Today Benny Friedman and I went with Shmuli Evers of ShmuliPhoto.com to take some pics for Benny’s CD artwork. I brought my camera too, got some nice pics of the pics being taken. Like this one. We got some amazing pics, I think the cd artwork will rock. We actually were 90 percent done with a different cover but another CD came out that had similar elements so we nixed the original art.
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.
Here is a direct link to the song ….
All the people involved in the making of this song come from different backgrounds. One of the code names I used while discussing this track was “The Achdus Project.” The singers are not just from different communities but different music labels and different music-family dynasties (Benny and Sruly are the nephews of Avraham Fried and Mordechai Ben David, respectively.) I wanted to bring together different people to sing on this song because it is through the Achdus we all displayed in the days during and following the Mumbai tragedy that Moshiach will come. It’s through the Ahava that we display towards each other that we will finally be Zoche to bring this bitter Golus to its long awaited end.
The lyrics are from Maoz Tzur, where we implore Hashem to finally bring an end to the seemingly endless suffering visited upon us.
A Shliach doesn’t have a specific Mission Statement, or a set of parameters for whom they help and when they help. They don’t have off buttons. Even when the event is over, and the people have left whatever Holiday party took place that night, they don’t become “regular” people. That is what is so unique about a Shliach, he stand as a leaders to us all, no matter our level of frumkeit.
Since I was very young I always held a special place in my heart for Shluchim. When I was 14 I had my first experience working for a Shliach. I went with a group of older Bochurim to a Shliach for Yom Tov and helped out with the youth Minyan. Later, when I was about 17, I went with some other Bochurim to Rabbi Dovid Bryn’s Chabad House in the California Club Mall in South Florida. Rabbi Bryn (link) was a shining model of what a Shliach of the Rebbe should be. Quite tragically he passed away far too young, but his kindness and love inspired many others to take over in his place and continue his work.
After I concluded with Yeshiva I spent many years working with Chabad Houses, including 4 years in Northern Virginia. I was working in an area where there was a small but loving and warm group of Shluchim within an hour’s ride from one another. I learned so much about not just being a Shliach, but about being a Chassid, a Mentsch and a human being from those years. What these Shluchim may not have known was that they had an influence on me, a frum Lubavitch Bochur, an influence that would help shape my foundation for years to come.
It’s because of my close connection with Shluchim that when I heard that the Chabad House in Mumbai was under siege, I felt such a strong personal connection to the situation. I was never in Gavi’s Chabad House, but I was in many others just like it. In that respect they are the same. The door is always open, the food is always over flowing, the warmth is always strong, and the smiles always bright. They are there for you. They are there for me. Seeing that kindness and warmness being violated struck me deep in my heart.
As the siege went on I started getting this feeling that I knew Gavriel. I couldn’t place it, but the smile on his face in every photo that flashed across the many websites and TV news programs was strong. I knew that smile. I could just feel it. When we got the terrible news that all the Kedoshim in the Chabad House were murdered, I suddenly remembered where I knew him from.
Gavriel was a learning director in an overnight camp the year I was also a counselor. I didn’t know him well, but once I placed where I knew him from, all the memories of him flooded right back. Most of all, that smile. He had such a love to teach and to get people involved. That may be one of the reasons I was inspired to “do” something. Gavriel would run around the camp at very early hours in the morning to get the kids to learn. Dealing with cranky campers in the wee hours of the morning is not an easy task, but Gavriel always had the bright, wide smile on him. He was excited by it. You could see that learning and “doing” something just put him in a special place.
This is why I dedicate this song to his passion and his warmth and of course his smile. We should all have the mind set that nothing is too hard and we should do everything with passion and with a smile on our face.
Gavriel’s sacrifice and dedication in such a dangerous and remote location will inspire untold numbers of people to realize that no matter how far away you are, you can always be a force for goodness.
It’s our wish that while listening to this song you will donate to the Tzedakahs setup to rebuild the Chabad House in Mumbai, help out with the expenses of the Holtzberg’s now orphaned children and the families of the the other Kedoshim murdered in the Chabad House.
A Special thanks to everyone involved in this track. When I called, you answered and were eager and excited to jump on board.
To Mr. Zevi Wolmark, thank you for sponsoring the track. We shared a vision, and we made it happen. May G-d bless you with continued success in all the good that you do.
Thank you Izzy Taubenfeld, of Sameach Music (JewishJukebox.com) and Mendy Werdyger of Aderet Music (Mostlymusic.com) for additional sponsorship. You are a blessing to Jewish music. Thank you for joining forces in honor of these heroes. Â
I also want to thank Avi Newmark, Yitzy Spinner, Benny Friedman, Yisroel Werdyger, Ian Freitor, Eli Lishinksy, C Lanzbom and TeeM Productions. Your enthusiasm in jumping on board was energizing, inspiring, and very much appreciated.
This is something I am tremendously proud of, and I hope that this spirit of Achdus will continue and spread, not just through the Jewish music community, but throughout and across the Jewish community and the world. May we only know from Simchas, and may we merit the coming of Moshiach now, when we will really dance to happy news.
Wishing you a Freiliche and a Lichtige Chanuka,
Sruly Meyer
I wrote up a whole long post last week and then I decided to use it as an article instead. One of the Jewish Magazines was interested in publishing it, so look out in a few weeks for an excerpt from this blog. When it’s out I’ll post it here as well. The post was all about Benny’s CD. About workign on something so big from behind the scenes. It’s really exciting now that we have a lot of the music done for many of the songs. We did some vocals last week, we’re going to do more this week. I’m loving every minute of this experience. As we get closer to the end of the summer I’ll start unveiling some real hard cold facts. For now, you’ll just have to take my word for it. It’s amazing.
What else is happening with me? Nothing much, we’re painting in my house, we’re on week 3 so, ya, that’s fun. I’m meeting with a pretty big name in Jewish Music this week to work on his website. This will be my biggest website to date, it’s going to be H-U-G-E with some very cool features. I finished the Ari B Six Days of Creation booklet last week, that should be coming out to stores this week.
More updates coming later, more pics later from this weeks studio session. That’s all for now, hasta.
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
