Sam Spiegel (musician)

{{short description|American musician (born 1979)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2024}} {{BLP sources|date=November 2021}} {{Infobox person | name = Sam Spiegel | image = Sam Spiegel.jpg | image_size = | caption = Spiegel in 2019 | birth_name = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1979|10|31}} | birth_place = | death_date = | death_place = | other_names = {{hlist|Sam Spiegel|Squeak E. Clean {{small|(former)}}}} | occupation = {{hlist|Musician|composer|record producer|DJ}} | years_active = 1999–present | spouse = | relatives = [[Spike Jonze]] (brother)<br /> [[Arthur Spiegel]] (great-grandfather)<br />{{nowrap|[[Joseph Spiegel]] (great-great-grandfather)}} | partner = }}

'''Sam Spiegel''' (born October 31, 1979), known by the stage name '''Sam i''' and previously as '''Squeak E. Clean''', is an American [[DJ]], [[Record producer|record producer]], [[composer]], and [[Music director|director]] from New York City.

In addition to creating his own material, Spiegel has worked with musicians such as [[Kanye West]], [[Lizzo]], [[Sia]], [[Busta Rhymes]], [[Doja Cat]], [[Anderson Paak|Anderson .Paak]], [[M.I.A. (rapper)|M.I.A.]], [[Maroon 5]], and the [[Yeah Yeah Yeahs]] and many more. He has scored commercials for companies including [[Converse (shoe company)|Converse]], [[Levi's]], [[Kenzo (brand)|Kenzo]] x [[H&M]], [[Reebok]], [[ESPN]], [[T-Mobile US|T Mobile]], [[Jose Cuervo]], and [[Saturn Corporation|Saturn]]. His production company scored the video game ''[[Skate 2]]''.<ref name="Creativity2">{{cite web|last=Beer|first=Jeff|author-link=|date=March 10, 2009|title=Squeak E. Clean Mixes Business with Pleasure|url=http://creativity-online.com/?action=news:article&newsId=135147&sectionName=behind_the_work|access-date=March 12, 2009|work=[[Creativity (magazine)|Creativity]]}}</ref> Though he attempts to create music free of record label restraints, Spiegel also [[Music licensing|licenses]] his songs whenever possible so as to maximize exposure for his work.<ref name="LAW2">{{cite web|last=Ferreiro|first=Laura|author-link=|date=February 10, 2009|title=N.A.S.A.'s DJ Squeak E. Clean: Ready for Liftoff|url=http://www.laweekly.com/2009-02-12/music/n-a-s-a-39-s-dj-squeak-e-clean-ready-for-liftoff/2|access-date=March 12, 2009|work=[[LA Weekly]]|publisher=}}</ref> He formerly produced albums under the name Squeak E. Clean.<ref>{{cite web|author=Sterry, Mike|date=March 24, 2006|title=Yeah Yeah Yeahs: Show Your Bones|url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/yeah-yeah-yeahs/7887|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060427060926/http://www.nme.com/reviews/yeah-yeah-yeahs/7887|archive-date=April 27, 2006|access-date=December 11, 2017|work=NME}}</ref>

Spiegel is the brother of film director [[Spike Jonze]]. They collaborated on the [[Adidas]] TV commercial ''[[Hello Tomorrow (advertisement)|Hello Tomorrow]]'', for which Spiegel created the score sung by [[Karen O]]. The titular song briefly reached No. 1 on the [[iTunes]] singles chart.<ref name="RS2">{{cite web|last=O'Donnell|first=Kevin|author-link=|date=|title=Hot Star Magnet: Sam Spiegel|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/news/coverstory/24604682/page/34|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081208110631/http://www.rollingstone.com/news/coverstory/24604682/page/34|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 8, 2008|access-date=March 12, 2009|work=[[Rolling Stone]]|publisher=}}</ref> Spiegel also wrote the score for Jonze's 2010 short film ''[[I'm Here (film)|I'm Here]]'',<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.absolut.com/us/|title=Absolut Vodka|website=www.absolut.com}}</ref> and produced an original song "Mutant Brain" with [[Ape Drums]] featuring [[Assassin (deejay)|Assassin]] for Jonze's [[Kenzo (brand)|Kenzo]] World advertisement.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Munzenrieder|first1=Kyle|date=August 29, 2016|title=Kenzo's First Perfume Commercial is a Parody of Every Other Perfume {{sic|Comme|rical|nolink=y}}|work=[[W (magazine)|W]]|url=https://www.wmagazine.com/story/kenzos-first-perfume-commercial-is-a-parody-of-every-other-perfume-commerical|access-date=December 24, 2018}}</ref>

Spiegel is a founding partner of Squeak E. Clean Studios. They have studios in L.A., New York, Chicago, Austin, Sydney and Melbourne.

== Music == 2009 saw the release of one of Sam's music projects, [[N.A.S.A. (musical group)|N.A.S.A]].'s (North America South America) landmark debut LP, [[The Spirit of Apollo]]. Created with long time Brazilian music partner DJ [[Ze Gonzales|Zegon]].

''The Spirit of Apollo'' includes [[Kanye West]], Karen O and [[Nick Zinner]] of Yeah Yeah Yeahs, [[Lykke Li]], [[John Frusciante]] of [[Red Hot Chili Peppers]], [[Tom Waits]], [[Nina Persson]] of [[The Cardigans]], [[George Clinton (funk musician)|George Clinton]], [[David Byrne]], [[M.I.A. (artist)|M.I.A.]], [[RZA]], [[Method Man]], [[Ghostface Killah]], and [[Ol' Dirty Bastard]] of [[Wu-Tang Clan]] while the corresponding music videos feature animated/live action collaborations by visual artists including [[Shepard Fairey]], Sage Vaughn, [[Marcel Dzama]], and The Date Farmers. Such collaborations earned Spiegel the title "King Sam" on ''[[Rolling Stone]]''{{'}}s annual "Hot List" in 2008.<ref name="RS2" /> The album was "a conscious effort by NASA to show how people can be brought together by music and art."<ref name="Creativity2" />

Spiegel's project, Maximum Hedrum, brought him together with [[Harold Faltermeyer]] and [[Derrick Green]] (of [[Sepultura]]). In 2011 "Keep in Touch (Feel Me)" feat. [[George Clinton (funk musician)|George Clinton]], was licensed to a [[BlackBerry]] commercial. In November 2012 "Keep in Touch (Feel Me)" and "Synthesize", two tracks from the upcoming album, were released commercially on [[iTunes]] and [[Amazon.com]], as well as via free download from [[SoundCloud]] and [[Facebook]]. "Synthesize" was featured in [[Girl Skateboards]] film, Pretty Sweet.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://soundcloud.com/maximum-hedrum|title=Maximum Hedrum|website=SoundCloud}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/posts/la-et-ms-sam-spiegel-maximum-hedrum-20121129-story.html|title=Sam Spiegel announces zany Maximum Hedrum project|date=November 29, 2012|website=Los Angeles Times}}</ref>

In 2016, Spiegel began releasing music under his own name, Sam Spiegel. The first release under this new moniker was "Mutant Brain (feat. Assassin)" which he produced with Miami-based DJ and producer, [[Ape Drums]] and released through [[Interscope Records]]. "Mutant Brain" was featured in the Spike Jonze-directed short film, "Kenzo World, A New Fragrance", for the French brand [[Kenzo (brand)|Kenzo]].

This music went on to win gold for the Use of Original Music in Film Craft at the [[Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity|Cannes Lions]], as well as winning the Best Music category at the AICP One Show and Best Use of Original Music by a Music House at the [[Guild of Music Supervisors Awards]].

In 2020, Spiegel changed his name to Sam i and released his first solo album, Random Shit From The Internet Era. The album was a critical success and featured notable talent including Sia, Busta Rhymes, CeeLo Green, Anderson .Paak, Doja Cat, RZA and many more.

In addition, Sam has been working frequently with artist [[Jean-Paul Goude|Jean Paul Goude]] in creating music for Jean Paul's work with [[Chanel]], [[Lacoste]], [[Kenzo (brand)|Kenzo]] X [[H&M]], [[Roger Vivier]], and Pompidou.

Sam continues to release his own music, produce for other artists while directing and growing Squeak E. Clean Studios.

== Directing == 2015 saw Sam take on directing. His self funded music video for the final N.A.S.A. song, "Jihad Love Squad" was shot in India and directed and produced by Spiegel himself. Following the release of the "Jihad Love Squad" video, Sam signed to Hey Wonderful, a division of RSA Films, as a director. This led to Sam directing two [[National Geographic]] short films as well as [[CNN]]'s first live commercial, which aired at 11:35 Eastern on New Year's Eve, 2017, during CNN's NYE Countdown and received nearly 3.3 million live viewers. Sam has continued his passion for directing into the 2018 year, with an Instagram interview campaign shot in May 2018 for [[Gay pride|Pride Month]] featuring [[LGBTQ]] advocates and their role models. In September Sam also conceptualized, directed and wrote "Wu-Tang in Space Eating [[Impossible Foods|Impossible]] Sliders" a branded content mini web series starring [[Wu-Tang Clan]] flying through space and postulating on the universe. The series highlighted the new partnership between Impossible Foods and [[White Castle (restaurant)|White Castle]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.shootonline.com/video/sam-spiegel-directs-online-series-wu-tang-space-eating-impossible-sliders|title=Sam Spiegel Directs Online Series "Wu-Tang In Space Eating Impossible Sliders"|website=SHOOTonline|language=en|access-date=January 29, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/christinatroitino/2018/10/03/watch-wu-tang-clan-eat-white-castles-impossible-sliders-in-space-in-new-film-series/|title=Watch Wu-Tang Clan Eat White Castle's Impossible Sliders In Space In New Film Series|last=Troitino|first=Christina|website=Forbes|language=en|access-date=January 29, 2019}}</ref>

== Music direction and other work == On August 18, 2010, the Standard New York Hotel was the setting for a harmonically synchronized light and sound show produced by Spiegel. The Target Kaleidoscopic Fashion Spectacular featured a fashion show on the street level, while inside the hotel, 66 dancers performed choreography synchronized with fast-paced lighting patterns set to Spiegel's music score in 150 different rooms, using the glass walls of the hotel to display a multi-floor show, highlighting that year's fall styles.

Spiegel was pivotal to the project as he not only created the score but brought together many of the other contributing artists as well. The show featured the creative direction of Mother New York, the directors at LEGS, lighting choreographers at Bionic League (who have worked with Daft Punk and Kanye West), and the dance choreographer Sir [[Ryan Heffington]].

Spiegel was the music director for [[Kanye West]]'s critically acclaimed 2008 world [[Glow in the Dark Tour]].

Spiegel also worked on a "psycho-opera", entitled ''Stop The Virgens'',<ref>{{cite web|url=https://karenomusic.com/|title=Karen O|website=Karen O}}</ref> spearheaded by his good friend, and front woman of the [[Yeah Yeah Yeahs]], Karen O. The show is self-described as "an assault on the tragic joys of youth."<ref>{{cite web|last1=Breihan|first1=Tom|title=Karen O to Premiere "Psycho-Opera"|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/43218-karen-o-to-premiere-psycho-opera/|website=Pitchfork|access-date=February 18, 2018|date=July 18, 2011}}</ref> The opera premiered at St. Ann's Warehouse in Brooklyn, New York, on October 12, 2011, and hosted eight performances, concluding on October 22, 2011.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/02/arts/music/karen-os-opera-stop-the-virgens-at-st-anns-warehouse.html|title=An Indie Queen Cranks Up Opera's Amps|last=Bloom|first=Julie|date=September 30, 2011|website=The New York Times|access-date=February 18, 2018}}</ref> It was produced by [[The Creators Project]] and directed by [[Adam Rapp]]. The opera served as a live version of the songs from an album that Spiegel produced and wrote with Karen O. Spiegel, along with the guitarist from the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, [[Nick Zinner]], served as musical directors. Also contributing to the "original live xperience" were musicians [[Money Mark]], [[Brian Chase]], [[Jack Lawrence (bass guitarist)|Jack Lawrence]] and [[Patrick Keeler]] of the [[The Greenhornes|Greenhornes]]/Racanteours. Also credited for his work with the [[sound design]] of the project was [[Andrés Velásquez]].

in 2017, Spiegel music directed and composed all of the original music for [[Opening Ceremony (brand)|Opening Ceremony]]'s "Changers' a Dance Story" directed by Spike Jonze, starring [[Lakeith Stanfield]] and [[Mia Wasikowska]].

== Producer discography == {{BLP unreferenced section|date=December 2018}} {| class="wikitable" ! Year ! Artist ! Song ! Album |- |2005 |[[Fatlip]] |"Today's Your Day" "Freaky Bumps" |"The Loneliest Punk" |- |2005 |[[Karen O]] |"Get um On the Run" "Canada"

"Duet"

"Calm Like a Boy"

"Doowap Jam"

"Black Book"

"Sugar"

"Thursday"

"Last Lullaby" |"Stop The Virgens" |- |2005 |Squeak E. Clean |"Scratch-a-thon" "Brazil Club"

"Today's Your Day (Whachagonedu?)"

"Martian Sunrise"

"India"

"Isaac"

"Ice Creamy"

"Hip-Hop" (Instrumental)

"Krusty"

"Once Again…"

"I Win, U Lose"

"Porno"

"What?"

"Invisiboard"

"Planet Chocolate" |"Yeah Right" and "Hot Chocolate" Scores |- |2006 |[[Donavon Frankenreiter]] |"Turn On Your Heart" |"Move By Yourself" |- |2006 |[[Swollen Members]] |"Go To Sleep" |"Black Magic" |- |2006 |[[Yeah Yeah Yeahs]] |"Gold Lion" "Way Out"

"Fancy"

"Phenomena"

"Honeybear"

"Cheated Hearts"

"Dudley"

"Mysteries"

"The Sweets"

"Warrior"

"Turn Into"

"Deja Vu" (UK Version) |"Show Your Bones" |- |2008 |[[Crystal Castles]] |"Courtship Dating" "Through the Hosiery"

"Black Panther"

"Untrust Us"

"Alice Practice" |"Crystal Castles" |- |2008 |Donavon Frankenreiter |"Life, Love, and Laughter" |"Pass It Around" |- |2009 |[[N.A.S.A. (musical group)|N.A.S.A.]] |"Intro" "The People Tree" (Feat. [[David Byrne]], [[Chali 2na]], [[Gift of Gab (rapper)|Gift Of Gab]] & [[Z-Trip]])

"Money" (feat. David Byrne, [[Chuck D]], Ras Congo, [[Seu Jorge]] & [[Z-Trip]])

"N.A.S.A. Music" (Feat. [[Method Man]], [[E-40]] & [[DJ Swamp]])

"Way Down" (feat. [[RZA]], Barbie Hatch & [[John Frusciante]])

"Hip Hop" (Feat. [[KRS-One]], [[Fatlip]] & [[Slimkid3|Slim Kid Tre]])

"Four Rooms, Earth View"

"Strange Enough" (Feat. [[Karen O]], [[Ol' Dirty Bastard]] & [[Fatlip]])

"Spacious Thoughts" (Feat. [[Tom Waits]] & [[Kool Keith]])

"Gifted" (Feat. [[Kanye West]], [[Santigold|Santogold]] & [[Lykke Li]])

"A Volta" (Feat. [[Sizzla]], [[Amanda Blank]] & [[Lovefoxxx]])

"There's A Party" (Feat. [[George Clinton (funk musician)|George Clinton]] & [[Chali 2na]])

"Whachadoin?" (Feat. [[Spank Rock]], [[M.I.A. (rapper)|M.I.A]]., Santogold & [[Nick Zinner]])

"O Pato" (Feat. [[Kool Kojak]] & DJ Babao)

"Electric Flowers" (Mario C. Remix feat. [[Nina Persson]] & [[RZA]]) (Bonus Track)

"We Gotta Mess To Make" (Feat. Jimmy from Brother Reade)

"The Ultimate" (Feat. [[Fatlip]] & [[Gift of Gab (rapper)|Gift of Gab]])

"One Time" (Feat. [[Fatlip]]) |"The Spirit of Apollo" |- |2009 |Yeah Yeah Yeahs |"Zero" (N.A.S.A. Bloody Lobo Remix) | |- |2010 |N.A.S.A. |"The Big Bang" "Gifted" (Boombotz Remix)

"I Wanna Be Your Lover"

"Whatchadoin" (Boombottz)

"Way Down" (Jupiter Remix) |"The Big Bang" |- |2011 |Crystal Castles |"Baptism" "Celestica" |"(II)" |- |2012 |[[Maroon 5]] |"Wasted Years" |"Overexposed" |- |2012 |Maximum Hedrum |"Synthesize" |"Synthesize" |- |2012 |Squeak E. Clean |"Blue Cabaret" "Blue Mambo"

"Blue One"

"Green"

"Kaleidoscopic"

"Red"

"White" |"Kaleidoscopic" |- |2013 |[[Donald Glover|Childish Gambino]] |"I. Crawl" "IV. Sweatpants"

"II. Zealots of Stockholm" |"Because The Internet" |- |2013 |Maximum Hedrum |"Castles" "Keep In Touch"

"RoboIntro"

"RoboSexual"

"Glasshouse"

"Ph.D"

"Imperfectly Mine"

"Sext Lectures"

"Synthesize"

"Deeper Than Charlie"

"Hugz For Everybody"

"Goodbye Love"

"Belly Of The Beast" |"Maximum Hedrum" |- |2013 |N.A.S.A. |"Hide" (feat. Aynzli Jones) |"Hide" |- |2013 |Yeah Yeah Yeahs |"Buried Alive" "Mosquito" (N.A.S.A. Sucks [[Theremin|Theramin]] Remix) |"Mosquito" |- |2014 |[[Ben Lee]] |"Sense" "Underground"

"You're The Reason

"Just Like In Jerusalem"

"You Confuse Me"

"Life As Usual"

"Love Won't Let You Down"

"Protect Me:

"Static"

"Hello Tomorrow"

"Turn Back Now" |"A mixtape from Ben Lee" |- |2014 |N.A.S.A. |"I Shot the Sheriff" (feat. [[Karen O]]) |"I Shot the Sheriff" |- |2014 |N.A.S.A. |"Hide" (Tropkillaz Remix) |"Hide" |- |2015 |[[LCD Soundsystem|LCD Sound System]] |"My Problem Friend is Ruining Our Night" (feat. [[Donald Glover|Childish Gambino]] & [[Fatlip]]) |"My Problem Friend is Ruining Our Night" |- |2015 |[[Lizzo]] |"Ain't I" |"Big Grrrl Small World" |- |2015 |N.A.S.A. |"Hands Up Don't Shoot" |"Hands Up Don't Shoot" |- |2015 |N.A.S.A. |"Iko" (feat. [[Lizzo]]) |"Iko" |- |2015 |N.A.S.A. |"Meltdown" (ft. [[DMX (rapper)|DMX]] & [[Priyanka Chopra]]) |"Meltdown" |- |2015 |N.A.S.A. |"Jihad Love Squad" (ft. [[KRS-One]]) |"Jihad Love Squad" |- |2015 |Squeak E. Clean |Right Now (feat. Hafro) |Right Now |- |2016 |N.A.S.A. |"We Takin' Over" (ft. [[Fatlip]] & [[Kate Boy]]) |"We Takin' Over" |- |2016 |Sam i & Tropkillaz |"Look Alive" (feat. [[Rae Sremmurd]] Tropkillaz Remix) |"Look Alive" |- |2016 |Sam i |Doin' Alright |"Doin' Alright" |- |2016 |Sam i |Mutant Brain |"Mutant Brain" |- |2017 |[[Brooke Candy]] |"Living Out Loud" (feat. [[Sia]]) |"Living Out Loud" |- |2017 |Squeak E. Clean |"Frozen" "Joy"

"Planet Glazed"

"River of Cause"

"Lettuce" (feat. Andres Velasquez)

"K.O" (feat. [[Imaad Wasif|Immad Wasif]]) |"Genius" |- |2017 |Squeak E. Clean |"I Am the Cosmos" |"I Am the Cosmos" |- |2018 |Squeak E. Clean |"Da Diddy Da" (feat. Gigarok) |"Da Diddy Da" |- |2019 |Squeak E. Clean |"We've Only Begun" (feat. [[Stacy Clark]]) |"We've Only Begun" |- |2020 |Sam i |"Goin' Home" "Perfect" (w/ Tropkillaz feat. BIA, [[MC Pikachu]])

"Used to be my Homie" (feat. [[BJ the Chicago Kid]] & [[Freddie Gibbs]])

"Don't Give Up" (feat. [[Sia]], [[Busta Rhymes]] & [[Vic Mensa]])

"Wishin'" (feat. [[Bipolar Sunshine]])

"One Last Time" (feat. Goldilox)

"To Whom It May Concern" (feat. [[CeeLo Green|Ceelo Green]], [[Theophilus London]] & [[Alex Ebert]])

"20 Below" (feat. [[Anderson Paak|Anderson .Paak]] & [[Doja Cat]])

"Champagne" (feat Aynzli Jones)

"Crew" (feat. [[Elliphant]] & [[Assassin (deejay)|Agent Sasco]] (AKA Assassin))

"Ride" (feat. [[RZA]] & Barbie Hatch) |"Random Shit From The Internet Era" |- |2020 |Squeak E. Clean |"Tom's Diner" "Hump and Jump" (feat. [[Soko (singer)|Soko]])

"Hello Tomorrow Rebirth" |"Squeak E. Clean Studios: Vol 1" |- |2020 |TRY |"Hyperspace" |"Hyperspace" |- |2022 |TRY |"Aphrodite" "Clarity" (feat. [[EarthGang|EARTHGANG]]) "Silence" (feat. Camden & Miette Hope) "End of Times" |"Chapter One" |- |2022 |TRY |"End of Times" (Couros Remix) "Silence" (Redux) "Aphrodite Part II" (with [[Killah Priest]]) |"Chapter One" (Remixes) |- |2023 |TRY |"Fire Sign" (feat. [[Mikky Ekko]]) |"Fire Sign" |- |2023 |TRY |"Fire Sign" ([[RAC (musician)|RAC]] Mix) |"Fire Sign" ([[RAC (musician)|RAC]] Mix) |}

== References == {{Reflist}}

== External links == * [http://www.squeakeclean.com/ Squeak E. Clean homepage] * [http://vimeo.com/2555969 Music video for first release, "Money"]

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Spiegel, Sam}} [[Category:1979 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:American people of German-Jewish descent]] [[Category:Musicians from Bethesda, Maryland]] [[Category:DJs from New York City]] [[Category:Spiegel family|Sam]]