At first glance, Jake Snider appears to be a typical teenager attending Friends’ Central High School. He listens to music, plays for his school orchestra and jazz ensemble, and spends time with his family and friends—but one thing sets him apart from other teenagers: his musical prowess.
Jake Snider is especially known for his soothing voice and piano. His style is often compared to the music of Coldplay and Jack Johnson.
Snider’s CD, Green Lights for Granted, was released through iTunes on September 4, 2008. It took over 14 hours in July of that year to record the album, which showcases Snider and his band’s unique sound.
“I think it’s cool that a kid so young can get on iTunes,” said senior Karley Cohen. “It’ll be a cool way for people to stumble upon his music and get into him.”
Even at a young age, Snider showed signs of a future in music. He began taking piano lessons at the age of five and even sang along at times. At seven-years-old, he formed and composed music for a band with his brother called the Piggies. Eventually, he decided that it was time to start sharing his compositions with others.
“[In the] summer of 2006, I played the first song I ever wrote at the talent show at Camp Kohut,” said Snider. “It was unbelievably well received, and gave me the confidence to continue writing and performing.”
Since then, Snider has been writing and performing music with Emily Bach (harmonies and vocals), and Jeff Berman (guitarist, bassist, and drummer). He has played multiple concerts at the World Café Live in Philadelphia and MilkBoy Coffee in Ardmore. These concerts have helped him receive recognition around the Philadelphia area—fame may not seem too distant.
“I feel like Jake Snider could be famous,” said sophomore Rachel Zelouf. “He’s dedicated, determined, and a great guy in general. Once people hear his music, I feel like he could get really far.”
While Jake Snider may enjoy all the recognition, even he must admit that it was unexpected.
“Last year when I started being recognized for my music, I was confused because it is something I’ve been doing all my life,” said Snider. “But to the rest of the world…it was as if it was something brand new.”
Eric Cohn
Class of 2012
