Sam Spiegel (musician)

Sam Spiegel is an American DJ, producer, composer, and director from New York who grew up in Manhattan and Westchester County.

As a child, Sam studied classical voice, cello, and flute. By his teens, he enjoyed hip hop music.

In addition to creating his own material, Spiegel has worked with musicians such as Ben Lee, Maroon 5, Del tha Funkee Homosapien, and Yeah Yeah Yeahs. He has also scored commercials for companies including Converse, Levi's, Reebok, ESPN, T Mobile, Jose Cuervo, and Saturn, and his production company scored the video game Skate 2.[1] Though he attempts to create music free of record label restraints, Spiegel also licenses his songs whenever possible so as to maximize exposure for his work.[2]

Spiegel is brother of film director Spike Jonze. They collaborated on the Adidas TV commercial Hello Tomorrow, for which Sam Spiegel created the score sung by Karen O. The titular song briefly reached #1 on the iTunes singles chart.[3] Spiegel also wrote the score for Jonze's 2010 short film I'm Here.[4][5]

Sam Spiegel most recently worked on a “psycho-opera”, entitled “Stop The Virgens”, spearheaded by his good friend and front woman of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Karen O . The show has been dubbed as “an assault on the tragic joys of youth”. The opera premiered at St. Ann’s Warehouse in Brooklyn on October 12 for 8 performances, concluding on October 22. It was produced The Creators Project and directed by Adam Rapp. The opera serves as a live version of the songs from an album that Sam produced and wrote with Karen. Sam and Yeah Yeah Yeahs guitarist Nick Zinner served as musical directors. Also contributing to the “original live experience” were musicians Money Mark, the YYY’s drummer Brian Chase, Jack Lawrence and Patrick Keeler of the Greenhornes/Racanteours as well as sound design by Andres Velasquez.

N.A.S.A.

Spiegel previously worked with DJ Zegon on N.A.S.A. (North America/South America) and released The Spirit of Apollo as a duo, but has since taken on the project as a solo endeavor and has been working on his new album expected to be released in early 2015. Their debut album, The Spirit of Apollo, includes Kanye West, Karen O and Nick Zinner of Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Lykke Li, John Frusciante of Red Hot Chili Peppers, Tom Waits, Nina Persson of The Cardigans, George Clinton, David Byrne, M.I.A., RZA, Method Man, Ghostface Killah, and Ol' Dirty Bastard of Wu-Tang Clan. Such collaborations earned Spiegel the title "Hot Star Magnet" on Rolling Stone's annual "Hot List" in 2008.[3] The album was "a conscious effort by NASA to show how people can be brought together by music and art."[1]

The Spirit of Apollo took over five years to create, and some songs required N.A.S.A. to wait up to three years for collaborators' schedules to match.[2] It was finally released on February 17, 2009, and received generally favorable reviews.[6] N.A.S.A.'s music also appears in the video game DJ Hero, in a mash-up with Daft Punk's Da Funk.[2]

Maximum Hedrum

Spiegel is currently working on a new project, Maximum Hedrum, collaborating with Harold Faltermeyer and Derrick Green (of Sepultura). In 2011 "Keep In Touch (Feel Me)" feat. George Clinton, was licensed to a BlackBerry commercial. In November 2012 "Keep In Touch (Feel Me)" and "Synthesize", two tracks from the upcoming album, were released commercially on iTunes and Amazon.com and as free downloands via Soundcloud and Facebook. "Synthesize" was featured in Girl Skateboards film, Pretty Sweet.[7][8]

Commercial and other Work

On August 18, 2010, The Standard New York Hotel was the setting for a harmonically synchronized light and sound show produced by Spiegel. The Target Kaleidoscopic Fashion Spectacular featured a fashion show on the street level while inside the hotel, 66 dancers performed choreography synchronized with fast-paced lighting patterns set to Spiegel's music score in 150 different rooms, using the glass walls of the hotel to display a multi-floor show, highlighting that year's Fall styles.

Spiegel was pivotal to the project as he not only created the score but brought together many of the other contributing artists as well. The show featured the creative direction of Mother New York, the directors at LEGS, lighting choreographers at Bionic League (who have worked with Daft Punk & Kanye West), and the dance choreographer Sir Ryan Heffington.

Spiegel was the music director for Kanye West's critically acclaimed 2008 world Glow in the Dark Tour.

Film credits

Yeah Right! by Girl Skateboards
Release Date: 2003
Directors: Spike Jonze and Ty Evans
Original Music: Sam Spiegel

Hot Chocolate by Chocolate Skateboards
Release Date: 2004
Directors: Spike Jonze, Ty Evans, Cory Weincheque
Original Music: Sam Spiegel

Pretty Things
Release Date: 2005
Director: Liz Goldwyn
Original Music: Sam Spiegel

City. Park City.
Release Date: 2006
Directors: Jim Mangan and Whitey McConnaughy
Original Music: Sam Spiegel

Warren Miller’s Off The Grid
Release Date: 2006
Director: Max Bervy
Original Music: Sam Spiegel

Warren Miller’s Playground
Release Date: 2007
Director: Max Bervy
Original Music: Sam Spiegel and 2Mex

The Boys and Girls Guide to Getting Down
Release Date: September 11th, 2007
Director: Paul Sapiano
Starring: Cricket Leigh, Kat Turner, and John McGarr
Music: In the Hall of the Mountain King Cover by Sam Spiegel

Fully Flared by Lakai
Release Date: December 7th 2007
Directors: Ty Evans, Spike Jonze, Cory Weincheque
Original Music: Sam Spiegel and Koool G Murder

Beautiful Losers
Release Date: August 2nd 2008
Directors: Aaron Rose, Joshua Leonard
Starring: Thomas Campbell, Shepard Fairey, Jo Jackson, Harmony Korine
Original Music: Sam Spiegel and Koool G Murder

We Were Once A Fairytale
Release Date: June 24th 2009
Director: Spike Jonze
Starring: Kanye West
Original Music: Sam Spiegel and Koool G Murder

Whip It
Release Date: October 2nd 2009
Director: Drew Barrymore
Starring: Ellen Page, Drew Barrymore, and Kristen Wiig
Music: "Lollipop" (Squeak E. Clean/Desert Eagles Mix) by The Chordettes

Cop Out
Release Date: February 26, 2010
Director: Kevin Smith
Starring: Bruce Willis and Tracy Chapman
Original Music: Sam Spiegel and Harold Faltermeyer

Absolut "I'm Here"
Release Date: January 21, 2010
Director: Spike Jonze
Starring: Andrew Garfield, Sienna Guillory
Original Music: Sam Spiegel and Brent Nichols

Jackass 3D
Release Date: October 15, 2010
Director: Jeff Tremaine
Starring: Johnny Knoxville, Bam Margera, Steve-O
Music: "If You're Gonna Be Dumb, You Gotta Be Tough" (cover by Sam Spiegel and Karen O.) by Roger Allan Wade, "Corona" (Jackass Opera Mix by Sam Spiegel) by The Minutemen

Mourir Aupres De Toi
Release Date: 2011
Directors: Spike Jonze and Simon Cahn
Writer: Olympia Le-Tan
Starring: Spike Jonze, Pierre Le-Tan, and Soko
Original Music: Sam Spiegel and Koool G Murder

Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa
Release Date: October 25, 2013
Directors: Jeff Tremaine
Writer: Jeff Tremaine, Johnny Knoxville and Spike Jonze
Starring: Johnny Knoxville and Jackson Nicoll
Original Music: Sam Spiegel and Koool G. Murder

Video game credits

EA Skate Mike Carrol Video by Girl Skateboards
Release Date: September 14, 2007
Production Company: Black Box
Music: Squeak E. Clean

Skate 2
Release Date: January 21, 2009
Production Company: Black Box
Music: Squeak E. Clean

Blitz: The League
Music: Fatlip “Today’s Your Day (Whachagonedu?)” (produced by Sam Spiegel)

Producer discography

Squeak E. Clean presents Bald Head Slick (aka Guru)/2Mex I Win, U Lose/Once-Again(Single)
Release Date: March 1, 2005
Label: Dim Mak Records
Producer: Sam Spiegel

Fatlip - The Loneliest Punk
Release Date: October 25, 2005
Label: Delicious Vinyl
Producer, “Today’s Your Day” and “Freaky Bumps”: Sam Spiegel

Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Show Your Bones
Release Date: March 28, 2006
Label: Interscope Records
Producer: Sam Spiegel

Donavon Frankenreiter - Move By Yourself
Release Date: June 6, 2006
Label: UMG Recordings, Inc.
Producer, “Turn On Your Heart” (Single): Sam Spiegel

Swollen Members Black Magic
Release Date: September 12, 2006
Label: Battle Axe Records
Producer, “Go To Sleep”: Sam Spiegel

Crystal Castles - Crystal Castles
Release Date: March 18, 2008
Label: Lies Records
Producer, “Courtship Dating”, Through the Hosiery”, “Black Panther”: Sam Spiegel

Donavon Frankenreiter - Pass It Around
Release Date: August 19, 2008
Label: UMG Recordings, Inc.
Producer, “Life, Love, and Laughter”: Sam Spiegel

Notable commercial work

Adidas Hello Tomorrow
Release Date: 2005
Agency: TBWA\Chiat\Day SF
Director: Spike Jonze
Original Music: Sam Spiegel and Karen O.
Awards: Gold Lion for Best Music at Cannes 2005, Best Original Music at AICP 2006

Target Kaleidoscopic Fashion Spectacular
Event Date: August 18, 2010
Agency: Mother NY
Director: LEGS
Original Score: Sam Spiegel
VFX: Bionic League
Choreographer: Ryan Heffington

Sci-fi Channel Human Suit
Production Company: RSA Films
Director: Albert Kodagolian
Original Music: Sam Spiegel, Kelley Logsdon, and Brent Nichols
Awards: Silver Clio for Original Music at the Clio Awards 2006

References

  1. 1 2 Beer, Jeff (2009-03-10). "Squeak E. Clean Mixes Business with Pleasure". Creativity. Retrieved 2009-03-12.
  2. 1 2 3 Ferreiro, Laura (2009-02-10). "N.A.S.A.'s DJ Squeak E. Clean: Ready for Liftoff". LA Weekly. Retrieved 2009-03-12.
  3. 1 2 O'Donnell, Kevin. "Hot Star Magnet: Sam Spiegel". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2009-03-12.
  4. ↑ http://imheremovie.tumblr.com/post/379683378/three-questions-to-aska
  5. ↑ http://www.imheremovie.com/#
  6. ↑ "N.A.S.A.: The Spirit Of Apollo (2009): Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved 2009-03-12.
  7. ↑ https://soundcloud.com/maximum-hedrum
  8. ↑ http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/posts/la-et-ms-sam-spiegel-maximum-hedrum-20121129,0,7374273.story
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