Sounwave

Sounwave
Birth nameMark Anthony Spears
Born (1986-02-28) February 28, 1986 (age 38)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
OriginCompton, California, U.S.
Genres
Occupations
  • Record producer
  • songwriter
Children1
Years active1999–present
Labels
Member of

Mark Anthony Spears (born February 28, 1986), known professionally as Sounwave, is an American record producer and songwriter. He is a frequent collaborator of rapper Kendrick Lamar, having worked on all of his projects since his 2009 self-titled extended play. Sounwave has also worked with artists such as Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, Kali Uchis, Schoolboy Q, Mac Miller, and Bleachers. He has won three Grammy Awards, including two for Best Rap Album.

Early life

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Sounwave was born Mark Anthony Spears on February 28, 1986, in Los Angeles, California.[1][2] His parents are elementary school sweethearts from Selma, Alabama, and relocated to Los Angeles in the 1970s so his father could pursue a dancing career for Soul Train.[3] Spears has two older brothers and was raised in Compton.[3] He was first inspired to pursue music after hearing the instrumentals on "Up Jumps da Boogie" by Timbaland. As a child, Spears used a Korg drum machine and a karaoke machine to create music.[4] From there, he purchased a 4-track machine and began using the PlayStation video game MTV Music Generator (1999) to produce songs.[4]

Career

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1999–2009: Career beginnings

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Spears was discovered by Terrance "Punch" Henderson, co-president of Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE), when he was 13 years old.[3] After meeting with rapper Bishop Lamont, he produced a song for him using MTV Music Generator, which later received radio placement.[4] He graduated from Compton High School in 2005 and was gifted an Akai MPC by his cousin; it soon became one of his primary production tools.[4] Spears first met rapper Kendrick Lamar in a recording studio in Gardena, California. Lamar was silent until Spears played a spin of Aalon's 1977 song "Rock and Roll Gangster", which made him rush to the recording booth and rap for two minutes straight.[3]

One year later, Spears met TDE's founder and chief executive officer Anthony "Top Dawg" Tiffith, who was originally unimpressed with him, but Spears persisted and honed his craft, and later blew Tiffith away.[5] Spears later reconnected with Lamar and became a member of TDE's in-house production team Digi+Phonics, alongside Tae Beast, Dave Free and Willie B.[5] His earliest work for the label includes production credits on Lamar's 2009 self titled extended play and Flo Rida's second album R.O.O.T.S.[6][4]

2010–2014: Recognition

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Spears was one of the primary producers of Lamar's final mixtape Overly Dedicated (2010) and his debut studio album Section.80 (2011). For his work on the latter album, he was highlighted by Complex on their 15 New Producers to Watch list.[7] He produced three songs on Lamar's second album Good Kid, M.A.A.D City (2012): "Bitch Don't Kill My Vibe", "M.A.A.D. City", and "Sing About Me, I'm Dying of Thirst". As a member of Digi+Phonics, he was highlighted by Complex for a second time and earned his first Grammy Award nomination for Album of the Year for his work on Good Kid, M.A.A.D City.[8][6] Spears also made contributions to Schoolboy Q's second album Habits & Contradictions (2012),[9][1] his third album Oxymoron, and Isaiah Rashad's debut album Cilvia Demo (both 2014).[10][11]

2015–present: Breakthrough and other projects

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Spears produced a majority of Lamar's third album To Pimp a Butterfly (2015), which several publications have named as one of the best albums of the 2010s decade.[12][13] At the 58th Annual Grammy Awards, he won Best Rap Song for co-writing the album's fourth single "Alright" and received a second nomination for Album of the Year.[14] For Lamar's fourth album Damn (2017), Spears won Best Rap Album and picked up a third Album of the Year nomination at the 60th Annual Grammy Awards.[15] In 2018, he co-wrote, produced, and handled A&R for the film soundtrack Black Panther: The Album,[16] and contributed to singer-songwriter Kali Uchis' debut album Isolation.[17] Black Panther: The Album received five nominations at the 61st Annual Grammy Awards, including for Album of the Year, marking the first time a soundtrack album was nominated for the honor since O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000).[18] Its lead single, "All the Stars", earned nominations for Best Original Song at the Academy Awards, Golden Globe Awards, and Critics' Choice Movie Awards.[19][20][21]

In 2019, Spears contributed to several singer-songwriters, including Beyoncé's soundtrack album The Lion King: The Gift, Taylor Swift's seventh album Lover, and Mary J. Blige's single "Know".[22][23][24] The same year, he formed the synth-pop supergroup Red Hearse with musician and producer Jack Antonoff and singer-songwriter Sam Dew.[25] Their self-titled debut album was released through RCA Records.[26] For his work as the primary producer of Lamar's fifth album Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers (2022), Spears won Best Rap Album for the second time at the 65th Annual Grammy Awards, and earned a fourth nomination for Album of the Year.[27]

Personal life

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Spears resides in West Hills, Los Angeles with his partner, poet and songwriter Reyna Biddy, and their son, Umi.[28][29]

Discography

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Key
‡ Indicates songs solely written or produced by Sounwave
Notable songs
Year Song Artist Album Written with Produced with
2011 "A.D.H.D" Kendrick Lamar Section.80 Kendrick Duckworth Sole production ‡
2012 "Bitch, Don't Kill My Vibe" Good Kid, M.A.A.D City Kendrick Duckworth, Robin Braun, Vindahl Friis, Lykke Schmidt
"M.A.A.D City" (featuring MC Eiht) Kendrick Duckworth, Ricci Riera, Axel Morgan, Aaron Tyler, Quincy Hanley THC, Terrace Martin
"Sing About Me, I'm Dying of Thirst" — Skhye Hutch
2015 "Alright" To Pimp a Butterfly Kendrick Duckworth, Pharrell Williams Pharrell Williams
"King Kunta" — Terrace Martin, Michael Kuhle
2016 "That Part" (featuring Kanye West) Schoolboy Q Blank Face LP Quincy Hanley, Kanye West, Ronald LaTour, Daveon Jackson, Kevin Gomringer, Tim Gomringer Cardo, Yung Exclusive, Cubeatz
2017 "Yah" Kendrick Lamar Damn Kendrick Duckworth, Dacoury Natche, Anthony Tiffith DJ Dahi, Top Dawg, Bekon
"Element" Kendrick Duckworth, James Blake, Ricci Riera, Daniel Tannenbaum James Blake, Ricci Riera
"Feel" Kendrick Duckworth Sole production ‡
"Loyalty" (featuring Rihanna) Kendrick Duckworth, Dacoury Natche, Anthony Tiffith, Robyn Fenty Bruno Mars, Philip Lawrence, Christopher Brody Brown, Robert Diggs, Russell Jones, Shawn Carter, Ricardo Thomas, Malik Cox, Calvin Broadus DJ Dahi, Top Dawg
"Lust" Kendrick Duckworth, Dacoury Natche, Chester Hansen, Alexander Sowinski, Matthew Tavares, Leland Whitty DJ Dahi, BadBadNotGood
"Love" (featuring Zacari) Kendrick Duckworth, Anthony Tiffith, Zacari Pacaldo, Travis Walton, Greg Kurstin Teddy Walton, Greg Kurstin, Top Dawg
"XXX" (featuring U2) Kendrick Duckworth, Dacoury Natche, Anthony Tiffith, Michael Williams II, Paul Hewson, David Evans, Adam Clayton, Larry Mullen Jr. DJ Dahi, Top Dawg, Bekon, Mike Will Made It
"God" Kendrick Duckworth, Ricci Riera, Dacoury Natche, Anthony Tiffith, Daniel Tannenbaum, Ronald LaTour, Travis Walton, Daveon Jackson, Mike Hector, Brock Korsan DJ Dahi, Ricci Riera, Bekon, Cardo, Top Dawg, Yung Exclusive, Mike Hector, Teddy Walton
2018 "All the Stars" Kendrick Lamar and SZA Black Panther: The Album Kendrick Duckworth, Solána Rowe, Al Shuckburgh, Anthony Tiffith Al Shux
"King's Dead" Jay Rock, Kendrick Lamar, Future and James Blake Kendrick Duckworth, Johnny McKinzie Jr., Nayvadius Wilburn, James Litherland, Samuel Gloade, Anthony Tiffith, Michael Williams, Travis Walton, Antwon Hicks, Axel Morgan Mike Will Made It, Teddy Walton, Twon Beatz, 30 Roc
2019 "London Boy" Taylor Swift Lover Taylor Swift, Jack Antonoff
2022 "N95" Kendrick Lamar Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers Kendrick Duckworth, Matthew Samuels, Jahaan Sweet, Hykeem Carter Jr., Sam Dew Boi-1da, Japan Sweet, Baby Keem
"Lavender Haze" Taylor Swift Midnights Taylor Swift, Jack Antonoff, Zoë Kravitz, Jahaan Sweet, Sam Dew Taylor Swift, Jack Antonoff, Jahaan Sweet
"Karma" Taylor Swift, Jack Antonoff, Jahaan Sweet, Keanu Beats Taylor Swift, Jack Antonoff, Keanu Beats
2024 "Euphoria" Kendrick Lamar Non-album single — Cardo, Kyuro, Johnny Juliano, Yung Exclusive
"6:16 in LA" Jack Antonoff
"Not Like Us" Mustard, Sean Momberger
Albums produced

Awards and nominations

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Award Year[a] Recipient(s) Category Result Ref.
Academy Awards 2019 "All the Stars" Best Original Song Nominated [30]
Grammy Awards 2014 Good Kid, M.A.A.D City Album of the Year Nominated [31]
2016 "Alright" Best Rap Song Won [32]
Song of the Year Nominated
To Pimp a Butterfly Album of the Year Nominated
2018 Damn Best Rap Album Won [33]
Album of the Year Nominated
2019 "All the Stars" Record of the Year Nominated [34]
Song of the Year Nominated
Best Song Written for Visual Media Nominated
Black Panther: The Album Album of the Year Nominated
"King's Dead" Best Rap Song Nominated
2023 Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers Best Rap Album Won [35]
Album of the Year Nominated
2025 "Not Like Us" Record of the Year Pending [36]
Golden Globe Awards 2019 "All the Stars" Best Original Song Nominated [37]
Guild of Music Supervisors Awards 2019 Best Song Written and/or Recording Created for a Film Nominated [38]
Hollywood Music in Media Awards 2018 Best Original Song in a Sci-Fi, Fantasy or Horror Film Won [39]

Notes

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  1. ^ Indicates the year of ceremony. Each year is linked to the article about the awards held that year, wherever possible.

References

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  1. ^ a b "iStandard Producers Weigh In On XXL's 2013 Freshman Producers List". XXL. May 1, 2013. Retrieved September 1, 2013.
  2. ^ "Sounwave". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved August 19, 2023.
  3. ^ a b c d Weiss, Jeff (May 29, 2018). "Sounwave, Kendrick and 'Black Panther' Producer, Makes America's Sound". Rolling Stone. Retrieved August 19, 2023.
  4. ^ a b c d e Noz, Andrew (December 4, 2012). "Beat Construction: Sounwave". The FADER. Retrieved August 19, 2023.
  5. ^ a b "Let The Beat Build – Digi-Phonics On Kendrick Lamar & Dr. Dre". Vice. Archived from the original on May 31, 2012. Retrieved September 1, 2013.
  6. ^ a b Sutherland, Sam (March 20, 2013). "HEAT RISING: Sounwave made his first beats using a video game, and now he's Top Dawg Entertainment family". AUX. Archived from the original on November 11, 2013. Retrieved September 1, 2013.
  7. ^ Klinkenberg, Brendan (July 29, 2011). "Sounwave — 15 New Producers To Watch Out For". Complex. Retrieved September 1, 2013.
  8. ^ "Digi + Phonics — 25 New Producers To Watch Out For". Complex. Retrieved September 1, 2013.
  9. ^ Breihan, Tom (January 17, 2012). "Album Of The Week: Schoolboy Q Habits & Contradictions". Stereogum. Retrieved August 19, 2023.
  10. ^ Petridis, Alexis (February 27, 2014). "Schoolboy Q: Oxymoron review – not quite competition for Kendrick Lamar". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved August 19, 2023.
  11. ^ Pearce, Sheldon (February 4, 2014). "Isaiah Rashad Delivers Classic Southern Stylings On 'Cilvia Demo'". XXL. Archived from the original on February 9, 2014. Retrieved August 19, 2023.
  12. ^ Monroe, Jazz (December 22, 2020). "The 50 best albums of the last decade". The Independent. Retrieved August 19, 2023.
  13. ^ Cridlin, Jay (December 26, 2019). "The 10 best albums of the 2010s: Kanye, Kendrick, Beyonce and more". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved August 19, 2023.
  14. ^ Rys, Dan (February 16, 2016). "Kendrick Lamar Makes a Big Statement, Taylor Swift Wins Album of the Year at the 2016 Grammys". Billboard. Retrieved August 19, 2023.
  15. ^ Rys, Dan (January 29, 2018). "Kendrick Lamar Wins Best Rap Album at the 2018 Grammys, Says 'JAY-Z For President' On Stage". Billboard. Retrieved August 19, 2023.
  16. ^ Wood, Mikael (January 31, 2019). "Kendrick Lamar's secret weapon? His right-hand man, 'Black Panther' soundtrack producer Sounwave". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 19, 2023.
  17. ^ Hughes, Kayleigh (April 11, 2018). "Album Review: Kali Uchis Joins the Neo-Soul Pantheon with Isolation". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved August 19, 2023.
  18. ^ Real, Evan (December 7, 2018). "Grammys: 'Black Panther' Scores First Album of the Year Soundtrack Nod Since 2000". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 19, 2023.
  19. ^ "Oscar Nominations 2019: The Complete List". Variety. January 22, 2019. Retrieved August 19, 2023.
  20. ^ "Golden Globes 2019 nominations: the full list". The Guardian. December 6, 2018. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved August 19, 2023.
  21. ^ Nordyke, Kimberly (December 10, 2018). "Critics' Choice Awards: 'The Favourite' Leads With 14 Nominations". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 19, 2023.
  22. ^ Amorosi, A. D. (July 19, 2019). "Album Review: Beyoncé's 'The Lion King: The Gift'". Variety. Retrieved August 19, 2023.
  23. ^ Fitzmaurice, Larry (August 23, 2019). "'Lover' is pure Taylor Swift, at her most content and confident". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved August 19, 2023.
  24. ^ Shaffer, Claire (August 8, 2019). "Mary J. Blige Pays Tribute to Women's Sacrifices in New Single 'Know'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved August 19, 2023.
  25. ^ Ramli, Sofiana (June 27, 2019). "Red Hearse, Jack Antonoff's new band with Sam Dew and Sounwave, debut with two songs". NME. Retrieved August 19, 2023.
  26. ^ Nardino, Meredith (August 29, 2019). "Review: Red Hearse Debut Their Genre-Defying Self-Titled Record". Atwood Magazine. Retrieved August 19, 2023.
  27. ^ Draughorne, Kenan (February 6, 2023). "Kendrick Lamar wins best rap album at 2023 Grammys". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 19, 2023.
  28. ^ Alexis, Diamond (February 1, 2017). "Meet Reyna Biddy, the Poet Who Kicks Off Kehlani's 'SweetSexySavage'". BET. Retrieved August 19, 2023.
  29. ^ "House Music | Mark "Sounwave" Spears". LA Home. March 1, 2020. Retrieved August 19, 2023.
  30. ^ Whitten, Sarah (February 25, 2019). "Oscars 2019: The complete list of winners for the 91st Academy Awards". CNBC. Retrieved August 19, 2023.
  31. ^ "Grammy Awards 2014: The Complete Winners List". Rolling Stone. January 27, 2014. Retrieved August 19, 2023.
  32. ^ "Grammy Awards: Complete Winners List". Variety. February 15, 2016. Retrieved August 19, 2023.
  33. ^ Nevins, Jake (January 29, 2018). "Grammy awards 2018: full list of winners". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved August 19, 2023.
  34. ^ Atkinson, Katie (February 10, 2019). "Grammys 2019 Winners: The Complete List". Billboard. Retrieved August 19, 2023.
  35. ^ Zhan, Jennifer (February 5, 2023). "The 2023 Grammy Award Winners". Vulture. Retrieved August 19, 2023.
  36. ^ Willman, Chris (November 8, 2024). "Grammy Nominations 2025: Beyonce Leads With 11 Nods as Taylor Swift, Chappell Roan, Sabrina Carpenter and Charli XCX Are Among Top Nominees". Variety. Retrieved November 11, 2024.
  37. ^ "The complete list of winners and nominees for the 2019 Golden Globes". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 19, 2023.
  38. ^ "2019 Guild of Music Supervisors Awards: Complete Winners List". The Hollywood Reporter. February 13, 2019. Retrieved August 19, 2023.
  39. ^ Xu, Linda (October 17, 2018). "'A Star Is Born,' 'Black Panther' Lead Hollywood Music in Media Awards Nominees". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 19, 2023.
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