a big label like Columbia. They were not willing to do any new concepts and they were not willing to do something like that. They do things a certain way and you can’t really argue with it. When I got off in ’07, I knew I wanted to try something crazy and reinvent myself and see where it takes me.  And I was really into it and I just throughout the year I kept a really good mentality about it. There were a couple of weeks where I struggled, but I got through it. I think on a personal level it was good to work that hard and I think a lot of good things came from that.”

And even though Hest’s self confidence allowed him to go out on his own, he jokes that his first live appearance (during a high school Battle of The Bands) was a disaster, spending the entire show with his eyes closed and looking down at his guitar. Whereas the winner (an Axel Rose impersonator who was also the Math teacher) ended up stealing the show. “I couldn’t compete with that,” Hest laughs. Now though, when Hest takes the stage, the nerves disappear.

“It’s more of a thankfulness that I get to do what I’m doing. I’ve kind of taken it all in and know that I’m a performer and know that I’m a writer and know that this is what I want to do. Depending on the show, there may be some jitters but once you get out there, it all makes sense.”

Simply put – where Hest is now, despite any thinking that leaving the “big labels” behind was crazy, makes sense. It takes a real artist to not only believe in themselves but to prove to others they are capable. In the end, telling someone you can do something is only part of it - you have to deliver. And whether it takes 52 weeks, Twelve Mondays or a Sunset Over Hope Street, no one can deny the magic and power of the modern singer/songwriter.

For more information on Ari Hest and to check out “Sunset Over Hope Street” check out www.AriHest.com
And for the latest in all things music, check out www.PensEyeView.com

]]> 2011-04-09T11:47:18+00:00 The Traveler http://www.jewishtimes.com/index.php/jewishtimes/tuned_in/the_traveler/ http://www.jewishtimes.com/index.php/jewishtimes/tuned_in/the_traveler/ Having music around me nearly 24/7 (including the Wiggles, via my two and half year old daughter), I sometimes get in a zone where sounds start to run together; voices seem the same, beats seem repetitive and I need to constantly switch from artist to artist in order to keep going. Then an email about Mikey Wax was sent to me, and after visiting his site, I just knew I hit something pure and original. I had his songs on loop for the rest of the day and not once did I get distracted – Wax had my undivided attention. I’m not the only one either – Wax is receiving a LOT of attention these days. For starters, his debut 2008 release, “Change Again” rose to #46 on the Top 100 iTunes Pop chart in US, UK, Canada and Australia. That was right out of the gate! Not many people can claim that much credibility on their first attempt! Wax says, “’Change Again’ is my baby. I spent nearly two years recording that album. ’Change Again’ is everything I wanted to be but couldn’t fully attain at the place I was in as a musician and person.”  It was “Change Again” that best illustrated what was instilled in Wax at a very young age, back when Wax was already building his repertoire of pop and rock music standards. Growing up on Long Island, Wax says, “I played the piano, and it was pretty much standard to know every Billy Joel song. I knew all the Beatles songs by the time I was ten, which I owe a thank you to my older brother Evan for constantly playing around the house.” It took a little while for Wax to find his niche in the industry, but in college he found his place and purpose for music. “The first time I remember thinking I was onto something was when I wrote ‘Last Great Song’ as a freshman in college, and all my friends in the dorm kept requesting to hear the song. It was a real song, with people singing the lyrics back to me. It let me know that I could potentially write songs that lots of people would want to hear. As far as my overall career, I saw a big jump when the music video for my song ’In Case I Go Again’ was featured on the homepage of YouTube last summer getting almost half a million hits in a week.” The experience and confidence Wax gained from “Change Again” allowed “The Traveler” – his latest release – to develop into something much more powerful than he ever anticipated. “‘The Traveler’ was an idea I had to record six songs I wrote where the lyrics contained different places and concepts/stories behind those destinations. I think in the record I supposedly traveled to California, Israel, Berlin, Peru, Alabama, and maybe one or two more…oh and the moon,” Wax kids. “At the time, only Alabama was true, but I guess the EP was more about wanting to live, learn more, see more, feeling both independent and grown up.” Wax goes on to say that like most true artists, inspiration for his sound can arrive out of nowhere, something reflected on “The Traveler”. “The inspiration came from my first real year of touring and being on the road…all the faces I had met, and people I had the chance to play for. I really wanted to make an album that had more of a 70’s singer/songwriter style, and I think I captured that best in the song “Birmingham”. Inspiration for this young artist has kept him busy. Even as “The Traveler” is being pushed out right now, Wax has no plans of slowing down. He’s currently working on his second full length album with producer Warren Huart who has previously worked with The Fray and Augustana.  “I want my next record to build upon what I’ve done so far by adding a little more pop and up-tempo songs, and I think Warren and I are going to make an awesome album together!” If there’s one thing I’ve learned in covering music, the real ones are the ones that do it because they can’t imagine not doing it. A true musician accepts their calling and uses that voice as fuel to create something memorable. There’s a passion, a drive involved that other art forms seem to come up short. I think Wax says it best, “I’d like to hope my shows make you feel something inside, even if I’m not perfect, I hope that passion shines through.” For more information visit www.MikeyWax.com Having music around me nearly 24/7 (including the Wiggles, via my two and half year old daughter), I sometimes get in a zone where sounds start to run together; voices seem the same, beats seem repetitive and I need to constantly switch from artist to artist in order to keep going. Then an email about Mikey Wax was sent to me, and after visiting his site, I just knew I hit something pure and original. I had his songs on loop for the rest of the day and not once did I get distracted – Wax had my undivided attention.

I’m not the only one either – Wax is receiving a LOT of attention these days. For starters, his debut 2008 release, “Change Again” rose to #46 on the Top 100 iTunes Pop chart in US, UK, Canada and Australia. That was right out of the gate! Not many people can claim that much credibility on their first attempt! Wax says, “’Change Again’ is my baby. I spent nearly two years recording that album. ’Change Again’ is everything I wanted to be but couldn’t fully attain at the place I was in as a musician and person.”  It was “Change Again” that best illustrated what was instilled in Wax at a very young age, back when Wax was already building his repertoire of pop and rock music standards.

Growing up on Long Island, Wax says, “I played the piano, and it was pretty much standard to know every Billy Joel song. I knew all the Beatles songs by the time I was ten, which I owe a thank you to my older brother Evan for constantly playing around the house.” It took a little while for Wax to find his niche in the industry, but in college he found his place and purpose for music. “The first time I remember thinking I was onto something was when I wrote ‘Last Great Song’ as a freshman in college, and all my friends in the dorm kept requesting to hear the song. It was a real song, with people singing the lyrics back to me. It let me know that I could potentially write songs that lots of people would want to hear. As far as my overall career, I saw a big jump when the music video for my song ’In Case I Go Again’ was featured on the homepage of YouTube last summer getting almost half a million hits in a week.”

The experience and confidence Wax gained from “Change Again” allowed “The Traveler” – his latest release – to develop into something much more powerful than he ever anticipated. “‘The Traveler’ was an idea I had to record six songs I wrote where the lyrics contained different places and concepts/stories behind those destinations. I think in the record I supposedly traveled to California, Israel, Berlin, Peru, Alabama, and maybe one or two more…oh and the moon,” Wax kids. “At the time, only Alabama was true, but I guess the EP was more about wanting to live, learn more, see more, feeling both independent and grown up.”

Wax goes on to say that like most true artists, inspiration for his sound can arrive out of nowhere, something reflected on “The Traveler”. “The inspiration came from my first real year of touring and being on the road…all the faces I had met, and people I had the chance to play for. I really wanted to make an album that had more of a 70’s singer/songwriter style, and I think I captured that best in the song “Birmingham”.

Inspiration for this young artist has kept him busy. Even as “The Traveler” is being pushed out right now, Wax has no plans of slowing down. He’s currently working on his second full length album with producer Warren Huart who has previously worked with The Fray and Augustana.  “I want my next record to build upon what I’ve done so far by adding a little more pop and up-tempo songs, and I think Warren and I are going to make an awesome album together!”

If there’s one thing I’ve learned in covering music, the real ones are the ones that do it because they can’t imagine not doing it. A true musician accepts their calling and uses that voice as fuel to create something memorable. There’s a passion, a drive involved that other art forms seem to come up short. I think Wax says it best, “I’d like to hope my shows make you feel something inside, even if I’m not perfect, I hope that passion shines through.”

For more information visit www.MikeyWax.com

]]> 2011-02-14T00:06:28+00:00 Best Friends 4EVA! http://www.jewishtimes.com/index.php/jewishtimes/tuned_in/best_friends_4eva/ http://www.jewishtimes.com/index.php/jewishtimes/tuned_in/best_friends_4eva/ When I was thinking about my next feature, I went down the list of musicians I knew that everyone would enjoy. Then as I was looking on http://www.PensEyeView.com for further inspiration, I remembered two individuals I knew everyone would get a real kick out of. Although not musicians, together their harmonious ability to create some of the funniest material online today, has become something I couldn’t wait to tell my readers. After all, millions of viewers on line have fallen in love with – and been busted at work for watching – Jake Hurwitz and Amir Blumenfeld, the duo that makes up the hit webseries, JakeAndAmir.com of CollegeHumor.com fame.  Jake and Amir are coworkers as well as “best friends who share everything!” (says Amir, that is) who became an instant hit when they started airing clips of their daily work life back in 2006. I was fortunate enough to land an interview with the budding duo back in 2007 on http://www.PensEyeView.com and even hold the title as being their first taste of press. Since then of course, many have flocked to them for their ingenious banter and quotes about their everyday lives together.  Millions of people have been enamored by their chemistry; Jake playing the cool guy and Amir the annoying friend, obsessed with anything Jake happens to find interesting. JakeAndAmir.com, show the two separated by only computers backed up to one another, in a Seinfeld-esque style, discussing seemingly ordinary topics. Then filming interactions between two coworkers, such as music, clothes, an office tour and my all time favorite, when Amir surprises Jake at his parent’s house, for the weekend – hilarious! Amir who majored in business at UC Berkeley always dreamed of a career in comedy and once an offer from CollegeHumor.com came along he didn’t think twice. Same goes for Jake, who was more than happy to land at CollegeHumor.com. Jake describes their meeting as purely happenstance, “We met in September of 2006. We didn’t really have any idea we would “work” on anything like this together. But when we moved offices Amir and I had new desks that were directly across from each other. We started joking around all day and then we just decided to film it.” “Video it.” Amir adds. “Same thing,” Jake corrects. “Not really,” Amir adds. “Next question,” Jake says, as usuall feeling it necessary to make up for Amir’s eagerness and confusion. With such constant material being developed, I wondered if maybe people get wrapped up in the “TV” Jake and Amir versus the real life people. “I actually have gotten e-mails asking if this is what Amir is really like,” Jake tells me. Adding, “We pretty much play our characters nonstop in every conversation we have, so the videos are more or less real life.” Amir is quick to point out though that fame does however have its drawbacks, “I think some people think I’m a huge loser. People have said that to me… they haven’t even seen JakeAndAmir.com either. Pretty weird.” Don’t worry Amir, I love you and so do millions – don’t listen to the haters. The duo’s creative sense of humor helped convince MTV into airing “The College Humor Show” – a series based on all the staff members at CollegeHumor.com.  As well, Amir’s deadpan humor landed him another gig alongside CollegeHumor.com writer, Streeter Siedell as hosts of the hit series (in its second season) “Pranked”, commentating about videos of wild pranks online. The other day I was able to catch up with Jake to see what the boys are up to now. “Our videos are getting close to a half a million hits per week, and we’ve been going to colleges all around the country and performing live. It’s getting tougher to come up with new ideas, but we’re still having a lot of fun.”  Needless to say I wasn’t surprised to hear they are still going strong. For more information on Jake and Amir, check out www.JakeAndAmir.com and www.CollegeHumor.com As well, don’t forget to follow me on Twitter at @RichieFrieman and @PensEyeView When I was thinking about my next feature, I went down the list of musicians I knew that everyone would enjoy. Then as I was looking on http://www.PensEyeView.com for further inspiration, I remembered two individuals I knew everyone would get a real kick out of. Although not musicians, together their harmonious ability to create some of the funniest material online today, has become something I couldn’t wait to tell my readers. After all, millions of viewers on line have fallen in love with – and been busted at work for watching – Jake Hurwitz and Amir Blumenfeld, the duo that makes up the hit webseries, JakeAndAmir.com of CollegeHumor.com fame.  Jake and Amir are coworkers as well as “best friends who share everything!” (says Amir, that is) who became an instant hit when they started airing clips of their daily work life back in 2006.

I was fortunate enough to land an interview with the budding duo back in 2007 on http://www.PensEyeView.com and even hold the title as being their first taste of press. Since then of course, many have flocked to them for their ingenious banter and quotes about their everyday lives together.  Millions of people have been enamored by their chemistry; Jake playing the cool guy and Amir the annoying friend, obsessed with anything Jake happens to find interesting.

JakeAndAmir.com, show the two separated by only computers backed up to one another, in a Seinfeld-esque style, discussing seemingly ordinary topics. Then filming interactions between two coworkers, such as music, clothes, an office tour and my all time favorite, when Amir surprises Jake at his parent’s house, for the weekend – hilarious!

Amir who majored in business at UC Berkeley always dreamed of a career in comedy and once an offer from CollegeHumor.com came along he didn’t think twice. Same goes for Jake, who was more than happy to land at CollegeHumor.com. Jake describes their meeting as purely happenstance, “We met in September of 2006. We didn’t really have any idea we would “work” on anything like this together. But when we moved offices Amir and I had new desks that were directly across from each other. We started joking around all day and then we just decided to film it.”

“Video it.” Amir adds.

“Same thing,” Jake corrects.

“Not really,” Amir adds.

“Next question,” Jake says, as usuall feeling it necessary to make up for Amir’s eagerness and confusion.

With such constant material being developed, I wondered if maybe people get wrapped up in the “TV” Jake and Amir versus the real life people. “I actually have gotten e-mails asking if this is what Amir is really like,” Jake tells me. Adding, “We pretty much play our characters nonstop in every conversation we have, so the videos are more or less real life.”

Amir is quick to point out though that fame does however have its drawbacks, “I think some people think I’m a huge loser. People have said that to me… they haven’t even seen JakeAndAmir.com either. Pretty weird.” Don’t worry Amir, I love you and so do millions – don’t listen to the haters.

The duo’s creative sense of humor helped convince MTV into airing “The College Humor Show” – a series based on all the staff members at CollegeHumor.com.  As well, Amir’s deadpan humor landed him another gig alongside CollegeHumor.com writer, Streeter Siedell as hosts of the hit series (in its second season) “Pranked”, commentating about videos of wild pranks online.

The other day I was able to catch up with Jake to see what the boys are up to now. “Our videos are getting close to a half a million hits per week, and we’ve been going to colleges all around the country and performing live. It’s getting tougher to come up with new ideas, but we’re still having a lot of fun.”  Needless to say I wasn’t surprised to hear they are still going strong.

For more information on Jake and Amir, check out www.JakeAndAmir.com and www.CollegeHumor.com

As well, don’t forget to follow me on Twitter at @RichieFrieman and @PensEyeView

]]> 2010-12-24T00:23:38+00:00 Blind Pilot - The Real Road Warriors http://www.jewishtimes.com/index.php/jewishtimes/tuned_in/blind_pilot_-_the_real_road_warriors/ http://www.jewishtimes.com/index.php/jewishtimes/tuned_in/blind_pilot_-_the_real_road_warriors/ With nearly one thousand interviews we’ve conducted on PensEyeView.com, I have asked each artist their opinion of life out on the road as a professional musician.  Knowing that road life can be both a grueling and enjoyable aspect for them, it’s always interesting to hear what they have to say. And in all my interviews, they either love road life or view it as simply the mechanism for getting their music out there. Even despite the way in which they travel – the high rolling jets to the low level vans with 200,000 plus miles on them – it’s always a mixed bag of emotions when I ask what it’s like living their dream out on the road. Then I get a band like Oregon born, Blind Pilot, who has decided that life on the road should be as challenging as humanly possible – from an outsider’s view at least. In the days where large SUVs are being replaced by fuel efficient cars, Blind Pilot decided to fight global warming head on by… wait for it… biking down the west coast! That’s right – no trains, planes or automobiles for this band, it’s just them on bicycles, pulling along their gear. Israel Nebeker and Ryan Dobrowski, the duo that started Blind Pilot, took their first bike tour from Canada to Mexico… I repeat, Canada to Mexico, where Israel’s 6’1” frame dropped twenty pounds by the time they reached Eugene, Oregon. Just visualizing the map, you can realize at only Eugene, he still had a very long, loooooooong way to go. Talk about a true road warrior. Israel told me, “There was one point when we almost bailed. We were both feeling like this was an insane thing to do and nothing was working like we hoped it would. That was up in Northern Washington (state). The bike trip was Ryan’s idea to start so it’s ironic that it was my stubborn nature that won out for us to keep going a bit further. But, things just got better and better as the trip went on. By the last weeks, we were just ‘in it’.” With the confidence of knowing his decision to keep going was something that would alter his life forever, Israel adds, “There’s never been a time in my life when my path was so clearly laid out in front of me. I don’t mean for that to be a pun. It was hard work physically, but in another sense it was easier than trying to deal with daily distractions of my normal life.” Having grown up in Gearhart, Oregon, Israel immersed himself in everything from The Grateful Dead to west coast artists like Dr. Dre and Snoop Dog. Over the years, Israel’s love for music eventually led to the realization that this was something much more than a hobby.  “For a long time I was waiting for that day to come to me - I was hoping for it. But then at one point I just decided that it’s who I am and it’s what I’m going to do and that beyond that success is relative.” The day where Israel realized his life was meant to be on stage was just the kick start he needed to propel him and Blind Pilot to the top of the intense northwest music scene.  Faster than most, Blind Pilot went from “gigging” from bar to bar, to sharing the stage with major industry acts, to headlining their own tour. Despite Israel’s humbleness to elaborate on the tremendous success Blind Pilot truly has had over the years, the band has not only expanded their sound, but they even picked up some extra bodies along the way. What initially started (when I met them) as a duo of Israel and Dobrowski, the group now includes Kati Claborn on banjo and dulcimer, Luke Ydstie on upright bass, Dave Jorgensen on trumpet and harmonium, and Ian Krist on vibraphone. Currently, Blind Pilot is on a fall tour in support of their full-length debut album, “3 Rounds and a Sound”, which has earned them coverage on national radio (NPR’s “Morning Edition”, “All Songs Considered”), and television (“Last Call with Carson Daly”), even receiving heavy approval from such media outlets as USA Today, the Boston Globe, the New York Post and Wired Magazine (to name a few). Even the single, “Go On, Say It” was chosen as the “Single of the Week” on iTunes. “3 Rounds and a Sound” speaks with much more optimism for Blind Pilot than ever before.  Blind Pilot is and always has been about the music and the lyrics. “3 Rounds and a Sound” is proof of that.  “As it formed, we knew we’d made something good and what we were trying for. For that, we were just beside ourselves with giddiness… I think we’re making music that is inclusive; that anybody could be a part of if they want.” If you aren’t lucky enough to catch Blind Pilot this fall, than please grab a copy of “3 Rounds and a Sound” to check out what all the buzz is about. But if you are lucky enough, treat these guys to some pasta or something – chances are they will be carb loading for their next big ride. For more information on Blind Pilot, check out http://www.blindpilotmusic.com . As well, always check back at www.PensEyeView.com to check out more great artists each day. If you are a band out there that thinks you would make for a great feature, drop me a line at RFrieman@PensEyeView.com With nearly one thousand interviews we’ve conducted on PensEyeView.com, I have asked each artist their opinion of life out on the road as a professional musician.  Knowing that road life can be both a grueling and enjoyable aspect for them, it’s always interesting to hear what they have to say. And in all my interviews, they either love road life or view it as simply the mechanism for getting their music out there. Even despite the way in which they travel – the high rolling jets to the low level vans with 200,000 plus miles on them – it’s always a mixed bag of emotions when I ask what it’s like living their dream out on the road. Then I get a band like Oregon born, Blind Pilot, who has decided that life on the road should be as challenging as humanly possible – from an outsider’s view at least.

In the days where large SUVs are being replaced by fuel efficient cars, Blind Pilot decided to fight global warming head on by… wait for it… biking down the west coast! That’s right – no trains, planes or automobiles for this band, it’s just them on bicycles, pulling along their gear. Israel Nebeker and Ryan Dobrowski, the duo that started Blind Pilot, took their first bike tour from Canada to Mexico… I repeat, Canada to Mexico, where Israel’s 6’1” frame dropped twenty pounds by the time they reached Eugene, Oregon. Just visualizing the map, you can realize at only Eugene, he still had a very long, loooooooong way to go. Talk about a true road warrior.

Israel told me, “There was one point when we almost bailed. We were both feeling like this was an insane thing to do and nothing was working like we hoped it would. That was up in Northern Washington (state). The bike trip was Ryan’s idea to start so it’s ironic that it was my stubborn nature that won out for us to keep going a bit further. But, things just got better and better as the trip went on. By the last weeks, we were just ‘in it’.”

With the confidence of knowing his decision to keep going was something that would alter his life forever, Israel adds, “There’s never been a time in my life when my path was so clearly laid out in front of me. I don’t mean for that to be a pun. It was hard work physically, but in another sense it was easier than trying to deal with daily distractions of my normal life.”

Having grown up in Gearhart, Oregon, Israel immersed himself in everything from The Grateful Dead to west coast artists like Dr. Dre and Snoop Dog. Over the years, Israel’s love for music eventually led to the realization that this was something much more than a hobby.  “For a long time I was waiting for that day to come to me - I was hoping for it. But then at one point I just decided that it’s who I am and it’s what I’m going to do and that beyond that success is relative.” The day where Israel realized his life was meant to be on stage was just the kick start he needed to propel him and Blind Pilot to the top of the intense northwest music scene.  Faster than most, Blind Pilot went from “gigging” from bar to bar, to sharing the stage with major industry acts, to headlining their own tour.

Despite Israel’s humbleness to elaborate on the tremendous success Blind Pilot truly has had over the years, the band has not only expanded their sound, but they even picked up some extra bodies along the way. What initially started (when I met them) as a duo of Israel and Dobrowski, the group now includes Kati Claborn on banjo and dulcimer, Luke Ydstie on upright bass, Dave Jorgensen on trumpet and harmonium, and Ian Krist on vibraphone.

Currently, Blind Pilot is on a fall tour in support of their full-length debut album, “3 Rounds and a Sound”, which has earned them coverage on national radio (NPR’s “Morning Edition”, “All Songs Considered”), and television (“Last Call with Carson Daly”), even receiving heavy approval from such media outlets as USA Today, the Boston Globe, the New York Post and Wired Magazine (to name a few). Even the single, “Go On, Say It” was chosen as the “Single of the Week” on iTunes.

“3 Rounds and a Sound” speaks with much more optimism for Blind Pilot than ever before.  Blind Pilot is and always has been about the music and the lyrics. “3 Rounds and a Sound” is proof of that.  “As it formed, we knew we’d made something good and what we were trying for. For that, we were just beside ourselves with giddiness… I think we’re making music that is inclusive; that anybody could be a part of if they want.”

If you aren’t lucky enough to catch Blind Pilot this fall, than please grab a copy of “3 Rounds and a Sound” to check out what all the buzz is about. But if you are lucky enough, treat these guys to some pasta or something – chances are they will be carb loading for their next big ride.


For more information on Blind Pilot, check out http://www.blindpilotmusic.com . As well, always check back at www.PensEyeView.com to check out more great artists each day. If you are a band out there that thinks you would make for a great feature, drop me a line at RFrieman@PensEyeView.com

]]> 2010-11-05T09:58:44+00:00 Stories of Bob Pressner http://www.jewishtimes.com/index.php/jewishtimes/tuned_in/stories_of_bob_pressner/ http://www.jewishtimes.com/index.php/jewishtimes/tuned_in/stories_of_bob_pressner/ If there is one thing you can learn about me from my articles, it’s that I am a BIG fan of chasing your dreams. I love the pursuit, I love the hunt and I love it even more when it all works out.  In my beautiful tenure with PensEyeView.com, I’ve had the incredibly fortunate opportunity to come across some rare artists with amazing stories. And just when I think I’ve heard the greatest story behind how someone “became” a musician, another one extraordinary story pops up.  I’m not complaining – this fact makes my life as a writer that much more fun and enjoyable. However, with Bob Pressner, I’m so overwhelmed with his stories, that I don’t know where to start. So, when in doubt, just jump right in head first. Let’s start back to when Pressner was just beginning his career and the first time Pressner realized he was onto something. It wasn’t congrats from his family or encouragement from a record label – all of which happened –but rather as Pressner told me, “I guess hanging out with the beat poets, when Allen Ginsberg told me I would be the next Dylan.” Wowzah! To be honest with you, I’d take that compliment over any top executive telling me, “Kid, you’re going to be a star.” But that was only the beginning. Even though Pressner found success in the music industry playing regularly and sharing stages with top acts, he still juggled real life responsibilities with the love for the road. Then, back in 1993, while working as a commodities trader, Pressner’s life was shaken by the (first) bombing of the World Trade Center. Pressner says that after that moment he couldn’t go back to sleep; it forever changed his life. It was that moment that made Pressner realize the dream of living his life as a musician was something he could no longer give secondhand time to anymore. He ditched the cushy confines of Wall Street and picked up his guitar, never looking back. One of the results of this decision is his latest work, “Honor Among Thieves”.  The inspiration for “Honor Among Thieves”? Pressner says, “Living an inspired and interesting life gives me the best ideas.” In Pressner’s own words, he describes his sound as, “A combination of driving rock and beautiful ballads, diversity, complexity, beauty, spirituality, raw emotion. That is what I strive to convey in my sound and in my songs – to be real yet to make people wonder.” And I for one am wondering – and anticipating – what he will think of next. For more information on Bob Pressner, check out my article with him on www.PensEyeView.com. If there is one thing you can learn about me from my articles, it’s that I am a BIG fan of chasing your dreams. I love the pursuit, I love the hunt and I love it even more when it all works out.  In my beautiful tenure with PensEyeView.com, I’ve had the incredibly fortunate opportunity to come across some rare artists with amazing stories. And just when I think I’ve heard the greatest story behind how someone “became” a musician, another one extraordinary story pops up.  I’m not complaining – this fact makes my life as a writer that much more fun and enjoyable. However, with Bob Pressner, I’m so overwhelmed with his stories, that I don’t know where to start. So, when in doubt, just jump right in head first.

Let’s start back to when Pressner was just beginning his career and the first time Pressner realized he was onto something. It wasn’t congrats from his family or encouragement from a record label – all of which happened –but rather as Pressner told me, “I guess hanging out with the beat poets, when Allen Ginsberg told me I would be the next Dylan.” Wowzah! To be honest with you, I’d take that compliment over any top executive telling me, “Kid, you’re going to be a star.” But that was only the beginning.

Even though Pressner found success in the music industry playing regularly and sharing stages with top acts, he still juggled real life responsibilities with the love for the road. Then, back in 1993, while working as a commodities trader, Pressner’s life was shaken by the (first) bombing of the World Trade Center. Pressner says that after that moment he couldn’t go back to sleep; it forever changed his life.


It was that moment that made Pressner realize the dream of living his life as a musician was something he could no longer give secondhand time to anymore. He ditched the cushy confines of Wall Street and picked up his guitar, never looking back. One of the results of this decision is his latest work, “Honor Among Thieves”.  The inspiration for “Honor Among Thieves”? Pressner says, “Living an inspired and interesting life gives me the best ideas.”

In Pressner’s own words, he describes his sound as, “A combination of driving rock and beautiful ballads, diversity, complexity, beauty, spirituality, raw emotion. That is what I strive to convey in my sound and in my songs – to be real yet to make people wonder.” And I for one am wondering – and anticipating – what he will think of next.


For more information on Bob Pressner, check out my article with him on www.PensEyeView.com.

]]> 2010-09-27T23:07:52+00:00 The Only Life Worth Living… http://www.jewishtimes.com/index.php/jewishtimes/tuned_in/the_only_life_worth_living/ http://www.jewishtimes.com/index.php/jewishtimes/tuned_in/the_only_life_worth_living/ “This is the only life I know how to live,” says 27 year old, Zack Borer when asked if he always knew music would be his career one day. It’s an honest answer from an overwhelming grateful singer-songwriter, who is being compared to everyone from O.A.R. to Kings of Leon. As if such high comparisons aren’t praise enough, Borer’s talents have landed him on the same stage with the likes of Jason Mraz and even Dave Matthews – someone who Borer credits with helping shape his own musical styling. “Dave kind of revolutionized the way music was written on the acoustic guitar,” says Borer. So yes, compliments are nice to hear, but Borer hasn’t let those honors steer him in a direction of “the follower”. Very simply, Borer has etched his spot in emerging music hierarchy - a front-runner in the thick and competitive New York City music scene, which has been the springboard needed to send him across the country attracting fans in every city he lands. Although the Canadian-born Borer carries a certain credibility with him now, his rise to the upper echelon of the singer-songwriter world was hardly an overnight endeavor. “The beginning years were developmental for me.  I was trying to find my ‘voice’ as an artist,” Borer recalls. Well, it appears that developmental time has paid off. After being named a Top 5 finalist in the MTV VMA’s “Best Breakout Artist in NYC” competition, Borer went from being the up and comer to the “now and established” – largely due to his explosive live performances. “I try to throw a party every time I perform, and I just want people to have fun.” Fusing pop, rock and funk into a wild display of guitar mastering, Borer has made it his mission to conquer every stage he steps onto. “Once I get the sound right on stage for me, it is all about connecting with the music and making people believe that what I am singing is honest and true.  I think if I can convey that, then I am in good shape.” His words echo his own character, which go far beyond wanting to just entertain his fans. Borer has decided to use his live shows as his own personal soapbox, becoming an official Lifebeat “Hearts & Voices” artist in 2009 and one of the main artists performing for HIV-positive patients all over the city. Borer also took his influence even farther - and global - with the “Movember” campaign, donating proceeds from his shows during the month of November. If honest and true is what Borer is aiming for, he nailed with his new EP titled “Dollars Spent on Nothing”, which Borer refers to as “a snap-shot of where I am as a writer and performer.” I like to think that the title “Dollars Spent on Nothing” derives from Borer’s selfless personality and sharp sense of humor. It’s evident that although there may have not been many dollars in the beginning, Borer is surely reaping the benefits of time spent on his crafting his sound.  “Song ideas are a very difficult thing for me to explain or understand.  They come from nowhere and at the strangest times. If I ‘try’ to sit down and write, I come up with garbage, so I have learned to let the song come to me.” Borer is one of the few gifted musicians who understand that just allowing music to come to you is only a small part of the deal. Music calls on everyone - it’s just a matter of who answers when inspiration rings. Borer chased his dream because he had the passion and commitment to take whatever came his way to achieve it.  Not everyone can take what comes with wanting to pursue music – good and bad - but if inspiration won’t leave you alone, it’s because you are destined to perform. Borer spent countless nights in numerous clubs just waiting to be heard and like any true artist, he was ready. It’s a fact that Borer does not take for granted. “I am overwhelmingly grateful to be where I am now, and excited about where I’m headed.”  For more information on Zack Borer, check out www.ZackBorer.com “This is the only life I know how to live,” says 27 year old, Zack Borer when asked if he always knew music would be his career one day. It’s an honest answer from an overwhelming grateful singer-songwriter, who is being compared to everyone from O.A.R. to Kings of Leon. As if such high comparisons aren’t praise enough, Borer’s talents have landed him on the same stage with the likes of Jason Mraz and even Dave Matthews – someone who Borer credits with helping shape his own musical styling. “Dave kind of revolutionized the way music was written on the acoustic guitar,” says Borer. So yes, compliments are nice to hear, but Borer hasn’t let those honors steer him in a direction of “the follower”. Very simply, Borer has etched his spot in emerging music hierarchy - a front-runner in the thick and competitive New York City music scene, which has been the springboard needed to send him across the country attracting fans in every city he lands.

Although the Canadian-born Borer carries a certain credibility with him now, his rise to the upper echelon of the singer-songwriter world was hardly an overnight endeavor. “The beginning years were developmental for me.  I was trying to find my ‘voice’ as an artist,” Borer recalls. Well, it appears that developmental time has paid off. After being named a Top 5 finalist in the MTV VMA’s “Best Breakout Artist in NYC” competition, Borer went from being the up and comer to the “now and established” – largely due to his explosive live performances. “I try to throw a party every time I perform, and I just want people to have fun.”

Fusing pop, rock and funk into a wild display of guitar mastering, Borer has made it his mission to conquer every stage he steps onto. “Once I get the sound right on stage for me, it is all about connecting with the music and making people believe that what I am singing is honest and true.  I think if I can convey that, then I am in good shape.”

His words echo his own character, which go far beyond wanting to just entertain his fans. Borer has decided to use his live shows as his own personal soapbox, becoming an official Lifebeat “Hearts & Voices” artist in 2009 and one of the main artists performing for HIV-positive patients all over the city. Borer also took his influence even farther - and global - with the “Movember” campaign, donating proceeds from his shows during the month of November.

If honest and true is what Borer is aiming for, he nailed with his new EP titled “Dollars Spent on Nothing”, which Borer refers to as “a snap-shot of where I am as a writer and performer.” I like to think that the title “Dollars Spent on Nothing” derives from Borer’s selfless personality and sharp sense of humor. It’s evident that although there may have not been many dollars in the beginning, Borer is surely reaping the benefits of time spent on his crafting his sound.  “Song ideas are a very difficult thing for me to explain or understand.  They come from nowhere and at the strangest times. If I ‘try’ to sit down and write, I come up with garbage, so I have learned to let the song come to me.”

Borer is one of the few gifted musicians who understand that just allowing music to come to you is only a small part of the deal. Music calls on everyone - it’s just a matter of who answers when inspiration rings. Borer chased his dream because he had the passion and commitment to take whatever came his way to achieve it.  Not everyone can take what comes with wanting to pursue music – good and bad - but if inspiration won’t leave you alone, it’s because you are destined to perform. Borer spent countless nights in numerous clubs just waiting to be heard and like any true artist, he was ready. It’s a fact that Borer does not take for granted. “I am overwhelmingly grateful to be where I am now, and excited about where I’m headed.” 

For more information on Zack Borer, check out www.ZackBorer.com

]]> 2010-08-10T16:58:58+00:00 Behind Every Great Band… http://www.jewishtimes.com/index.php/jewishtimes/tuned_in/behind_every_great_band/ http://www.jewishtimes.com/index.php/jewishtimes/tuned_in/behind_every_great_band/ I’ve interviewed over 600 artists and bands in three years and let me tell you, sometimes it’s not as fun as it sounds. Don’t get me wrong, PensEyeView.com is the best job in the world - I’ve sat down with bands that I used to wait in line for hours at their concerts – so I’m not complaining about that. Sometimes though, getting answers from an artist can be tough. I often wonder how some of them were able to make it this far in the business, let alone make it out of bed in the morning. Then, I remember who put the meeting together; their loyal, dedicated, overworked and hyper attentive manager or publicist who keeps them afloat. One of those magical multitaskers that I’ve been lucky enough to work with has been Jake Wilkenfeld-Mongillo, a musician, manager and publicist who has earned his stripes in the music business by working with mega bands from all genres of the music industry. When bands need help, they turned to Jake who found his own niche for being able to tackle the day-to-day operations of running a band. “Somewhere in college, I discovered that my strongsuit was always on sitting the planning side when it came to being a member of an active band. In every unsigned band, there is (and should be) at least one person who’s on the horn getting the shows, making the phone calls, organizing practices, and making things happen. By no means was I ever alone, but I found I was the point man when it came to these tasks.” Early on, Jake scratched his teeth in various bands since high school, a pop/punk band called Push To Release, along with three years of college at the University of Connecticut playing bass in a nine piece band called Tap Out and is currently balancing his talents playing bass in a pop/ska band called Hey Stranger, and guitar in an early reggae band called The Hard Times. Despite being able to pick up any instrument and play on a whim, Jake was also managing the band’s career and making sure people were paying attention. “I had spent high school and college performing and running my own bands, and had to figure out for myself whether or not it was something I could do full time. I moved to New York City, and after about six months of knocking on doors, and through some very unexpected connections, I found myself a part-time Production Assistant at Rock Ridge Music in Newark, New Jersey, later moving on to Online Marketing and Product Management positions.” Rock Ridge allowed Jake to really get into the inner workings of how bands operate at every level and with each band he took something different away. “I’ve had the pleasure of working with some amazing musicians and gifted songwriters that very much played the artist and creative “role” and I’m sure appreciated my ability to keep my head on straight and get things done. I love having the opportunities to perform and entertain crowds and I think I’m just one of the guys who enjoys the work that it takes to put the myself and my bandmates in front of those crowds.”  Jake adds, “I will say that being the “behind the scenes” guys means making the real relationships and has lead to some great friendships and some great opportunities to play with some of my heroes.” Ironically, what seemed to be a gift of Jake’s from the start, his transition into the music business was first started by operating the “behind the scenes” of Hillel (at his alma mater), where Jake was part of the now defunct Jewish Campus Service Corps Fellowship, charged with engaging those who would not normally participate in organized Jewish life. His job was to spend time meeting those who would likely never step through the doors of Hillel. “My purpose was to help connect them on their terms, where they were at, to Jewish life in a meaningful way. This was by way of meeting students one-on-one, creating on campus initiatives, programs, events, and most of all having great conversations.” Recently Jake has taken on another role as the new Communications Associate for Hazon. “I will be helping improve Hazon’s visibility. They already have a wide range of programming, including high profile bike rides and CSA programs for example, but I will be on the side that helps market those programs. My responsibilities will pretty diverse from writing copy, some web design, PR, mass communications, social media marketing, being a general tech guy, and any other challenges they throw my way.” But don’t think for a second that Jake is stopping with the music while working with Hazon. For musicians - whether they are on stage, behind the scenes or in the car listening to rare live CD they were lucky enough to get a hold of - music is always a part of them. It’s a feeling you can’t escape and a desire that calls on you at all times of the night - the same feeling that brought Jake to New York in the first place and always reminds him that everyone needs someone to be there pushing them towards success. “I’d like to leave this planet a little bit better off than I found it, and I think Hazon is going to be a huge help to me in that respect. When I’m not promoting sustainability, I’ll be playing music and helping out bands, which I can only assume help someone somewhere, given how much music has done for me in my life.”  I’ve interviewed over 600 artists and bands in three years and let me tell you, sometimes it’s not as fun as it sounds. Don’t get me wrong, PensEyeView.com is the best job in the world - I’ve sat down with bands that I used to wait in line for hours at their concerts – so I’m not complaining about that. Sometimes though, getting answers from an artist can be tough. I often wonder how some of them were able to make it this far in the business, let alone make it out of bed in the morning. Then, I remember who put the meeting together; their loyal, dedicated, overworked and hyper attentive manager or publicist who keeps them afloat.

One of those magical multitaskers that I’ve been lucky enough to work with has been Jake Wilkenfeld-Mongillo, a musician, manager and publicist who has earned his stripes in the music business by working with mega bands from all genres of the music industry. When bands need help, they turned to Jake who found his own niche for being able to tackle the day-to-day operations of running a band. “Somewhere in college, I discovered that my strongsuit was always on sitting the planning side when it came to being a member of an active band. In every unsigned band, there is (and should be) at least one person who’s on the horn getting the shows, making the phone calls, organizing practices, and making things happen. By no means was I ever alone, but I found I was the point man when it came to these tasks.”

Early on, Jake scratched his teeth in various bands since high school, a pop/punk band called Push To Release, along with three years of college at the University of Connecticut playing bass in a nine piece band called Tap Out and is currently balancing his talents playing bass in a pop/ska band called Hey Stranger, and guitar in an early reggae band called The Hard Times. Despite being able to pick up any instrument and play on a whim, Jake was also managing the band’s career and making sure people were paying attention. “I had spent high school and college performing and running my own bands, and had to figure out for myself whether or not it was something I could do full time. I moved to New York City, and after about six months of knocking on doors, and through some very unexpected connections, I found myself a part-time Production Assistant at Rock Ridge Music in Newark, New Jersey, later moving on to Online Marketing and Product Management positions.”

Rock Ridge allowed Jake to really get into the inner workings of how bands operate at every level and with each band he took something different away. “I’ve had the pleasure of working with some amazing musicians and gifted songwriters that very much played the artist and creative “role” and I’m sure appreciated my ability to keep my head on straight and get things done. I love having the opportunities to perform and entertain crowds and I think I’m just one of the guys who enjoys the work that it takes to put the myself and my bandmates in front of those crowds.”  Jake adds, “I will say that being the “behind the scenes” guys means making the real relationships and has lead to some great friendships and some great opportunities to play with some of my heroes.”

Ironically, what seemed to be a gift of Jake’s from the start, his transition into the music business was first started by operating the “behind the scenes” of Hillel (at his alma mater), where Jake was part of the now defunct Jewish Campus Service Corps Fellowship, charged with engaging those who would not normally participate in organized Jewish life. His job was to spend time meeting those who would likely never step through the doors of Hillel. “My purpose was to help connect them on their terms, where they were at, to Jewish life in a meaningful way. This was by way of meeting students one-on-one, creating on campus initiatives, programs, events, and most of all having great conversations.”

Recently Jake has taken on another role as the new Communications Associate for Hazon. “I will be helping improve Hazon’s visibility. They already have a wide range of programming, including high profile bike rides and CSA programs for example, but I will be on the side that helps market those programs. My responsibilities will pretty diverse from writing copy, some web design, PR, mass communications, social media marketing, being a general tech guy, and any other challenges they throw my way.”

But don’t think for a second that Jake is stopping with the music while working with Hazon. For musicians - whether they are on stage, behind the scenes or in the car listening to rare live CD they were lucky enough to get a hold of - music is always a part of them. It’s a feeling you can’t escape and a desire that calls on you at all times of the night - the same feeling that brought Jake to New York in the first place and always reminds him that everyone needs someone to be there pushing them towards success.

“I’d like to leave this planet a little bit better off than I found it, and I think Hazon is going to be a huge help to me in that respect. When I’m not promoting sustainability, I’ll be playing music and helping out bands, which I can only assume help someone somewhere, given how much music has done for me in my life.” 

]]> 2010-06-19T17:08:23+00:00 My Jerusalem - Always Just Look To The Future http://www.jewishtimes.com/index.php/jewishtimes/tuned_in/my_jerusalem_-_always_just_look_to_the_future/ http://www.jewishtimes.com/index.php/jewishtimes/tuned_in/my_jerusalem_-_always_just_look_to_the_future/ Each band has a unique story about how they formed. Without question, their discovery always beings with ‘Where they were, Where they weren’t and What finally brought them to find one another’. The members have different answers for the first two but the last part -‘What brought the band together?’ - is always answered with the same pride, excitement and gratitude. Take the eclectic rock band My Jerusalem who describes their meeting by saying, “They [My Jerusalem] wandered their 40 years, collectively at least, through bands and projects that dried up to desert. Milk and honey, stale beer and cigarettes, it didn’t matter – they found their Jerusalem when they found each other”. Founded by critically acclaimed singer/songwriter Jeff Klein, who wandered the “musical desert” as a solo artist for years, never planned on starting a collaborative band of his own. However, after playing with each member of My Jerusalem, separately, he couldn’t shake the idea of bringing each member together as one.  “I didn’t actually start out thinking of forming a band,” Klein recalls. “I’d played with all of them at different times and was like, ‘How great would it be to play with all of these people at the same time?’ And then when we did, it made perfect sense for that to be what we do. We clicked immediately.” Clicking immediately brought forth a sound Klein describes as “Spastic Chamber Gospel Southern Gothic Indie Rock” that can only be produced from a unique bond that each member brings to the band. “We actually all genuinely love each other and get along like the best of friends. Sometimes I feel like we all have telekinetic powers. Nothing has to be spoken and we all seem to know what each other is thinking etc. It’s just easy.” Speaking from experience, Klein adds, “Playing in bands aint always easy.” Although playing in bands can be complicated, ease does comes to mind when you listen to the songs from My Jerusalem’s latest release, “Gone For Good”, which echoes the sounds of each member’s distinctive background, stretching from the diverse rhythm of New Orleans, to the eccentric streets of Austin and the sleepless night of Los Angeles. “Almost everything we played and recorded with was duct taped together,” Klein jokes. “It’s part of our thrift store charm. I think it’s a really rich record. There are some very lush orchestrated songs and some more visceral ones. It’s a bit of all of our personalities welded together. I think if you are a fan of any of the projects we have individually been associated with before, you are going to enjoy this.” Gathering inspiration for the album came from not only their various cities but also their personal lives, Klein says, “I think we draw inspiration from the world around us. People, places, nature. All of it. Our relationships with lovers and friends and the everyday struggle to live life to the fullest.” What took years of bouncing from band-to-band, project-to-project has brought My Jerusalem together – finally - “Gone For Good” is proof that My Jerusalem are no longer wonderers. Are they still searching? Yes. But that is the life of an artist. If you stop searching you stop creating, which is one thing that Klein can never stop doing. Every night when My Jerusalem walks on stage they make sure the crowd knows they have found their place. “There isn’t a moment where any of us don’t feel blessed to still be doing what we do. It’s really all a bit of a blur. I think it’s always good to never look back though. There will always be people that insist your early stuff is better but with any kind of fashion or art, it’s best to always just look to the future. In the end it isn’t about where you’ve been but where you’re at and where you’re going. We’ve all worked hard but are gonna work even harder… And party along the way.” For more information on My Jerusalem, check out: ThisIsMyJerusalem.com Each band has a unique story about how they formed. Without question, their discovery always beings with ‘Where they were, Where they weren’t and What finally brought them to find one another’. The members have different answers for the first two but the last part -‘What brought the band together?’ - is always answered with the same pride, excitement and gratitude. Take the eclectic rock band My Jerusalem who describes their meeting by saying, “They [My Jerusalem] wandered their 40 years, collectively at least, through bands and projects that dried up to desert. Milk and honey, stale beer and cigarettes, it didn’t matter – they found their Jerusalem when they found each other”.

Founded by critically acclaimed singer/songwriter Jeff Klein, who wandered the “musical desert” as a solo artist for years, never planned on starting a collaborative band of his own. However, after playing with each member of My Jerusalem, separately, he couldn’t shake the idea of bringing each member together as one.  “I didn’t actually start out thinking of forming a band,” Klein recalls. “I’d played with all of them at different times and was like, ‘How great would it be to play with all of these people at the same time?’ And then when we did, it made perfect sense for that to be what we do. We clicked immediately.”

Clicking immediately brought forth a sound Klein describes as “Spastic Chamber Gospel Southern Gothic Indie Rock” that can only be produced from a unique bond that each member brings to the band. “We actually all genuinely love each other and get along like the best of friends. Sometimes I feel like we all have telekinetic powers. Nothing has to be spoken and we all seem to know what each other is thinking etc. It’s just easy.” Speaking from experience, Klein adds, “Playing in bands aint always easy.”

Although playing in bands can be complicated, ease does comes to mind when you listen to the songs from My Jerusalem’s latest release, “Gone For Good”, which echoes the sounds of each member’s distinctive background, stretching from the diverse rhythm of New Orleans, to the eccentric streets of Austin and the sleepless night of Los Angeles. “Almost everything we played and recorded with was duct taped together,” Klein jokes. “It’s part of our thrift store charm. I think it’s a really rich record. There are some very lush orchestrated songs and some more visceral ones. It’s a bit of all of our personalities welded together. I think if you are a fan of any of the projects we have individually been associated with before, you are going to enjoy this.” Gathering inspiration for the album came from not only their various cities but also their personal lives, Klein says, “I think we draw inspiration from the world around us. People, places, nature. All of it. Our relationships with lovers and friends and the everyday struggle to live life to the fullest.”


What took years of bouncing from band-to-band, project-to-project has brought My Jerusalem together – finally - “Gone For Good” is proof that My Jerusalem are no longer wonderers. Are they still searching? Yes. But that is the life of an artist. If you stop searching you stop creating, which is one thing that Klein can never stop doing. Every night when My Jerusalem walks on stage they make sure the crowd knows they have found their place. “There isn’t a moment where any of us don’t feel blessed to still be doing what we do. It’s really all a bit of a blur. I think it’s always good to never look back though. There will always be people that insist your early stuff is better but with any kind of fashion or art, it’s best to always just look to the future. In the end it isn’t about where you’ve been but where you’re at and where you’re going. We’ve all worked hard but are gonna work even harder… And party along the way.”

For more information on My Jerusalem, check out: ThisIsMyJerusalem.com

]]> 2010-05-25T12:17:30+00:00