# Sam Prekop

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{{Short description|American musician}}
{{More footnotes|date=April 2015}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name              = Sam Prekop
| image             = Sam Prekop - Primavera 2013.jpg
| caption           = Sam Prekop at [Primavera Sound](/source/Primavera_Sound) 2013
| birth_date        = {{Birth date and age|1964|10|18}}
| birth_place       = [London](/source/London), England
| origin            = [Chicago](/source/Chicago), [Illinois](/source/Illinois), United States
| genre             = {{hlist|[Electronic](/source/Electronic_music)|[post-rock](/source/post-rock)|[indie rock](/source/indie_rock)}}
| occupation        = {{hlist|[Musician](/source/Musician)|[painter](/source/painting)}}
| instrument        = {{hlist|[Vocals](/source/Singing)|[guitar](/source/guitar)|[bass guitar](/source/bass_guitar)}}
| years_active      = 1987–present
| label             = {{hlist|[Thrill Jockey](/source/Thrill_Jockey)|TAL}}
| current_member_of = [The Sea and Cake](/source/The_Sea_and_Cake)
| past_member_of    = [Shrimp Boat](/source/Shrimp_Boat)
| website           = [http://www.thrilljockey.com/artists/?id=10040/ Thrilljockey.com]
}}
'''Sam Prekop''' (born October 18, 1964) is an American musician in the band [The Sea and Cake](/source/The_Sea_and_Cake). He also has released seven solo albums.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Proefrock |first1=Stacia |title=Sam Prekop Biography |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/sam-prekop-mn0000290526/biography |website=[AllMusic](/source/AllMusic) |access-date=2022-04-26}}</ref>

==Early life==
Prekop was born in [London](/source/London), but grew up in [Chicago](/source/Chicago). He studied at the [Kansas City Art Institute](/source/Kansas_City_Art_Institute).<ref name="SP-pitchfork-2012">{{cite news |last1=Fitzmaurice |first1=Larry |title=5-10-15-20: Sam Prekop |url=http://pitchfork.com/features/5-10-15-20/8952-sam-prekop/ |access-date=3 April 2017 |work=[Pitchfork](/source/Pitchfork_(website)) |date=24 September 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121005234713/http://pitchfork.com/features/5-10-15-20/8952-sam-prekop/ |archive-date=October 5, 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref>

==Career==
===Shrimp Boat===
Back in Chicago, Prekop formed the band [Shrimp Boat](/source/Shrimp_Boat), which was active from 1988 to 1993.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Ankeny |first1=Jason |title=Shrimp Boat Biography |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/shrimp-boat-mn0000035546/biography |website=[AllMusic](/source/AllMusic) |access-date=2022-04-26}}</ref>

===The Sea and Cake===
After Shrimp Boat dissolved in 1993, Sam Prekop and Eric Claridge formed the Sea and Cake, and recruited [Archer Prewitt](/source/Archer_Prewitt) and [John McEntire](/source/John_McEntire).<ref name="SP-pitchfork-2012" />

===Solo career===
Prekop enlisted the help of [Jim O'Rourke](/source/Jim_O'Rourke_(musician)) (X-Factor) to produce [his self-titled first solo album](/source/Sam_Prekop_(album)) in 1999. Bassist [Josh Abrams](/source/Joshua_Abrams_(musician)), drummer [Chad Taylor](/source/Chad_Taylor_(drummer)), and guitarist Archer Prewitt also contributed their talents. The album was described as soft and breezy, with tinges of Brazilian pop.<ref name="SP-avclub-2002">{{cite news |last1=Klein |first1=Joshua |title=Sam Prekop: Sam Prekop |url=http://www.avclub.com/review/sam-prekop-emsam-prekopem-21263 |access-date=3 April 2017 |work=[The A.V. Club](/source/The_A.V._Club) |date=29 March 2002}}</ref> In April that year, Prekop performed with [Aerial M](/source/David_Pajo) in Toronto.<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20000204103413/http://chartattack.com:80/road/reviews/1999/19990404-aerialm.html "Live Reviews: Aerial M / Sam Prekop April 1, 1999 The Horseshoe, Toronto, ON"]}}. ''[Chart Attack](/source/Chart_Attack)'', review by Vanessa Lewis</ref>

In 2005, ''[Who's Your New Professor](/source/Who's_Your_New_Professor)'' featured drummer Chad Taylor and cornetist [Rob Mazurek](/source/Rob_Mazurek) (both from the [Chicago Underground Duo](/source/Chicago_Underground_(jazz_ensemble))), bassist Josh Abrams (Sticks & Stones), and the Sea and Cake bandmates Archer Prewitt and John McEntire on guitar and drums, respectively.<ref name="SP-allaboutjazz-2005">{{cite news |last1=Olson |first1=Paul |title=Sam Prekop: Who's Your New Professor |url=https://www.allaboutjazz.com/whos-your-new-professor-sam-prekop-thrill-jockey-review-by-paul-olson.php?width=412 |access-date=3 April 2017 |work=[All About Jazz](/source/All_About_Jazz) |date=17 April 2005}}</ref>

''Old Punch Card'' (2010) primarily featured modular synthesizer.<ref name="SP-reader-2010">{{cite news |last1=Hopper |first1=Jessica |title=Where in the World Is Sam Prekop? |url=http://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/sam-prekop-interview-old-punch-card/Content?oid=2318721 |access-date=3 April 2017 |work=[Chicago Reader](/source/Chicago_Reader) |date=26 August 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110408055412/http://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/sam-prekop-interview-old-punch-card/Content?oid=2318721 |archive-date=April 8, 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Released in 2015, ''The Republic'' further explored the emotional possibilities of the modular synthesizer. The first nine tracks (all named "The Republic") were assembled as part of an art installation by the artist David Hartt also called The Republic.<ref name="SP-pitchfork-2015">{{cite news |last1=Richardson |first1=Mark |title=Sam Prekop: The Republic |url=http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/20034-the-republic/ |access-date=3 April 2017 |work=[Pitchfork](/source/Pitchfork_(website)) |date=4 March 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150709032553/http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/20034-the-republic/ |archive-date=July 9, 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref>

He then released ''Comma'' (2020).<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.popmatters.com/sam-prekop-2020-interview-2647008406.html |title=Sam Prekop Discusses Summer Places and His Modes of Musical Creation |website=[PopMatters](/source/PopMatters) |first=Scott |last=Elingburg |date=September 10, 2020 |access-date=November 17, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210421120621/https://www.popmatters.com/sam-prekop-2020-interview-2647008406.html |archive-date=April 21, 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref> It was created by using modular synthesizer, drum machine, and additional synthesizer.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://exclaim.ca/music/article/sam_prekop_readies_new_album_comma |title=Sam Prekop Readies New Album 'Comma' |website=[Exclaim!](/source/Exclaim!) |first=Calum |last=Slingerland |date=April 23, 2020 |access-date=November 17, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210509030122/https://exclaim.ca/music/article/sam_prekop_readies_new_album_comma |archive-date=May 9, 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2022, he released a collaborative album with John McEntire, titled ''[Sons Of](/source/Sons_Of)''.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/sam-prekop-john-mcentire-sons-of/ |title=Sam Prekop / John McEntire: Sons Of |website=[Pitchfork](/source/Pitchfork_(website)) |first=Philip |last=Sherburne |date=July 25, 2022 |access-date=April 6, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221003134631/https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/sam-prekop-john-mcentire-sons-of/ |archive-date=October 3, 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Inspired by live performances with [Laraaji](/source/Laraaji), he created ''Open Close'' (2025).<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.spin.com/2025/09/sam-prekop-open-close-album/ |title=Sam Prekop Stays Modular On New Synth LP |website=[Spin](/source/Spin_(magazine)) |first=Jonathan |last=Cohen |date=September 23, 2025 |access-date=November 17, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251006205805/https://www.spin.com/2025/09/sam-prekop-open-close-album/ |archive-date=October 6, 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Prekop's father is the photographer Martin Prekop. He has two brothers, the furniture designer Hank Prekop and the painter Zak Prekop. He has two children.{{citation needed|date=October 2025}}

==Discography==
;Studio albums
* ''[Sam Prekop](/source/Sam_Prekop_(album))'' ([Thrill Jockey](/source/Thrill_Jockey), 1999)
* ''[Who's Your New Professor](/source/Who's_Your_New_Professor)'' (Thrill Jockey, 2005)
* ''Old Punch Card'' (Thrill Jockey, 2010)
* ''The Republic'' (Thrill Jockey, 2015)
* ''Comma'' (Thrill Jockey, 2020)
* ''The Sparrow'' (TAL, 2022)
* ''Open Close'' (Thrill Jockey, 2025)

;Collaborative albums
* ''[Sons Of](/source/Sons_Of)'' (with [John McEntire](/source/John_McEntire); Thrill Jockey, 2022)

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://samprekop.bandcamp.com/music Sam Prekop] at [Bandcamp](/source/Bandcamp)
* {{AllMusic |id=sam-prekop-mn0000290526 |label=Sam Prekop}}
* {{Discogs artist|65622-Sam-Prekop|Sam Prekop}}
* [http://www.theseaandcake.com The Sea and Cake]
* [http://tinyparkgallery.com/artists/sam-prekop/ Sam Prekop's artwork] at Tiny Park

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Prekop, Sam}}
Category:1964 births
Category:Living people
Category:American post-rock musicians
Category:American male musicians
Category:Kansas City Art Institute alumni
Category:The Sea and Cake members
Category:Thrill Jockey artists

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Sam Prekop](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Prekop) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Prekop?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.