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Listeners can hear
selections from If
Right Now Played
Guitar on the
musician's Web site.
Jewish songs
in his reper-
toire. The
guitac 1,3C, C3 Lefigin"
if right
next instru-
ment that
claimed
Lerner's
attention
was the gui-
tar, and the
young musi-
cian read
books
and
&
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taught
him-
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self.
Writing
Todd Lerner played the instruments, sang and did all the engineering for his new recording.
songs began when he was 10 as a
SUZANNE CHESSLER
progression
from working with
music just about forever, he's never steal the CD!'
Special to the Jewish News
chords.
appeared on any kind of stage.
The title track relates his sense
After attending the Parsons
"I've been playing instruments
of life. In other tracks, "Television
odd Lerner is giving away
School
of Design in New York,
and writing music all my life," says light" has to do with being happy
free samples from his first
Lerner,
who has worked for
Lerner, 45, who researched and
with himself, and "Fa fa fa fa"
CD to anyone with a corn-
Rolling
Stone, Spin and Blender
studied recording technology to
describes frustrations with people
puter. It's his way of introducing
magazines,
became an illustrator
take charge of producing the CD.
who are evasive.
and promoting songs he has writ-
and
graphic
designer. He moved
"Because of the way technology
Although other tracks are not
ten and recorded.
on
to
writing
copy, producing
has developed, I could do all the
for downloading, they can be
Lerner has been preparing for
advertising
and
exploring mar-
work in a home studio."
heard on the Web.
his debut album, If Right Now
keting
before
deciding
to launch
Lerner decided to try the give-
"I've never been in a band or
Played Guitar, for 10 years and is
his
own
agency.
away approach based on career
tried doing live performances
offering the first track, "Song for
Lerner moved to Michigan 10
experiences.
because I thought recording would
Free,' to people who can download
years
ago and married Nancy
While earning his living
be a better way to pursue my own,
it from his Web site,
Koziatek,
a Michiganian whom he
through Todd Lerner Advertising,
very personal vision of music:'
wwwSongforFree.com . The sam-
met
in
New
York. Although they
operated out of his Farmington
Lerner says. "Now, I'm thinking
ple is one of 11 numbers that
divorced
after
having two daugh-
Hills home, the music enthusiast
about getting a group together!'
express his outlook through alter-
ters, Koziatek can be heard on
has done lots of work with direct
native pop-rock arrangements.
Lerner's CD.
marketing. After offering free mag-
While the recording itself repre-
"I worked with a computer,
azines to potential customers, he
Learning Music
sents a personal milestone, it also
synthesizer,
piano, real drums,
thought to do the same with his
Lerner, who grew up in
represents a public milestone
bass
guitar,
electric
guitar and
recording.
Philadelphia, learned how to play
because it becomes the first time
mixing
system'
,
'
Lerner
says. "I
"Take this song for free',' is the
the piano from his father, Harold
he's performed for the public.
played
the
instruments,
sang and
message of the sample song
Lerner, an instrumental hobbyist
Although it seems to him that he
did
all
the
engineering.
I
alsb
released on his label, Todd Lerner
who emphasized the importance
has been experimenting with
designed
the
CD
packaging
and
Music. "Share the song but don't
of knowing chords and included
---
:
T
50
kept it all with a minimalist
appearance."
One surprise for Lerner came
after selections from If Right Now
Played Guitar were broadcast by a
local radio station. Interest in the
CD spread to podcasts, including
WWW. MUS ic.podsh OW. CO m.
'As an independent record pro-
ducer, I can't get on the big radio
stations, so getting heard on pod-
casts has provided a wonderful
opportunity for me he says. "I
like being part of any radio show
posted on the Internet, and I'm
glad these songs are being down-
loaded to computers and iPods of
listeners."
Besides pursuing his business
and recording interests, Lerner is
reconnecting with Judaism.
Raised with a secular outlook, he
is trying to bring a Jewish per-
spective to his daughters, who
are getting a Christian orienta-
tion from their mother.
"I recently signed up on J-
Date, and I'm now looking to fall
in love with a nice Jewish woman
for a change explains Lerner,
who enjoys playing pool for
recreation. "It was connecting
with JDate that gave me the idea
to send the press kit for my CD
to the Jewish News." El
To sample Todd Lerner's
CD and for purchase
information, go to
www.SongforFree.com .
November 24 • 2005 .