The Jewish Music Show

I have lots to say, but no time to write it. It’s not only the fault of insufficient time, I’m also very bad at remembering to come here and write a post. I had ten minutes to kill and I was thinking it’s such a shame not to write something. Alas, as I said before, I don’t have enough time to really write what I want to.

I pledge to you, my loyal readers, (all 15 of you, oh and also, hi Mom!) that there will be more posts here very soon. For one thing, I’m buying a new camera very soon (for my birthday) and I’m going to use this forum to host the many many pictures I’ll be taking.

I also have posts I like to compose about the long in development Benny Friedman CD which is starting to enter the final stages.

I’ve also got a lot to discuss regarding this industry, the current economy, why CD’s get pushed off, and what NOT to do to generate buzz. After all, despite what some think, not all buzz is good buzz. I also want to write about the right way and the wrong way to use YouTube to push yourself.

For now I guess let’s just bid adieu and I wish you a great Shabbos.

PS – Check out my Shir Hashirim cover. It’s my current pride and joy. There are dozens of original layers here. It’s so sweet.

Click the image to hear the music.

I’ve got three offices. Well, four if you can’t the place we (Dov and I) do the podcast.

1) Sameach 2) my desk at home doing Designs by Sruly non Sameach stuff and 3) The Studio where we record for Benny’s CD.

So I spent the entire day at office number three today. You’d think hanging out at a studio recording music all day would be a walk in the park, but it’s not. For some reason I feel even more tired and drained then I would have just sitting at my desk doing Graphic Design at the office.

I’m trying to update the blog more often. We spent a LOT of time in the studio this week so I felt like I should update the blog (unlike some other people!)

Check out Jewish Lifestyles upcoming issue for a full page blog excerpt for an upcoming post here about Benny’s CD. Then keep an eye out at the end of the Summer for something very big about Benny’s CD in the September issue of Country Yossi Magazine.  I probably shouldn’t be saying this stuff but hey, what’s a blog for if not saying things you are not supposed to be saying!

I don’t have much to write but someone commented I never post so I felt that I needed to post something. I just finished with Yehuda Green’s website. I really like how it came out. I’m also working on a bunch of other artists websites but not supposed to say yet. I finished Benny Amar’s artwork last week, it’s at the printer now. I’m in the middle of doing Ari Boiangiu’s new groups CD. Six Days of Creation. From what I heard so far it’s a really rocking CD.

As far as Benny’s CD is concerned we have 12 songs so far, and we’ll be recording the music very soon. We’re still not sure if we’re going to have more song but we are bouncing around the idea because there are a few great options still open.

I’ll finish this post off with some music comments. I’m still loving Gabay and 8th Note. Benny Amar’s CD has some really great material on out. Look out for Mikdash, Am Echad and Sova (and a beautiful Veashiva.) I’ve heard 8th Day’s Live album and its really great. It’s got a very authentic live show feel. Yosef Karduner is now in stores and his material is always so heartzig. Speaking of heartzig, I’m listening to Baruch Levine’s album and it’s out of this world. Baruch is an extremely talented composer and the album just sounds great.

That’s all for now, we’ll be recording a new podcast on Thursday (allegedly) and we’ll have tons of new music on it so keep an eye out for it. Oh and check out this “New Release” page I set up for Sameach. That way you can keep track of it all in one convenient location.

Sometimes I juggle way too many projects at once. I really want to work on this article I’m writing but I can’t find any quiet time to sit and bond with MS Word 2007. It’s really funny though because the more I write that article the more it turns into a behind the scenes peek into the Benny Friedman album. I have to decide which direction the article should take. What do you think? Do you think people would like an article talking about what makes Jewish music Jewish, or more of an inside look into the Benny album. Although the latter did inspire the former to begin with.

Aside from the article I’m working on a bunch of re-designs of old classic albums we now carry exclusively at Sameach. (Mostly Horahs, Dedi, Project X’s, etc.) If you didn’t see when it came out, I was the main designer on the last issue of the J.E. and what is now known as The Jewish Insights. You can download that issue here.

I’ve also been enjoying lots of great Jewish music. How about you? Here’s a brief rundown of what I’ve been listening to.

The 8th Note CD was really breathtaking. Yossi Green is just a genius. My favorite songs on 8th note are, Sefor, Anovim and Beshiftacha. Yossi Tyberg really out did himself, and that’s not just me saying that. I can’t wait for Yeedle to come out. Dovid Gabay’s CD was better then I’d have ever imagined. My favorites on the album are Brichos Avicha, Nagila, Tana and Zaroh. Again, another amazing producer, Avi, you are my friend and partner in many different projects, so people may think I’m just blowing smoke, but you are truly gifted.
I loved the Michoel Pruzansky’s Tasseh music video. I always say, do more videos, videos are great. Michoel also has my favorte Dov Shurin song on his album, V’lo. If you haven’t hear Dov Shurin’s music you have to. The guy is just out of this world talented. (He composed Zachreini Na also)

Has anyone heard the new Yossi Gurvitz CD? My favorite song on there is Hamelomeid (as anyone who listens to ShmaisRadio will know.) I also heard the Yoel Dovid CD available from L’Chaim. It’s not bad, not bad at all. Speaking of L’Chaim, The magnificent Shira Choir released a great album. Those guys are awesome. (Shraga is the best.)

I don’t know if I said this before but if you haven’t, go out and buy Yitzy Spinner’s CD. I heard one track off of Ari B’s new group album (which I’ll be doing the cover for) and it’s going to be so rocking. Ari is so talented, it’s great. Dovid Stein’s new CD is coming out Rosh Hashana time (as well as Menucha 2!!) and he released a clip, it sounds really nice. This should be an interesting album.

I’ve also been listening to one of Meshulam Greenburger’s albums. I am obsessed with it. If you don’t know who that is call Mostly Music or L’Chaim and buy it right now. It’s not as wild as Lipa but I think it’s really great. Last but not least, on the other side of the Jewish music planet. I have been listening to Momy Levy’s most recent album. It’s called Personal Import. I believe it’s available through Helicon music, but I’m sure Gal Paz sells it too. Momy is the arranger of the Hebrew and English version of The 8th Note song. When you hear the sound and production quality of that type of an album it really just blows you away.

That’s all for now, I hope everyone has a great Pesach. Enjoy the Matzah and don’t drink too much wine. Maybe in the next post I’ll have some studio pics to share.

(Visit these links to hear/see the albums I mentioned.)

MostlyMusic.com | Israel-Music | The8thNoteCD | The Jewish Insights |DovidStein | Pruz.com

My favorite time of the year has finally arrived. Adar! As an added bonus this year there are two Adars. So you may be asking yourself why I like Adar so much. I’m a big believer in Simcha, and in Adar, Mishenichnas Marbim B’Simcha! That’s not the only reason of course. I love Purim, Shalach Manos, Hamantashen, Purim Music, Groggers, Megilas Esther and probably my favorite part of Adar – my birthday. This year though my birthday comes before Purim because of the leap year and the fact that I was born in a leap year on Adar Alef.

The next order of business today is to talk a bit about Benny Friedman’s album. I just helped Benny install his fancy shmancy new blog, and I was thinking to myself, why should he be the only one giving away all the secrets,

I can’t say too much, because Benny, Avi (Newmark) and myself all made a secret special handshake agreement not to give away too many juicy details. (Not really, but it sounds good.) This album is really starting to take on a personality of its own. We have 6 songs for sure, a whole lot of maybes, and more material still coming in. Moshe Laufer has now also been attached to the project, and that’s really exciting. We have heard a lot of really amazing songs from so many different composers. It has got to the point that we are turning songs down “great” songs, because we’re finding songs that are even better.

I know I am biased because I’m working with Avi and Benny, but I’m very confident in the product thats being created. We have only just begun, by the time this over maybe Benny and I can convince Avi to also start a blog. I believe it will be fun to read back on this blog after the album comes out. Everything changes so quickly, sometimes we sit on a song for 6 weeks, others 6 hours.

That’s all for now, I’ve rewritten this a bunch of times, because I wrote to much each time. I hope to keep this up on a semi frequent basis.

As far as the designing aspect of Jewish music. Keep an eye out over the next 2 months for a truckload of new work from me. Starting Monday with the Gabay 2 cover.

Kol Tov,

Sruly

Hey, sorry I don’t have a clever title for this blog post. I just wanted to check in and tell people what’s been going on.

I’m working on finishing 3 CD/DVD projects right now.

The Dovid Gabay 2 CD artwork will be finalized very soon. It has a very “classic” look, it’s awesome. It just oozes class. I’m finishing up the (as they say) long awaited Siman Tov/Mazel Tov CD booklet. That CD was in the works ages ago, but they are finally finishing it. I’ve heard it, it’s got a lot of great wedding songs on there. It’s got a good Sephardic tam to it as well.

I’m also finalizing the OHEL 5767 DVD and CD artwork. This one has been really taking a while. In between taking breaks I’ve also been trying hard for this to be outside the norm of Jewish music art. I hope it comes out nice. I’ve also been redoing a lot of the covers for older CD’s we (sameach) recently bought the rights to. You can check out my website to see if any news ones are there.

What else is happening? Oh, I’ve been expending my freelance work a lot lately. Please consider my services if your in any need of ANY graphic design work, such as a logo, or poster or brochure or any cd/dvd artwork. You can email me at designsbysruly@gmail.com if your looking to hire a graphic artist.

The other, other thing I’m working on now is something I’m VERY excited about. I have the privilege to be working with Avi Newmark and Benny Friedman on Benny’s debut CD. I’m not supposed to say too many details, but it’s going to be super awesome. We make a great trio, we all have very different thoughts on Jewish Music. We’re also all huge fans of classic Jewish music. We’re very nostalgic and we’re determined to make an amazing album. I hope my own personal experiences working for Sameach, seeing what makes something work and what makes something not work, will add to the final product.
We already have a 3 songs in the bank, and the slots are filling up quickly. We’ve started meeting with some big names, including Lipa, who was a blast to discuss Jewish music with. Between the three of us we have been getting songs from every corner of Jewish music. We’ve been listening to so many different styles and blends of Jewish music. Just from what we have now, an already diverse collection.

Benny has an amazing voice and great attitude. He has a pure love for the song of Jewish music. As do Avi and I, and I think this will be an amazing experience, a wonderful journey and in the end – an iconic final product.

That’s it for now, I’ll update when we have more to discuss. When those CD designs are done you’ll see them on the web. I hope you’ll also buy them, because all three (Ohel, Gabay2 & Mazel Tov) are all good collections. I hope to update the blog on what happens with Benny’s CD as well.

The last few weeks have been very hectic here for me. I’ve been working on the artwork for both the HASC 20 CD/DVD and the OHEL 5767 CD/DVD. I just finished the HASC artwork and it will be off to print in the next day or two. I also finished a project (non Sameach related) that I did with Rabbi Green of Sharman’s in Israel. Before I get into the HASC 20 design I just wanted to say that it was such a pleasure working with Rabbi Green.

Should anyone be thinking of attending that school I can just tell you that based on my dealings with Rabbi Green you’d be in for a very mentschlish experience.

Rabbi Green was the ideal client. Everything was organized, every piece of text laid out. He gave me direction and was open with what I was doing artistically. If this was a movie he’d have won an Oscar for Best Director.

If you want to see what the brochure looked like please click here. If you’d like to hire me for a graphic design job of your own, please fill out the job request form by click here.

Now let’s get to HASC 20. I finished the artwork for that project. I think it came out nice, but a few of the versions I had earlier were amazing. The problem with my earlier design for HASC this year was that it was once again on the dark side. Personally thats what I like the most. Either a lot of color or a very stark dark classy layout.

This year they wanted to go for a lighter tone and so we ended up going in a different direction. I think it’s still classy, but outside my comfort zone as far as my individual style. I think the OHEL DVD will much more closely reflect my personal stylistic taste. I’m excited for that to be completed as I think its a really stunning cover.

Today I also started work on a new release poster advertisement that will also be on Bus Stops in Boro Park and Crown Heights and be in the JE Magazine. This design is very colorful and will not almost certainly be noticed when walking down 16th & Kingston Avenues.

As soon as I can share those designs with you I will. You can also check the Jewish Press weekly to see advertisements I did for the Shalom Work Shop.

One last thing to mention, this year Dov Katz and I were asked to be judges at this years YU Battle of the Bands on November 15th, 2007. I think it’s going to be a lot of fun, so if your able to, please come out and join us.

I hope you have a nice week, thank you for reading this little blog.

- Sruly Meyer (10/17/07)

I made up this year to blog more and so here I am.

I have been doing some outside Sameach work recently.

Please check out the ShalomWorkShop.org website. I designed and created it. I also have been doing ads for them and other things. It’s a very important website and if you know any young couples or newly engaged couples make sure to pass it on to them.

I also just completed a DVD job for Rabbi and Mrs. Kunda. They are releasing a new DVD based on the popular CD’s. This DVD is When Zaidy Was Young: Tale Two. (The first tale was released for free through Oorah.) You can download the first one here.I am currently working on the Ohel 5767 and HASC 20 covers. I don’t know which will be released first, but I think they are both turning out to be stunning covers.

Just a reminder, if you or someone you know is looking for a graphic designer, I am doing freelance work outside Sameach. You can reach me at SameachMusic@gmail.com

Last but certainly not least, please keep in mind YITZCHOK MOSHE BEN BAILA SHEVA for a complete Refuah. I hope everyone had a meaningful and spirtual Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur and have an amazing Festival of the Booths (or for the rest of us – Succos)

- Sruly

The Summer is almost over and over the next 4 months there will be a ton of great Jewish music released. I’m working on the covers for both HASC 20 and OHEL 5767. I believe everyone will enjoy both of those DVD’s. We just put up a great 40 minute interview with Shmully and Benny Marcus of 8th Day. It’s a really fun interview. It’s not the kind of Jewish interview you will get anywhere else. It’s very loose and relaxed and more like a chat between friends then a serious interview. They were both throwing things out on the spot. I loved hearing the non 8th Day music such as Kaili Atah and Far Mir Bistu Shein.

It’s been a while since I redesigned the Sameach Podcast page. I felt with the change in season, a change in appearance was also necessary. I must have gone through 20 versions since Friday. I’m not even sure this version will stay as it is. I like the top right now but I’m still not sold on the blue background. Let me know what you think.

Be sure to buy a copy of Lenny Solomon’s new CD. If you never heard any of Lenny’s solo stuff you simply must pick up this album. It’s his best one yet. The music is unreal. I don’t know what they feed the musicians in Israel but they are amazing. Lenny redid the song Someday by Dina Storch (originally sung by M.B.D.) and its shockingly good. It will blow you away, but that isn’t even the only reason to buy it. There are a lot of singable and leibedig song, and as I said the music is crazy good.

I’m probably not supposed to say this, but both Project Next and Relax CD’s that Yochi Briskman came out with are unreal good. Shloime Daskal is simply one of the best. Ever since I heard him sing Boineh on that Oorah CD I’ve become a huge fan of his work. The latest rumor is that Avremel is starting work on the next “Niggunim” album. We don’t know any details and as has been the trend until it’s in our warehouse we won’t know when it does come out. But I’m sure you won’t have to wait too long to hear Avremel on at least one new CD to hit stores in the next few months. (oooh, that was a teaser.)

I will try to update this blog when I’ve got something more to say. I’m thinking of writing a new JE Magazine article. Any ideas for a topic?

I feel like I should be making a self deprecating joke about how the 5 of you who read this blog must have missed me. Isn’t that typical behavior for a blogger who only blogs one post every 3 months? I’m sorry but I am split so many different ways that I rarely have time to come here and really blog. The truth is much of what I’d love to blog about is restricted information.

I’ve been working on a lot of redesigning. We recently acquired the rights to a lot of old titles and we redesigned the covers and changed the names to some of them. Some CD’s didn’t do well and we felt one of the reasons were that it had shvach designs and vague names.

There are a lot of really cool music projects in the works. Too many if I do say so myself. I’d like to see many of these projects leave the in the works stage and reach the newly released stage. Jewish music fans are in for a real treat when some of these cd’s come out. One CD that has been in the works for off and on, at least 6 years. It’s going to be the hit of the year in a way that a CD hasn’t been since Mona 4 came out and all everyone was singing was the Fried, Lipa and MBD songs. (That’s a major hint by the way)

We have a lot of concert CD/DVD’s in the works. By A Lot I mean A TON. There are going to be so many concert DVD’s coming out over the next 12 months people will be in seventh heaven. Some that you are expecting and some that you had no idea about.

Dov and I recorded a podcast commentary for one of them. If that comes out nice we may do it for more of them. We had so much fun recording the 2 plus hours of commentary. (If the producer is reading this blog entry then e-mail me where thats up to!)

If anyone saw the latest J.E. Magazine you know that there are many new artists looking to put out debut albums. The ones listed there aren’t even the bulk of them. There are so many more solo and group CD’s in the works we need flash cards to keep track of them.

Speaking of the J.E. Magazine, I’ve been meaning to write a new article for some times now, but I just havent really thought of a good topic. If you have a suggestion please leave it in the comments section. I was thinking a topic about how to convince your non Jewish Music listening friends that there is a lot of really great Jewish music out there.

Sameach itself is working on a bunch of top secret (and again really cool) albums. I’ve been involved in all those CD’s (as has Hillel and Tzachi) and I think what comes out will be a great combination of all our diverse tastes in music. We each love different artists and styles of music and I think that will make for a special album. (and no we’re not singing!! lol)

So that’s the update, expect some good things this year and I’ll try to come back and blog more often. One last thing, if anyone is in the need for logo’s or an ad or a brochure or posters or a business card or even web design – I do outside jobs as well. You can fill out a job request form at this website.

I don’t charge a lot, I have a quick turnaround and my portfolio speaks for itself.