Nick Sylvester
{{Short description|American musician (born 1982)}}
{{Use American English|date=October 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2023}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Nick Sylvester
| birth_name = Nick Sylvester
| birth_place = Montgomeryville, Pennsylvania, U.S.
| years_active = 2008–present
| occupation = {{flatlist|
- Record producer
- songwriter
- music executive
}}
| module = {{Infobox musical artist|embed=yes
| genre = {{flatlist|
}}
| instrument = {{flatlist|
- Synthesizers
- drums
- vocals
}}
| past_member_of = Mr. Dream
}}
}}
Nick Sylvester is an American record producer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and music executive. He is best known for his writing and production work with Channel Tres and Yaeji,{{Cite magazine |last=Hsu |first=Hua |date=2020-03-30 |title=Yaeji's New Mixtape Is the Opposite of Social Distancing |language=en-US |magazine=The New Yorker |url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2020/04/06/yaejis-new-mixtape-is-the-opposite-of-social-distancing |access-date=2023-10-31 |issn=0028-792X}} and as the creative co-founder of Godmode Music.{{Cite web |last=Ross |first=Danny |date=November 28, 2017 |title=Why 'NY Versus LA?' Is The Wrong Question |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/dannyross1/2017/11/28/why-ny-versus-la-is-the-wrong-question/ |access-date=2023-10-31 |website=Forbes |language=en}}
Early life and education
Sylvester was born and raised in Montgomeryville, Pennsylvania, outside of Philadelphia.{{Cite web |last=Tornoe |first=Rob |date=2019-10-18 |title=ESPN Daily podcast host Mina Kimes has Philly ties and an appreciation of Terry Gross |url=https://www.inquirer.com/eagles/espn-daily-podcast-mina-kimes-eagles-cowboys-lenny-20191018.html |access-date=2023-10-31 |website=www.inquirer.com |language=en}} In high school, he played trumpet professionally in wedding and jazz bands.{{Cite web |date=2022-07-14 |title=Sylvester '00 Journeys to the Top of the Music Scene |url=https://www.sjprep.org/news-detail?pk=1487300&bbeml=tp-1tGUROFUbkWCcD38Pd_gfQ.jtJZ5bEwzokaog8EfoNlwJw.r7gmo-hnjAEaiz3sq00GD_w.lmp6Ob2WE-EiGb6RLCrubqQ |access-date=2023-10-31 |website=St. Joseph's Preparatory School |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Death of a Mr. Dream |url=https://www.theawl.com/2014/07/death-of-a-mr-dream/ |access-date=2023-10-31 |website=The Awl |language=en}}
Sylvester attended St. Joseph's Prep and Harvard University, where he was a writer for The Harvard Lampoon concurrently with Colin Jost, Simon Rich, and Zach Kanin.{{Cite web |last=Fraser |first=Belle |date=2023-07-13 |title=Who is Nick Sylvester, Mina Kimes' husband? |url=https://nypost.com/article/who-is-nick-sylvester-mina-kimes-husband/ |access-date=2023-10-31 |language=en-US}} In 2002, Sylvester raced Albert Hammond Jr. and Julian Casablancas of The Strokes in a go-kart race hosted by the Lampoon in the streets of Cambridge.{{Cite web |title=Strokes Punish 'Poonster In Go-Kart Around Castle {{!}} News {{!}} The Harvard Crimson |url=https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2002/10/3/strokes-punish-poonster-in-go-kart-around/ |access-date=2023-10-31 |website=www.thecrimson.com}}
Career
= Journalism, writing =
Sylvester wrote about pop, rap, dance, indie and experimental music for the music publication Pitchfork from 2002 to 2006 and served as an editor from 2004 to 2006.{{Cite web |date=2006-02-16 |title=Nick Sylvester: Contributor |url=https://pitchfork.com/ |access-date=2023-10-31 |website=Pitchfork |language=en}}
In 2006, while he was a writer and senior associate editor at The Village Voice, he was suspended for his essay “Do You Wanna Kiss Me?”, a piece about Neil Strauss's The Game, after the essay was revealed to contain fabrications about a secret society of pickup artists.{{Cite web |title=Ex-'Poon Editor Caught in Scandal {{!}} News {{!}} The Harvard Crimson |url=https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2006/3/3/ex-poon-editor-caught-in-scandal-former/ |access-date=2023-10-31 |website=www.thecrimson.com}} Later that year, he was hired as a writer by The Colbert Report, and continued to write articles for n+1, The Wire, and New York Magazine.{{Cite web |last=Jedrzejczak |first=Antonina |title=Here Are Five Great Things That Can Happen To You After A Career-Shattering Media Gaffe |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/here-are-five-great-things-that-can-happen-to-you-after-a-career-shattering-media-gaffe-2010-6 |access-date=2023-10-31 |website=Business Insider |language=en-US}}
= Songwriting, record production =
From 2008 to 2012, Sylvester produced, co-wrote, and played drums in the Brooklyn punk rock music group Mr. Dream. In 2009, Sylvester lived with James Murphy in Los Angeles during the recording of the music that would become LCD Soundsystem's This Is Happening.{{Cite web |last=Breihan |first=Tom |date=2007-03-20 |title=Status Ain't Hood Interviews LCD Soundsystem |url=https://www.villagevoice.com/status-aint-hood-interviews-lcd-soundsystem/ |access-date=2023-10-31 |website=The Village Voice}} His time in Los Angeles with Murphy was when Sylvester extensively learned how to record, mix, and produce.{{Cite web |last=Development |first=PodBean |title=Nick Sylvester of Godmode on becoming a producer, learning from James Murphy, and developing artists like Shamir, Yaeji, and LoveLeo {{!}} Fluxpod |url=https://fluxpod.podbean.com/e/nick-sylvester-of-godmode-on-becoming-a-producer-learning-from-james-murphy-and-developing-artists-like-shamir-yaeji-and-loveleo/ |access-date=2023-10-31 |website=fluxpod.podbean.com |language=en}} Sylvester also wrote an essay for the release of Shut Up and Play the Hits, and he also performed in the men's chorus for the then-final LCD Soundsystem shows in 2011.{{Citation |last1=Lovelace |first1=Will |title=Shut Up And Play The Hits |date=2012-10-09 |url=https://www.amazon.com/Shut-Up-Play-Hits-Blu-ray/dp/B008MMONA6 |access-date=2023-10-31 |publisher=Oscilloscope |last2=Southern |first2=Dylan}}
In 2014, he produced La Isla Bonita by Deerhoof, as well as the Northtown and Ratchet by Shamir.{{Cite web |date=2014-02-14 |title=Stream Godmode's Common Interests Were Not Enough To Keep Us Together Comp |url=https://www.stereogum.com/1664974/stream-godmodes-common-interests-were-not-enough-to-keep-us-together-comp/news/ |access-date=2023-10-31 |website=Stereogum |language=en}} In 2016, Sylvester moved to Los Angeles to further pursue his career as a songwriter and record producer.{{Cite web |last=Sylvester |first=Nick |date=2017-08-08 |title=The Internet Doesn't Matter, You're Making Music in L.A. |url=https://www.vulture.com/2017/08/why-is-los-angeles-a-great-place-to-make-pop-music.html |access-date=2023-10-31 |website=Vulture |language=en}} He has co-written, produced, recorded, mixed, and remixed for a variety of artists, including Channel Tres, Yaeji, Shopping, Honey Dijon, Denzel Curry, Tyler, The Creator, JPEGMafia, and The Dare.
In 2017, he co-founded Godmode Music, an artist development company that blended traditional record label and management, based originally on his vanity label for Mr. Dream.{{Cite web |title=GODMODE – Impose Magazine |url=https://imposemagazine.com/features/godmode-labeled |access-date=2023-10-31 |website=imposemagazine.com}} Sylvester co-wrote and produced the recordings of the artists signed to the company. At Godmode, he also co-developed the music workflow app Bounce.{{Cite magazine |last=Eggertsen |first=Chris |date=2019-10-30 |title=Music Workflow App Bounce Launches Public Version |url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/music-workflow-app-bounce-launches-public-version/ |access-date=2023-10-31 |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US}} He exited the company in 2022 and started a new label, called smartdumb, in 2023.
In 2022, it was announced that Sylvester had scored the 30 for 30 documentary “American Son” about tennis player Michael Chang, directed by Jay Caspian Kang.{{Cite web |last=Hayes |first=Dade |date=2022-09-01 |title=Tennis Great Michael Chang To Be Profiled In ESPN Films '30 For 30' Documentary 'American Son' |url=https://deadline.com/2022/09/tennis-great-michael-chang-to-be-profiled-in-espn-films-30-for-30-documentary-american-son-1235104667/ |access-date=2023-10-31 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}
Personal life
Sylvester married ESPN analyst Mina Kimes in 2015, and lives in Los Angeles with their dog Lenny. Their first child, a boy, was born in fall 2023.
Discography
= Songwriter and record producer =
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| style="background:#ccc; text-align:center;"
! Year{{Cite web |title=Nick Sylvester Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/nick-sylvester-mn0003261117 |access-date=2023-10-31 |website=AllMusic |language=en}} !! Artist !! Song!! Album |
| | rowspan="2" |Uffie
|"Oopsie" | rowspan="2" |Oopsie/Alchemy |
| rowspan="17" |2023
|"Alchemy" |
| rowspan="9" |Isola
|"Last Winter" | rowspan="9" |LP1 |
| "Too Soon" |
| "Red Balloon" |
| "Aquarius" |
| "Heaven" |
| "In the Dead of Night" |
| "For Thee I Sing" |
| "Prayer" |
| "Sundowner" |
| The Dare
|"Sex" |Sex EP |
| Avalon Emerson
|"Karaoke Song" |& the Charm |
| rowspan="5" |Channel Tres
|"Sleep When I'm Dead" | rowspan="5" |Real Cultural Shit |
| "6am" |
| "Just Can't Get Enough" |
| "Big Time" |
| "All My Friends" |
| rowspan="8" |2022
| rowspan="3" |Channel Tres |"Acid In My Blood" | rowspan="2" |Acid / Ganzfeld |
| "Ganzfeld Experiment" |
| "No Limit"
|non-album single |
| Honey Dijon
|"Show Me Some Love" |Black Girl Magic |
| rowspan="4" |PawPaw Rod
|"Message (Better Days)" | rowspan="4" |Another PawPaw Rod EP |
| "Beautiful" |
| "Lovetap" |
| "Shining Star" |
| rowspan="6" |2021
| rowspan="2" |LoveLeo |"BUZZCUT" |non-album single |
| "TUNG TIED"
|non-album single |
| rowspan="4" |PawPaw Rod
|"HIT EM WHERE IT HURTS" | rowspan="4" |A PawPaw Rod EP |
| "Glass House" |
| "Thin Lines" |
| "Lemonhaze" |
| rowspan="21" |2020
| rowspan="7" |Isola |"Ischia" | rowspan="7" |EP1 |
| "Any Day" |
| "Canis Major" |
| "Said It Again" |
| "Two Birds" |
| "La Notte" |
| "Ricorda - Tell Me" |
| rowspan="5" |Channel Tres
|"i can’t go outside - intro" | rowspan="5" |I Can't Go Outside |
| "2000 chevy malibu" |
| "skate depot" |
| "broke down kid interlude" |
| "fuego" (feat. Tyler, the Creator) |
| rowspan="9" |LoveLeo
|"BOYFREN" | rowspan="9" |LOOK AT THIS MESS IVE MADE |
| "RECENTLY DELETED" |
| "AHHHHHHH" |
| "HEAD OVER HEELS" |
| "ROSIE" |
| "LEMONS" |
| "BABYFREEZE" |
| "ROCKBOTTOM" |
| rowspan="5" |2019
| rowspan="5" |Channel Tres |"Orpheus" | rowspan="5" |Black Moses |
| "Brilliant Nigga" |
| "Black Moses" (ft. JPEGMafia) |
| "Sexy Black Timberlake" |
| "Raw Power" |
| rowspan="14" |2018
| rowspan="4" |Channel Tres |St. Julian (Intro) | rowspan="4" |Channel Tres EP |
| "Controller" |
| "Jet Black" |
| "Topdown" |
| rowspan="10" |Mai Lan
|"Peru" | rowspan="10" |Autopilote |
| "Pumper" |
| "Nail Polish" |
| "Missile" |
| "Dial My Number" |
| "Blaze Up" |
| "Clermont" |
| "Time To Fade" |
| "Technique" |
| "Pas d'amour" |
| rowspan="8" |2017
| rowspan="7" |Yaeji |"Feelings Change" | rowspan="5" |EP2 |
| "Raingurl" |
| "Drink I'm Sippin' On" |
| "After That" |
| "Passionfruit" |
| "Therapy"
|Therapy |
| "Last Breath"
|Last Breath |
| Mai Lan
|"Vampire" |Autopilote |
| rowspan="7" |2016
| rowspan="5" |Yaeji |"New York 93" | rowspan="5" |Yaeji |
| "Guap" |
| "Noonside" |
| "Feel It Out" |
| "Full Of It" |
| rowspan="2" |Mai Lan
|"Technique" | rowspan="2" |Vampire EP |
| "Haze" |
| rowspan="12" |2015
| rowspan="11" |Shamir |"Vegas" | rowspan="11" |Ratchet |
| "Make A Scene" |
| "On the Regular" |
| "Call It Off" |
| "Hot Mess" |
| "Demon" |
| "In For The Kill" |
| "Youth" |
| "Darker" |
| "Head in the Clouds" |
| "KC" |
| Sky Ferreira
|"I Blame Myself" (Negative Supply Remix) |non-album remix |
| rowspan="15" |2014
| rowspan="10" |Deerhoof |Paradise Girls | rowspan="10" |La Isla Bonita |
| Mirror Monster" |
| "Doom" |
| "Last Fad" |
| "Tiny Bubbles" |
| "Exit Only" |
| "Big House Waltz" |
| "God 2" |
| "Black Pitch" |
| "Oh Bummer" |
| rowspan="5" | Shamir
| "If It Wasn’t True" | rowspan="5" | Northtown |
| I Know It's A Good Thing
|"I Know It’s A Good Thing" |
| "Sometimes A Man" |
| "I’ll Never Be Able To Love" |
| "Lived and Died Alone" |
= Mr. Dream =
| class="wikitable" style="width:50%;" |
| Album
! Release Year |
|---|
| The Ultimate in Luxury
| 2014 |
| Fatherland
| 2012 |
| Trash Hit
| 2011 |
| No Girls Allowed
| 2010 |
| Mr. Dream Goes to Jail
| 2009 |
References
{{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sylvester, Nick}}
Category:American male songwriters