Meet Gabe Lehner of 9 Theory in Shadowhills

Today we’d like to introduce you to Gabe Lehner.

Gabe, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I started playing music in 1996 when I got the bug to shred at blues lead guitar. This led to me starting a band called “jack the original” with some friends almost right away, and we were a band for ten years, learning and growing together. During the band years, I got introduced with recording and producing music on a computer and I started making hip hop beats and electronic music at home. When the band broke up I put all of my energy into my home productions, and this led to me forming two other music projects in 2008: Metrofique and Inspired Flight. Both were a huge joy, but Inspired Flight became my whole focus, and we made a lot of super vibey electronic/hip-hop/indie mash up original music and played a lot of shows. Then in 2013 when Inspired Flight took a hiatus I formed 9 Theory, which is my current main music project where I am a solo artist for the first time, rather than being in a duo or group with other people.

Has it been a smooth road?
Nothing about the road to become 9 Theory, and the successes starting to come along with it as an artist, and as a producer and mixing engineer for other artists, has been smooth. The road has been very bumpy, with the occasional massive sink holes opening up and destroying the road, so to speak. The biggest struggles have been when my band broke up after ten years, and then when Inspired Flight took a break after five years. With both projects I had put all of my eggs in the one basket, so it was pretty devastating when they each came to an end. People who aren’t in bands wouldn’t understand, but it is like having a marriage end, especially if you’re the person who is all in and wants it to work. As I started each new project, and especially 9 Theory, it really was starting over from zero as a new artist in most ways. Sure, I had all of my developed skill sets and connections with people in the industry, but zero following that I had to rebuild from scratch. It has been over six years now, and I am still building.

So, as you know, we’re impressed with 9 Theory – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of and what sets you apart from others.
My business is being a producer and recording/mixing engineer for other artists. I have been making albums now for over 20 years and have done full productions and mixes for over 200 songs now, in many different genres. Although 9 Theory is my artist name for my own work, I also do a ton of production work for other artists. I have become known for specializing in making really vibey beats that lean electronic or in a downtempo or trip-hop kind of hip-hop way. I also specialize in mixing, and these days I feel like it’s what I spend most of my energy doing. I’ve been hired to mix some really great albums lately, and I absolutely love the process. I know there is an endless amount of knowledge, tools, and perspective to gain with mixing music, but I have recently gotten to a point where I can do it very well, and it feels like I kind of unlocked a secret puzzle with mixing. I have this intimate understanding of how to do it now that I’ve been waiting for a long time to have.

When it comes to doing work for other artists, I am most proud of my professionalism, communication skills, and of course the high quality of work that I will turn in for anything I ever do, always. What sets me apart from anyone else in the field is the unique way my musical brain works, combined with my deep understanding of music theory, my ability to play real instruments, and the thousands and thousands of hours of experience I have doing this stuff for over 23 years now.

Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
I am born and raised in San Diego until I was 35 so I have to admit that I grew up basically hating on LA. Padres vs. Dodgers rivalry is real! Now that I have been living in LA though for nearly four years I must say that I absolutely love this city. I know that it is not for everyone, and some people would never love it, but I understand the appeal and the magic of LA. What I like best is it’s diversity being a world city, and also the intangible yet always palpable energy at all times of this being somewhere that the most talented and driven people in every field, especially with arts and entertainment, are here all grinding and networking and creating and working. There is an energy to LA that is hard to explain with words, but the feeling and experience of it is very real for me. In no way is the energy of LA and SD alike, even though they are both in SoCal.

What I like least about LA is the traffic and smog. The infrastructure for cars is just way too outdated for the amount of people living here now, and there are only more and more people coming. The air quality is a major bummer, a lot of that having to do with the traffic situation.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.gabelehner.com
• Email: gabe@9theory.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/9theory
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/9theory
• Twitter: www.twitter.com/9theory
• Other: www.9theory.com

Image Credit:
Marissa Parsons

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