Today we’d like to introduce you to Sam Glaser.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I was born into a musical family, with music coming down the generations on both sides. I grew up singing and started classical piano at age seven. I was in bands from high school and on. Upon graduating from the University of Colorado with a BS in Business and a minor in Voice, I supplemented my music studies at Berklee College of Music in Boston and the UCLA Film Scoring Program. I’ve owned and operated my current studio setup for thirty years, Glaser Musicworks, in Beverlywood.
My initial clients were songwriters, singers and bands looking for professional song and album production. I also became the in-house composer for the Sports Channel of LA, creating the TV soundtrack for all the Angel, Dodger and Clipper home games. Soon I moved over to the WB Network (Channel 5 here in LA), writing incidental music for a variety of shows and sports broadcasts. Warren Miller Entertainment tapped me to write for both TV shows and ski movies, I scored some films for PBS and I did music for the fashion industry thanks to my garment manufacturer father’s connections.
These days I’m primarily doing album production in genres like rock, pop, folk and jazz. I also get TV scores, game and app clients. Album/song clients come to me because I serve as a reliable, reasonable one-stop-shop for all their needs. I’ve produced over a hundred full-length albums and getting my clients from initial concept to the finish line gives me incredible satisfaction. I’m good with understanding the scope of the project and estimating turnaround and budget; I keep my clients focused and finish the projects I start. I’ve written thousands of songs so I can make recommendations on the music and lyric creation front. I coordinate song arrangements, write the charts and hire and direct the studio musicians to get our collaborative vision realized. Being in LA means having a pool of the best players in the world at our disposal. I also serve as a vocal coach and work diligently to aid singers into the best performances of their lives, comping and tuning as needed.
As a keyboard player, I can handle nearly every genre and a vast collection of gear to create any sound palate. Lastly, I mix and master in-house, offering a radio-ready finished product for a fraction of what it might cost in a larger facility. Thank God the studio is fully booked and I don’t advertise. I believe this is due to the power of word-of-mouth and consistently treating people right. Clients marvel at the relaxed vibe of the studio coupled with a stunning amount of work that gets accomplished. They also are blown away at how my studio players are so good-natured and friendly while being vastly accomplished. I feel so blessed to be making music all day (and night!) and I think this joy is evident in every piece of music coming out of here.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
No music career is smooth. This is the craziest business in business. Sustaining success is the big challenge. In terms of scoring to picture, the biggest struggle is in the limited timeframe granted for the musical aspect of the production. Usually, by the time we get actual footage, the deadline is yesterday. Another issue is the plethora a free or library music options, making the custom score more of a rarity. In terms of album production, since streaming has won the day, artists must find other ways to monetize their products. Artists must record or risk stagnation. Thankfully many are still finding ways to produce and distribute new material and allow us to bring their musical dreams to fruition. One-stop production facilities like mine are increasingly attractive since budgets are tighter than ever.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
On the album production front, what sets us apart is in the utilization of time-tested methodologies. Creating an album can be so nebulous, with so many options, so many opportunities for distraction. I get hired as a producer because I really do produce results.
I help the artist refine their goals and keep them focused. I “batch process” songs in that I work extensively in pre-production so that album takes shape in the most efficient manner possible. I chart every detail so that studio musicians can nail their parts without wasting time. I also get the “extra” take: allowing the musicians to take a track or two to give me a “wild” or “more expressive” version, so we have choices at mixdown. I hyper-focus, getting deeply into the music, hearing every detail and accepting nothing other than awesome takes. My drum room is state-of-the-art, floating on neoprene, massive floors, the best mics and mic pres. The top players in the city have learned to call this place home. I also make sure everyone is well fed!
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
I believe we make our own luck. I just finished a nine-year project, my first book, The Joy of Judaism. It’s an intro to just about everything Jewish and one of the subjects is living with abundance. Our attitude shapes our destiny. Seneca said, “Luck is where opportunity meets preparation.” If you’re not ready for that lucky break, it will pass you by. A positive can do attitude coupled with gratitude creates lucky moments. My luckiest moment was meeting my wife. A good partnership will get you through any difficulties that life brings.
I think the secret to our remarkable long-term run in this business is integrity. I take my faith seriously. That means I don’t roll on Shabbas! It also means that I am scrupulously honest and invoice accordingly. It means that when I give an estimate to a client, I don’t “bait and switch” to get them to spend more than they expected. I also clarify when my services as a producer are crossing the line into collaboration or co-authoring the material. I recognize it’s important to always have clear understandings and avoid assumptions. There are so many opportunities to mislead or abuse in the music business. That simply doesn’t happen here. It’s not good for my business in the long or short run, and I know it’s not good with God.
Contact Info:
- Email: sam@samglaser.com
- Website: samglaser.com
- Instagram: sam.glaser
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/9sammyg
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/SamGlaser
- SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/sam-glaser-4
- Other: https://joyjud.com/
