Seth Firkins
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Seth Firkins
| image =
| birth_name = Seth Chaim Firkins
| birth_place = Louisville, Kentucky, U.S.
| birth_date = {{birth date|1981|08|05}}
| death_date = {{death date and age|2017|09|23|1981|08|05}}
| death_place = Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
| genre = {{hlist|Hip hop|trap|R&B|pop|rock and roll}}
| occupation = {{hlist|Audio engineer|recording engineer|mixing engineer|record producer|songwriter}}
| years_active = 2000–2017
| label = Five by Five Media Group (5X5)
| website = {{URL|fivebyfivemediagroup.com}}
}}
Seth Chaim Firkins (August 5, 1981 – September 23, 2017) was an American audio engineer. Firkins engineered songs for artists such as Rihanna, Future, Young Thug, Jay-Z, Trina, Ciara, and Gucci Mane.
Career
Firkins was exposed at an early age to a diverse range of music, from 1970s rock like America and Steely Dan, to classical composers such as Chopin and Beethoven. He started his career in the Rock and roll genre with the Louisville-based band Heaven Hill, originally known as Element H and later Breckinridge.{{cite web |last=Gibson |first=Kevin |title= Element H is taking over the world |url= http://www.louisvillemusicnews.net/webmanager/index.php?WEB_CAT_ID=50&issueid=165 |publisher= Louieville Music News |accessdate= September 15, 2012 |date= November 2002}} Firkins created the band's street team which grew into a group of nearly 400 workers and volunteers. In 2002, Firkins worked on his first rap album with artist Hurra Season, a Louisville-based artist.{{cite magazine |first1=Kim |last1=Ellis |first2=Mark |last2=Thompson |title= Across the Traxx 'Mixing the Sound' |magazine= Street Report Magazine |date= August 2012 |pages=8–9}}
In 2006, he relocated to Atlanta, which became his permanent place of residence, and headquarters for 5X5 Media Group, a consulting music firm. 5X5 Media Group consults with artists to offer post-production services.{{cn|date=December 2021}}
Firkins is credited with over 2.5 million records sold worldwide and was part of the Grammy nominated team which produced the Jay-Z album American Gangster which is certified platinum in the United States by the RIAA.{{AllMusic | class= album | id=american-gangster-mw0000486673 | label= American Gangster | tab=credits |accessdate=September 26, 2017}}{{cite web |last= Recording Industry Association of America |title= Gold & Platinum - Searchable Database: American Gangster |website= Recording Industry Association of America |url= http://riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?content_selector=gold-platinum-searchable-database |date= May 1, 2010 |accessdate= September 24, 2017}} Firkins was credited with engineering and mixing the Rihanna track "Loveeeeeee Song", featuring Atlanta rap artist Future, on the album Unapologetic.{{cite web |url= http://www.fye.com/Unapologetic-R-B-Soul_stcVVproductId151114121VVcatId459320VVviewprod.htm |title= FYE |accessdate= September 24, 2017 }} The album was released on November 19, 2012.
Firkins continued his work with Future, and is credited with engineering and mixing for Future's second studio album, Pluto 3D, released on November 27, 2012.{{cite web |url={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=seth-firkins-mn0001560473|tab=credits|pure_url=yes}} |title=Seth Firkins Credits |publisher=All Media Network |website=AllMusic |accessdate=September 26, 2017}} He is also credited with the 2 albums Future released back to back in 2017: Future and HNDRXX.{{Cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/hughmcintyre/2017/02/22/future-just-announced-his-second-album-in-two-weeks/|title=Future Just Announced His Second New Album In Two Weeks|first=Hugh|last=McIntyre|website=Forbes.com|accessdate=22 January 2021}}
Death
Firkins died in his sleep on September 23, 2017, in Atlanta, Georgia, at the age of 36.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.spin.com/2017/09/seth-firkins-death-sound-engineer-future-young-thug/ |title=Seth Firkins, Sound Engineer for Future, Young Thug, Mike WiLL Made-It, and More, Has Passed Away |first=Rob |last=Arcand |magazine=Spin |date=September 24, 2017 |issn=0886-3032}}{{cite magazine |url=https://www.thefader.com/2017/09/25/seth-firkins-future-young-thug-engineer-died |title=Seth Firkins, engineer for Future, Young Thug, and more, has passed away |first=Ben |last=Dandridge-Lemco |magazine=The Fader |date=September 25, 2017 |issn=1533-5194}}{{cite news |url=http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/louisville/obituary.aspx?page=lifestory&pid=186782802 |title=Seth Firkins Obituary |newspaper=The Courier-Journal |date=September 28, 2017}}
Engineering discography
- American Gangster – Jay-Z
- Appeal: Georgia's Most Wanted – Gucci Mane
- Still da Baddest – Trina
- Problem – Bukshot
- All Honesty – SL Jones
- Unapologetic – Rihanna
- Pluto 3D – Future
- Ciara – Ciara
- Future – Future
- Hndrxx – Future
- Beast Mode 2 – Future
- DS2 - Future
- Purple Reign - Future
- Beast Mode - Future
- 56 Nights - Future
- Monster - Future
- Evol - Future
- E.T. - Future
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Discogs artist|959026-Seth-Firkins}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Firkins, Seth}}
Category:Record producers from Kentucky
Category:American audio engineers
Category:Businesspeople from Louisville, Kentucky