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"His voice is distinctive, his pitch is excellent, and his phrasing is unlike any musician I've ever heard." - first time listener
Jeremy Lev sat on a stool, bathed in the green- and red-stringed lights of the Cave's stage. He was armed with nothing but his music.
But Tuesday night that's all the 2006 UNC graduate needed.
Lev told the crowd gathered for the tavern's monthly open mic night that he graduated last spring from UNC. A few shouts of congratulations erupted from the darkroom.
"It's good to know I'm not doing anything with my diploma," the singer-songwriter said. "If I'm not using it, that means something good is happening."
"Place mat," someone called out.
"Coaster," yelled another.
Lev said his recently completed tour through the Carolinas was just as encouraging, and, for now, his bachelor's degree will stay tucked safely in the envelope it came in.
"After this two-week tour I'm full of energy and ready to push myself."
Lev, who moved to Raleigh with his family from Los Angeles at age 13, relocated to Chapel Hill last week to promote his debut album "Rhythms From Another Summer."
He spent the summer recording the nine-track disc in Carrboro and Durham. Most of the songs were written during the three previous summers, which Lev spent at the Berklee College of Music in Boston, Eastern Europe and France.
Although Lev is well traveled and said global music is one of his biggest influences, he chose Chapel Hill in the end over somewhere in France as the town to kick off his career.
"I ended up here because I already have a support network," he said. "I thought I could build momentum here more easily."
Lev originally entered UNC on a pre-med track but majored in international studies and minored in religious studies. It wasn't until the fall of his senior year - after spending nine months studying and working in France - that he decided to make music his career.
"I've been involved with music for a long time," said Lev, who played the violin, trumpet and piano before picking up guitar at age 17.
He went to Montpellier the spring of his junior year and ended up staying for nine months after he started a relationship with a French woman.
In France, Lev involved himself in three different musical groups and said the language barrier taught him the power of melody.
He said he usually works out the guitar part and vocal melody of songs before writing lyrics.
"I want the sound of lyrics to sonically work with the music," he said. "Music can kind of dictate what words might be, like a symbiotic relationship."
Now that he's focusing on his music Lev said a large part of a typical day consists of e-mailing industry contacts and working on his Web site, www.jeremylev.com.
"A day job would be distracting," said Lev, who is living off the money he made working in a restaurant during the summer. "People aren't going to buy (the album) if they don't see me play."
And, of course, Lev is busy writing music and practicing his art.
"Performing is the best," he said.
Lev, who is looking for a bass player, said he likes any kind of show but prefers playing with a band.
"Playing with a band, one, gives my songs more energy, and, two, ensures less eyes are on me."
On Tuesday it seemed the eyes watching his open mic performance were pretty impressed.
"He's a funky, jazzy Cat Stevens for the 21st century," said emcee John Saylor, who has run the Cave's monthly open mic night for the past seven years.
Patron Kenneth Hays said he attended Tuesday to check out the fresh talent in Chapel Hill.
"He is a heartfelt singer-songwriter, and there's much emotion behind the songs he sings," Hays said. "He's an inspiring young artist, and I look forward to hearing more from him in the future."
Contact the Features Editor at features@unc.edu. © Copyright 2008 Daily Tar Heel - Daily Tarheel
“…it’s refreshing”
“He’s a funky, jazzy Cat Stevens for the 21st century” - Daily Tarheel
“…earthy, groove-oriented rock.”
“Young co-eds can't resist the dauntless sensitivity of the "guitar guy," here represented by our own Jeremy Lev. A fine specimen, indeed.”
“crafted for those flying inches below the radar” - The Independent
Discography
LP released November 2006. "Rhythms From Another Summer." Available through cdbaby, local music stores, and itunes.
EP pending release 2009. "Invocations"
Photos
Bio
Jeremy Lev first started performing his original songs as a freshman in college at UNC-Chapel Hill. Always told he had distinct vocals and unique songwriting, Jeremy kept his passion for music as a hobby, playing in cafes and bars. However following a storybook year of living in southern France, traveling throughout Europe, working on a vineyard and falling in love with a French girl, Jeremy returned to North Carolina deeply inspired and spiritually rejuvenated. “My passion for music came to the forefront of my consciousness and nothing else seemed as life-fulfilling as pursuing my musical voice” Jeremy says. So following graduation from UNC-Chapel Hill in May 2006, Jeremy put his International Relations degree on standby and pursued a music career.
In fall 2006, Jeremy self-released his alternative/pop debut album - “Rhythms From Another Summer,” an introspective look at the overseas experiences that inspired Jeremy. From fall ’06 to summer ‘07, Jeremy promoted the album by touring throughout the southeast. In summer 2007, after living in North Carolina for ten years Jeremy moved to New York City where he performed in renowned venues such as The Bitter End and Rockwood Music Hall. After one year in New York, Jeremy moved again, this time to his hometown of Los Angeles.
Jeremy says that his music is influenced by the warm intimate singer/songwriter style of artists like Ben Harper and Norah Jones, and the musical depth of classical music. “Musically, I’m usually inspired by a melody or progression I hear in a classical piece. When I mix in the lyrics and contemporary instrumentation the song becomes entirely my own. With my latest EP “Invocations” I think I’ve done a good job of that.”
With his warm, soulful voice and emotionally driven songs, “Invocations” is a 5-song album of beautifully arranged ballads, which mixes thoughtful lyrics and intoxicating melodies with jazzy folk-pop elements. It was recorded at the world renowned Village Studios in Los Angeles and was produced by Steve Weisberg who has worked with Lou Reed, Howard Tate, Marianne Faithful. It features David Piltch (kd Lang, Bill Frisell) on bass and Danny Frankel (Fiona Apple, Beck) on drums. Most noteworthy is the gorgeous string quartet which evocatively brings the songs to life with a melancholy richness that emphasizes Jeremy’s distinct sound.
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