Meet Gabe Lehrer | Guitarist, Singer-Songwriter & Audio Engineer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Gabe Lehrer and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Gabe, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
I chose to pursue a creative career at a very young age! I started playing music as a toddler, and although my specific goals and aspirations have changed since then, I’ve always been sure that I want to spend my life making music. I studied classical guitar up until my 18th birthday, which is something I’ve always been grateful for. I think classical training on any instrument provides an excellent foundation on which to build, regardless of what genre you end up playing. When I was younger there was a time when I wanted to be a famous classical guitarist (and I remember telling people that). But once I got into junior high I started to write pop songs, and definitely had a big mental shift in that direction! Folk/pop genres have been my biggest passion since then. At the end of high school, I released my first original solo album, “Cuban Chevy”. Since starting undergrad at ASU in 2017 I’ve been working on a second album, “Small Open Spaces”, which I’m hoping to release on all major music platforms late this year or early next!

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Artistically, there are two outlets that bring me the most joy and fulfillment. One is my work as an audio engineer, and the other is rehearsing and performing with my band, Brake for Snakes. Working on recordings and playing with people are super different activities in pretty much every respect. But they do complement each other well! Recording work requires you to be meticulous, persistent, and extremely patient. I tend to take a perfectionistic approach with my recordings, which results in countless hours of editing and post-production. In contrast, playing live with other people grounds you in the present moment and can feel very spontaneous. It’s all about listening to what the rest of the band is doing from moment to moment and playing off of that. Performing (especially with a group) is much more about energy than musical perfection—which is a big part of why it’s so fun!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I’m not a true Phoenix Metro local, but I do have some favorite local spots. Before the pandemic hit, I was BIG on restaurants! Some of my favorites in Tempe include Yupha’s Thai Kitchen on Elliot, Postino Annex on College, and Original Chopshop on University. I also love walking and biking along Tempe Town Lake, especially when the air cools down at night.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I definitely want to shoutout my bandmates from Brake for Snakes–I’ve never had so much fun playing with people. Thank you Remi Goode, Cole McLeod, Hayden Shaner, and Camille Bruya! Also, a HUGE shoutout to my music teachers, Michael Lich and Tina Walton, who shaped my playing and personality throughout my development. I’d also like to thank all of the professors I’ve had the privilege of studying with at the ASU School of Music these last three years. Last but not least, I want to thank my family and particularly my mother, who has supported my musical endeavors since day one.

Instagram: @gabelehrer https://www.instagram.com/gabelehrer/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCB-RupUQxryk0BTfg5QEPPA
Facebook: @gabelehrermusic https://www.facebook.com/gabelehrermusic
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabe-lehrer-1a2b63132
Other: Gabe Lehrer on Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/gabe-lehrer/1046194026
Gabe Lehrer on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/06CfqbxsJU0O9yy98Z1scS
Brake for Snakes Instagram: @brakeforsnakesband https://www.instagram.com/brakeforsnakesband/
Brake for Snakes Facebook: @brakeforsnakesband https://www.facebook.com/brakeforsnakesband
Brake for Snakes YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpLgtsbrhlJ4bcnIcIAkjOg

Image Credits
Photos by Camille Bruya and Neil Schwartz.