Sounwave
{{short description|American record producer and songwriter (born 1986)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2022}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Sounwave
| image =
| caption =
| birth_name = Mark Anthony Spears
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1986|02|28}}
| birth_place = Los Angeles, California, U.S.
| origin = Compton, California, U.S.
| genre = {{flatlist|
}}
| occupation = {{flatlist|
- Record producer
- songwriter
}}
{{infobox person
| child = yes
| children = 1
}}
| years_active = 1999–present
| label = {{flatlist|
}}
| current_member_of = {{flatlist|
}}
| website =
}}
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, Chloe x Halle, and Bleachers. He has won four Grammy Awards, including one for Record of the Year.
Early life
Sounwave was born Mark Anthony Spears on February 28, 1986, in Los Angeles, California.{{cite web |date=May 1, 2013 |title=iStandard Producers Weigh In On XXL's 2013 Freshman Producers List |url=http://www.xxlmag.com/rap-music/2013/05/istandard-producers-weigh-in-on-xxls-2013-freshman-producers-list/14/ |accessdate=September 1, 2013 |website=XXL |publisher=}}{{Cite web |title=Sounwave |url=https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/profile/sounwave |access-date=2023-08-19 |website=HotNewHipHop |language=en}} 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.{{Cite magazine |last=Weiss |first=Jeff |date=2018-05-29 |title=Sounwave, Kendrick and 'Black Panther' Producer, Makes America's Sound |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/sounwave-how-the-kendrick-lamar-and-black-panther-producer-quietly-made-americas-soundtrack-629632/ |access-date=2023-08-19 |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US}} Spears has two older brothers and was raised in Compton. 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.{{Cite web |last=Noz |first=Andrew |date=2012-12-04 |title=Beat Construction: Sounwave |url=https://www.thefader.com/2012/12/04/beat-construction-sounwave |access-date=2023-08-19 |website=The FADER |language=en}} From there, he purchased a 4-track machine and began using the PlayStation video game MTV Music Generator (1999) to produce songs.
Career
= 1999–2009: Career beginnings =
Spears was discovered by Terrance "Punch" Henderson, co-president of Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE), when he was 13 years old. After meeting with rapper Bishop Lamont, he produced a song for him using MTV Music Generator, which later received radio placement. 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. 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.
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.{{cite web |title=Let The Beat Build – Digi-Phonics On Kendrick Lamar & Dr. Dre |url=http://noisey.vice.com/let-the-beat-build/let-the-beat-build-digi-phonics-on-kendrick-lamar-and-dr-dre |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120531232310/http://noisey.vice.com/let-the-beat-build/let-the-beat-build-digi-phonics-on-kendrick-lamar-and-dr-dre |archive-date=May 31, 2012 |accessdate=September 1, 2013 |website=Vice |publisher=}} 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. 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.{{cite web |last=Sutherland |first=Sam |date=March 20, 2013 |title=HEAT RISING: Sounwave made his first beats using a video game, and now he's Top Dawg Entertainment family |url=http://www.aux.tv/2013/03/heat-rising-sounwave-made-his-first-beats-using-a-video-game-and-now-hes-top-dawg-entertainment-family/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131111033839/http://www.aux.tv/2013/03/heat-rising-sounwave-made-his-first-beats-using-a-video-game-and-now-hes-top-dawg-entertainment-family/ |archive-date=November 11, 2013 |accessdate=September 1, 2013 |website=AUX}}
= 2010–2014: Recognition =
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.{{cite web |last=Klinkenberg |first=Brendan |date=July 29, 2011 |title=Sounwave — 15 New Producers To Watch Out For |url=http://www.complex.com/music/2011/07/15-new-producers-to-watch-out-for/sounwave |accessdate=September 1, 2013 |website=Complex}} 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.complex.com/music/2012/10/25-new-producers-to-watch-out-for/digi-phonics |title=Digi + Phonics — 25 New Producers To Watch Out For |publisher=Complex |accessdate=September 1, 2013}} Spears also made contributions to Schoolboy Q's second album Habits & Contradictions (2012),{{Cite web |last=Breihan |first=Tom |date=2012-01-17 |title=Album Of The Week: Schoolboy Q Habits & Contradictions |url=https://www.stereogum.com/926651/album-of-the-week-schoolboy-q-habits-contradictions/reviews/album-of-the-week/ |access-date=2023-08-19 |website=Stereogum |language=en}} his third album Oxymoron, and Isaiah Rashad's debut album Cilvia Demo (both 2014).{{Cite news |last=Petridis |first=Alexis |date=2014-02-27 |title=Schoolboy Q: Oxymoron review – not quite competition for Kendrick Lamar |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/feb/27/schoolboy-q-oxymoron-review |access-date=2023-08-19 |issn=0261-3077}}{{Cite web |last=Pearce |first=Sheldon |date=2014-02-04 |title=Isaiah Rashad Delivers Classic Southern Stylings On 'Cilvia Demo' |url=http://www.xxlmag.com/rap-music/reviews/2014/02/isaiah-rashad-cilvia-demo-ep-review/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140209141457/http://www.xxlmag.com/rap-music/reviews/2014/02/isaiah-rashad-cilvia-demo-ep-review/ |archive-date=2014-02-09 |access-date=2023-08-19 |website=XXL}}
= 2015–present: Breakthrough and other projects =
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.{{Cite web |last=Monroe |first=Jazz |date=2020-12-22 |title=The 50 best albums of the last decade |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/best-albums-decade-2010s-frank-ocean-adele-taylor-swift-kanye-west-ranked-a9204121.html |access-date=2023-08-19 |website=The Independent |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Cridlin |first=Jay |date=2019-12-26 |title=The 10 best albums of the 2010s: Kanye, Kendrick, Beyonce and more |url=https://www.tampabay.com/arts-entertainment/music/2019/12/26/the-10-best-albums-of-the-2010s-kanye-kendrick-beyonce-and-more/ |access-date=2023-08-19 |website=Tampa Bay Times |language=en}} 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.{{Cite magazine |last=Rys |first=Dan |date=2016-02-16 |title=Kendrick Lamar Makes a Big Statement, Taylor Swift Wins Album of the Year at the 2016 Grammys |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/awards/kendrick-lamar-taylor-swift-grammys-2016-6875308/ |access-date=2023-08-19 |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US}} 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.{{Cite magazine |last=Rys |first=Dan |date=2018-01-29 |title=Kendrick Lamar Wins Best Rap Album at the 2018 Grammys, Says 'JAY-Z For President' On Stage |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/awards/kendrick-lamar-best-rap-album-2018-grammys-8096742/ |access-date=2023-08-19 |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US}} In 2018, he co-wrote, produced, and handled A&R for the film soundtrack Black Panther: The Album,{{Cite web |last=Wood |first=Mikael |date=2019-01-31 |title=Kendrick Lamar's secret weapon? His right-hand man, 'Black Panther' soundtrack producer Sounwave |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/la-et-ms-sounwave-black-panther-kendrick-lamar-grammys-oscars-20190131-story.html |access-date=2023-08-19 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}} and contributed to singer-songwriter Kali Uchis' debut album Isolation.{{Cite web |last=Hughes |first=Kayleigh |date=2018-04-11 |title=Album Review: Kali Uchis Joins the Neo-Soul Pantheon with Isolation |url=https://consequence.net/2018/04/album-review-kali-uchis-joins-the-neo-soul-pantheon-with-isolation/ |access-date=2023-08-19 |website=Consequence of Sound |language=en-US}} 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).{{Cite web |last=Real |first=Evan |date=2018-12-07 |title=Grammys: 'Black Panther' Scores First Album of the Year Soundtrack Nod Since 2000 |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/black-panther-shallow-score-2019-grammy-nominations-1167406/ |access-date=2023-08-19 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}} Its lead single, "All the Stars", earned nominations for Best Original Song at the Academy Awards, Golden Globe Awards, and Critics' Choice Movie Awards.{{Cite web |date=2019-01-22 |title=Oscar Nominations 2019: The Complete List |url=https://variety.com/2019/film/news/oscar-nominations-2019-list-1203112405/ |access-date=2023-08-19 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}{{Cite news |date=2018-12-06 |title=Golden Globes 2019 nominations: the full list |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2018/dec/06/full-list-of-nominations-for-golden-globes-2019 |access-date=2023-08-19 |issn=0261-3077}}{{Cite web |last=Nordyke |first=Kimberly |date=2018-12-10 |title=Critics' Choice Awards: 'The Favourite' Leads With 14 Nominations |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/2019-critics-choice-awards-nominations-list-full-1166282/ |access-date=2023-08-19 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}
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".{{Cite web |last=Amorosi |first=A. D. |date=2019-07-19 |title=Album Review: Beyoncé's 'The Lion King: The Gift' |url=https://variety.com/2019/music/reviews/beyonce-lion-king-gift-album-review-1203272988/ |access-date=2023-08-19 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}{{Cite magazine |last=Fitzmaurice |first=Larry |date=2019-08-23 |title='Lover' is pure Taylor Swift, at her most content and confident |url=https://ew.com/music/2019/08/23/taylor-swift-lover-review/ |access-date=2023-08-19 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |language=en}}{{Cite magazine |last=Shaffer |first=Claire |date=2019-08-08 |title=Mary J. Blige Pays Tribute to Women's Sacrifices in New Single 'Know' |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/mary-j-blige-know-869181/ |access-date=2023-08-19 |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US}} The same year, he formed the synth-pop supergroup Red Hearse with musician and producer Jack Antonoff and singer-songwriter Sam Dew.{{Cite web |last=Ramli |first=Sofiana |date=2019-06-27 |title=Red Hearse, Jack Antonoff's new band with Sam Dew and Sounwave, debut with two songs |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/red-hearse-jack-antonoff-sam-dew-sounwave-debut-two-songs-2517641 |access-date=2023-08-19 |website=NME |language=en-GB}} Their self-titled debut album was released through RCA Records.{{Cite web |last=Nardino |first=Meredith |date=2019-08-29 |title=Review: Red Hearse Debut Their Genre-Defying Self-Titled Record |url=https://atwoodmagazine.com/rhrh-red-hearse-debut-album-review/ |access-date=2023-08-19 |website=Atwood Magazine |language=en-US}} 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.{{Cite web |last=Draughorne |first=Kenan |date=2023-02-06 |title=Kendrick Lamar wins best rap album at 2023 Grammys |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2023-02-05/kendrick-lamar-wins-rap-album-grammys-2023 |access-date=2023-08-19 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}
Personal life
Spears resides in West Hills, Los Angeles with his partner, poet and songwriter Reyna Biddy, and their son, Umi.{{Cite web |last=Alexis |first=Diamond |date=2017-02-01 |title=Meet Reyna Biddy, the Poet Who Kicks Off Kehlani's 'SweetSexySavage' |url=https://www.bet.com/article/6rl3hi/meet-the-poet-who-kicks-off-kehlani-s-sweetsexysavage |access-date=2023-08-19 |website=BET |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2020-03-01 |title=House Music {{!}} Mark "Sounwave" Spears |url=https://www.lahomemag.com/housemusic/ |access-date=2023-08-19 |website=LA Home |language=en}}
Discography
| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:90%;"
|+Key |style="background-color:#D8BFD8"|{{Double-dagger|alt=Indicates songs solely written or produced by Sounwave}} |Indicates songs solely written or produced by Sounwave |
; Notable songs
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| style="background:#ccc; text-align:center;"
! Year !! Song !! Artist !!Album!!Written with ! Produced with |
| 2011
| "A.D.H.D" | rowspan="6"| Kendrick Lamar | rowspan="2" style="background:#D8BFD8;"| Sole production {{Double-dagger|alt=Indicates songs solely written or produced by Sounwave}} |
| rowspan="3"| 2012
| rowspan="3"| 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"
| — |
| rowspan="2"| 2015
| "Alright" | rowspan="2"| To Pimp a Butterfly | Kendrick Duckworth, Pharrell Williams |
| "King Kunta"
| — | Terrace Martin, Michael Kuhle |
| 2016
| "That Part" (featuring Kanye West) | Schoolboy Q | Quincy Hanley, Kanye West, Ronald LaTour, Daveon Jackson, Kevin Gomringer, Tim Gomringer |
| rowspan="8"| 2017
| "Yah" | rowspan="8"| Kendrick Lamar | rowspan="8"| Damn | Kendrick Duckworth, Dacoury Natche, Anthony Tiffith |
| "Element"
| Kendrick Duckworth, James Blake, Ricci Riera, Daniel Tannenbaum | James Blake, Ricci Riera |
| "Feel"
| Kendrick Duckworth | style="background:#D8BFD8;"| Sole production {{Double-dagger|alt=Indicates songs solely written or produced by Sounwave}} |
| "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 |
| rowspan="2"| 2018
| "All the Stars" | Kendrick Lamar and SZA | rowspan="2"| 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" | Lover | colspan="2" align="center"| Taylor Swift, Jack Antonoff |
| rowspan="3"| 2022
| "N95" | Kendrick Lamar | Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers | Kendrick Duckworth, Matthew Samuels, Jahaan Sweet, Hykeem Carter Jr., Sam Dew |
| "Lavender Haze"
| rowspan="2"| Taylor Swift | rowspan="2"| 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 |
| rowspan="3"| 2024
| "Euphoria" | rowspan="3"| Kendrick Lamar | rowspan="3" {{n/a|Non-album single}} | rowspan="3"| — | Cardo, Kyuro, Johnny Juliano, Yung Exclusive |
| "6:16 in LA"
| Jack Antonoff |
| "Not Like Us" |
| 2025
|"Luther" (Featuring SZA) |Kendrick Lamar |GNX |— |Jack Antonoff, Ruchaun "Scott Bridgeway" Akers, Kamasi Washington, Matthew "M-Tech" Bernard, Roshwita "Rose Lilah" Bacha |
;Albums produced
- Beyoncé – The Lion King: The Gift (2019), Cowboy Carter (2024)
- Bleachers – Gone Now (2017)
- Chloe x Halle – Ungodly Hour (2020)
- Kali Uchis – Isolation (2018), Sin Miedo (del Amor y Otros Demonios) (2020), Red Moon in Venus (2023), Orquídeas (2024)
- Kendrick Lamar – Section.80 (2011), Good Kid, M.A.A.D City (2012), To Pimp a Butterfly (2015), Damn (2017), Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers (2022), GNX (2024)
- Taylor Swift – Lover (2019), Midnights (2022)
Awards and nominations
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="width: 101%;"
|+ |
| scope="col" | Award
! scope="col" | Year{{efn|Indicates the year of ceremony. Each year is linked to the article about the awards held that year, wherever possible.}} ! scope="col" | Recipient(s) ! scope="col" | Category ! scope="col" | Result ! scope="col" class="unsortable" |{{Abbr|Ref.|References}} |
|---|
| scope="row"| Academy Awards
| 2019 | "All the Stars" | {{nom}} |
| rowspan=14 scope="row"| Grammy Awards
| 2014 | {{nom}} |
| rowspan="3"| 2016
| rowspan="2"| "Alright" | {{won}} |
| Song of the Year
| {{nom}} |
| To Pimp a Butterfly
| Album of the Year | {{nom}} |
| rowspan="2"| 2018
| rowspan="2"| Damn | {{won}} |
| Album of the Year
| {{nom}} |
| rowspan="5"| 2019
| rowspan="3"| "All the Stars" | {{nom}} |
| Song of the Year
| {{nom}} |
| Best Song Written for Visual Media
| {{nom}} |
| Black Panther: The Album
| Album of the Year | {{nom}} |
| "King's Dead"
| Best Rap Song | {{nom}} |
| rowspan="2"| 2023
| rowspan="2"| Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers | Best Rap Album | {{won}} |
| Album of the Year
| {{nom}} |
| 2025
| "Not Like Us" | Record of the Year | {{won}} |
| scope="row"| Golden Globe Awards
| 2019 | rowspan="3"| "All the Stars" | {{nom}} |{{Cite web |title=The complete list of winners and nominees for the 2019 Golden Globes |url=https://envelope.latimes.com/awards/golden-globes/2019/ |access-date=2023-08-19 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en}} |
| scope="row"| Guild of Music Supervisors Awards
| 2019 | Best Song Written and/or Recording Created for a Film | {{nom}} |
| scope="row"| Hollywood Music in Media Awards
| 2018 | Best Original Song in a Sci-Fi, Fantasy or Horror Film | {{won}} |
Notes
{{notelist}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|id=nm6263328}}
{{Navboxes
|title = Awards for Sounwave
|list =
{{Grammy Award for Best Rap Song}}
{{Hollywood Music in Media Award for Best Original Song in a Sci-Fi, Fantasy or Horror Film}}
{{WSA for Best Original Song Written Directly for a Film}}
}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sounwave (Mark Anthony Spears)}}
Category:21st-century African-American musicians
Category:21st-century American male musicians
Category:African-American songwriters
Category:American hip-hop musicians
Category:American male songwriters
Category:Compton High School alumni
Category:Grammy Award winners for rap music
Category:Musicians from Compton, California
Category:Songwriters from California