it's been a little while
but I'm here with some updates!
Hello friends,
Apparently, it’s been over a year since I last wrote (oops). A lot has happened since then, in the world and personally, but I’m happy to be back on Substack with a little update about what I’ve been up to.
One of the biggest shifts for me since I last wrote is that I’ve transitioned to focusing on my mastering work full time, alongside a return to making my own music. Speaking of which, a collaborative piece called “leaves: after rain” I made with DC-based artist Locator is being released by Olafur Arnalds’ Opia label on November 13 – check it out here. The piece uses sounds from “Part 3” of my album Still, transformed into something entirely new.
In addition to spending more time on my own music, I’ve been working hard to expand my mastering business. I’ve gotten to work on some beautiful projects this year, and am excited to keep building up that work both literally and figuratively – I’m building a mastering studio! I feel very lucky to get to spend time listening with intense focus to someone’s music, diving into the intention of the sound, and trying to help it be as impactful as it can be.
On the technical side, I’ve deepened my relationship with two amazing manufacturers of the tools I use – namely Audeze headphones and Chord Electronics. I am now on the artist roster for both companies, which means that I get to work closely with them to audition the tools that help me do my absolute best work.
I’ve also recently become an Apple Digital Masters Certified mastering engineer, meaning that I am approved by Apple to give artists final masters of their music that will translate exactly as intended on Apple Music and Apple’s other products.
So with all of that said, next time you need a mastering engineer, get in touch with me!
To close this newsletter out, I’d love to share some of the projects I’ve mastered that were released recently:
Goodbye, Sorrow! by Analise Cotter
Analise’s use of sonic textures in the creation of a musical mood is amazing. She is a singer-songwriter who pays serious attention to the world of the music and I’m immediately transported as a listener. It was produced, recorded, and mixed by her, and mastered by me, all in Troy, New York.
Ahana’s beautiful voice soars over some really wonderful arrangements on this album. I can hear the joy and experimentation that went into making this music. It’s also one of the most international projects I’ve gotten to work on — Ahana is based in southern England, while her producer Diogo Sarabando, who also mixed the album, is based in northern Portugal.
City of Birds, Volume 3 by Elijah Shiffer
Elijah and I were at Manhattan School of Music together, and have worked together several times (this is the fifth album of his that I’ve mastered). Each of the pieces on his City of Birds albums are in some way inspired by or connected to a bird (click on a track on Bandcamp for the details!) and all the birds are also drawn, by Elijah, for the album covers. I love the intersection of jazz and birds. Take a listen to this album, and if you’re in NYC, Elijah leads birding walks all around the city! This album was recorded and mixed at the legendary Rudy Van Gelder Studios by Van Gelder’s protégé and now studio head, Maureen Sickler.
That’s all for now, thanks for reading and talk to you soon!
– Sam
ps. the two photos in this newsletter (excluding the album covers) are photos I took with film cameras!