Emily Lazar Explained

Birth Name:Emily B. Lazar
Birth Place:New York, U.S.
Occupation:Mastering engineer

Emily B. Lazar is an American mastering engineer.[1] She is the founder, president, and chief mastering engineer of The Lodge, an audio mastering facility that has operated in New York City's Greenwich Village since 1997.[2] [3] [4] [5] She won a Grammy Award for Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical for Beck's album Colors, becoming the first female mastering engineer to win in this category.[6]

Early life and education

Lazar was born and raised in New York. She earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Creative Writing and Music from Skidmore College, graduating cum laude with honors distinction in her major. During college, she wrote music, played in bands, and worked as a freelance engineer, producer and mixer. After college, Lazar worked in some of New York City's most prominent studios.[7] Later she earned a Master of Music Degree from New York University's prestigious Music Technology program. While there, she pursued Tonmeister studies and was awarded a Graduate Fellowship. Lazar's thesis on Sonic Solutions, combined with an internship at Sony Classical, eventually led to a position at New York City based mastering facility, Masterdisk.[8]

Career

Lazar has worked on over 3,000 albums with such artists as The Offspring, Panic! At The Disco, Sia, Coldplay, Destiny's Child, David Bowie, Foo Fighters, The Prodigy, The Killers, Morrissey, Linkin Park, Vampire Weekend, Maggie Rogers, Depeche Mode, Dolly Parton, Angel Olsen, The Walkmen, Donald Fagen, Sky Ferreira, Alanis Morissette, Tiësto, The Shins, Lou Reed, Chainsmokers, Barbra Streisand, HAIM, The Raveonettes, Björk, Broken Social Scene, Cults, Boy & Bear, Goldfrapp, Moby, Paul McCartney, The Naked and Famous, Garbage, Sonic Youth, Nada Surf, Sinéad O'Connor, RZA, Wu-Tang Clan, Tegan and Sara, Sleigh Bells, Fucked Up, Chromeo, The Raveonettes, The Subways, Thievery Corporation, Death Cab for Cutie, Heffron Drive, BT, The Velvet Underground, Morgan Page, Armin Van Buuren, Jedi Mind Tricks, John Mayer, Anti-Flag, Third Eye Blind, Shiny Toy Guns, The Donnas, The All American Rejects, Vanessa Carlton, Jacob Collier and many more.[9] [10] [11]

Current articles on Emily Lazar include features in NPR,[12] Artist Pro (cover story), Bust, Electronic Musician (cover story), Home Recording Magazine, Mix Magazine, Billboard Magazine, Pro Sound News, Medialine, Remix Magazine, and Tape Op. She has been a featured panelist lecturing on college campuses and in numerous music business and recording conferences.[13] [14] [15] Lazar has also been awarded the prestigious Palamountain Award for Young Alumni Achievement from Skidmore College and has served as adjunct faculty of New York University in the Music Technology Department.[16] She is also a highly publicized product endorsee for Avalon Design (audio equipment), Apple Computer, Antelope Audio and Dangerous Music.[17] [18] Emily resides in New York and presently serves as a Trustee of the Recording Academy. She also serves on the NY Chapter's Board of Governors for the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences and previously Co-Chaired the NY Chapter's Producer & Engineer's Wing. Currently Lazar serves on the Recording Academy's P&E Wing National Steering Committee, P&E Wing National Advisory Council, and the Recording Academy's National Advocacy Committee.

In 2019, Lazar became the first female mastering engineer to win the Best Engineered Album (Non-Classical) Grammy, which she won for her work on Beck's Colors.[19]

In 2021, Emily became the first mastering engineer to land 3 Grammy nods for Album of the Year. [20] Leading up to the Grammy Awards, Chris Martin from Coldplay admitted that their latest album could have sounded terrible if it wasn't for one person — mastering engineer Emily Lazar. [21]

The Lodge

Lazar's studio, The Lodge, is an audio mastering facility, opened in 1997 in Greenwich Village in downtown Manhattan.[14]

We Are Moving the Needle

On March 8, 2021, Emily announced the launch of the We Are Moving the Needle foundation - aiming to create measurable change for women in the recording industry with the education, equipment and the mentorship needed to succeed.[22] Mentors for the program include Brandi Carlile, HAIM, Maggie Rogers and many others.

Awards and nominations

Grammy Awards[23]

Latin Grammy Awards

Pensado Awards

TEC Awards

Billboard Magazine: Women in Music: Hitmakers from Behind the Scenes

Elle Magazine: The Women in Music Power List

Variety Magazine: Power of Women Impact List

Credits

2010

ArtistAlbumLabel
BTThese Hopeful MachinesNettwerk
Vampire WeekendContraXL Recordings
Crime in StereoI Was Trying to Describe You to SomeoneBridge Nine Records
Minus the BearOmniDangerbird Records
Envy on the CoastLowcountryPhoto Finish Records
Sleigh BellsTreatsMom and Pop Records
Against MeWhite CrossesSire Records
Maps & AtlasesPerch PatchworkBarsuk Records
Kathryn CalderAre You My Mother?File Under: Music
Matt Pond PAThe Dark LeavesAltitude Records
ChromeoBusiness CasualAtlantic Records
ChiefModern RitualsDomino Records
Magic KidsMemphisTrue Panther Sounds
TiëstoMusical Freedom
Armin van BuurenMirageArmada Records
Ólöf ArnaldsInnundir skinniOne Little Indian
Fran HealyWreckorderWreckord Label
Twin ShadowForget4AD Records
Mt. DesolationMt. DesolationIsland Records
The SuzanGolden Week for the Poco Poco BeatFool's Gold Records
RaphaelPacific 231EMI France
The XcertsScatterbrainXtra Mile Recordings
The Naked and FamousPassive Me, Aggressive YouUniversal/Republic
BTThese Humble MachinesNettwerk
The PostellesSpend the NightAstralwerks
Skuli SverrissonSeria IISeria Music

2011

ArtistAlbumLabel
The Naked & FamousPassive Me, Aggressive YouPolydor Ltd/Fiction
Brand NewYour Favorite Weapon (Reissue)Razor & Tie/Triple Crown Records
The RaveonettesRarities/B-SidesThe Orchard
White DenimDDowntown Records
Foo FightersWasting LightSAM Records/Roswell Records
Morgan PageIn The AirNettwerk Music Group
Ben LeeDeeper into DreamTen Finger Records/Gold Village
Cubic ZirconiaFollow Your HeartFool's Gold Records
Ólöf ArnaldsÓlöf SingsOne Little Indian
Against Me!White Crosses/Black CrossesTotal Trebel Music
CANTDreams Come TrueTerrible Records/Warp Records
Boy & BearMoonfireUniversal Music Australia
Fucked UpDavid Comes to LifeMatador
Big TalkBig TalkEpitaph Records/ANTI Records
Thievery CorporationCulture of FearESL
Above & BeyondGroup TherapyAnjunabeats
TiëstoClub Life: Volume II - Las VegasMusical Freedom
CultsCultsColumbia Records
Against Me!Total ClarityFat Wreck Chords

2012

ArtistAlbumLabel
The KillersBattle BornMercury Records
Alanis MorissetteHavoc and Bright LightsCollective Sounds
Shiny Toy GunsIIIFive Seven Music
SantanaShape ShifterStarfaith Records
BTIf the Stars Are Eternal So Are You and ILaptop Symphony
BTMorceau SubrosaLaptop Symphony
GarbageNot Your Kind of PeopleSTUNVOLUME
TiëstoClub Life: Volume 2 - MiamiMusical Freedom
Sondre LercheBootlegsMana Records
Diamond RingsFree DimensionalAstralwerks
Bush TetrasHappyReachout International Records, Inc.
The CringeHiding in Plain SightListen Records
Eleni MandellI Can See the FutureYep Roc Records
TrustTRSTArts & Crafts Productions
Nigel DupreeUp to No GoodMighty Loud Records
Jeff WayneWar of the Worlds: The New Generation101 Distribution
ShoesIgnitionBlack Vinyl Records
Matt BoerumCold Hearted DisasterMatthew Boerum
Misstress BarbaraMany Shades of GreyMapleMusic Recordings
Say Anything...Is A Real BoyDoghouse Records
IndochineParadize +10Sony Music

2013

ArtistAlbumLabel
Vampire WeekendModern Vampires of the CityXL Recordings
WeeknightPost EverythingHand Drawn Dracula
Various artistsSaint HeronSaint Records
The KillersDirect HitsMercury Records
BTA Song Across WiresArmada Music
Sound CityRoswell Records
HaimDays Are GonePolydor
James Vincent McMorrowPost TropicalVagrant Records
The Julie RuinRun FastDischord Records
Party SuppliesTough LoveFool's Gold Records
The Fatty AcidsBoléroKribber Krown Records
Tyler WardHonestlySony Music
Sky FerreiraNight Time, My TimeCapitol Records
Emily Jane WhiteBloodlinesImportant Records
HellogoodbyeEverything Is DebatableOld Friends Records
Various artistsGrand Theft Auto V SoundtrackRockstar Games
Balance and ComposureThe Things We Think We're MissingNo Sleep Records
The Living SistersRun for CoverVanguard
Golden SuitsGolden SuitsYep Roc
Various artistsThis Is the End: Original Motion Picture SoundtrackRCA Records
Bernard FanningDeparturesDew Process
Candlelight RedReclamationImagen Records
The Boxer RebellionPromisesAbsentee Recordings
Armin van BuurenIntenseArmada Music
The Postal ServiceGive Up:10th Anniversary Deluxe EditionSub Pop
Matthew Shell & Arun Shenoy"Genesis" (single)MTS Music/Narked Records

2014

ArtistAlbumLabel
Sia1000 Forms of FearRCA Records
The ReassureEchoeÖrange Penguin Studio
Linkin ParkThe Hunting PartyWarner Bros. Records
Linkin ParkThe Hunting Party: Live From MexicoWarner Bros. Records
Say AnythingHebrewsRCA Records
Mimicking BirdsEonsGlacial Pace Records
Garbage10" Single Record Store Day ReleaseSTUNVOLUME
Hamilton LeithauserBlack HoursRibbon Music
Christina PerriHead or HeartSony Records
Neon Hitch301 to ParadiseWarner Bros. Records
TRUSTJoylandArts & Crafts
Dive IndexLost in the PressureNeutral Milk
La DisputeRooms of the HouseNo Sleep Records
TwofishZero CrossingSelf-released

2015

ArtistAlbumLabel
ColdplayA Head Full of DreamsParlophone
The Front BottomsBack On TopFueled By Ramen
PeachesRubI U She Music
Brandon FlowersThe Desired EffectIsland Records
Oh NoWelcome to Los SantosRockstar Games
HOLYCHILDThe Shape of Brat Pop to ComeGlassnote Records
The Bird and the BeeRecreational LoveRostrum Records
MikaNo Place in HeavenCasablanca Records
BTElectronic OpusBinary Acoustics
Slightly StoopidMeanwhile...Back at the LabSilver Back Music
SmallpoolsLovetap!RCA Records
Robert DeLongIn the CardsGlassnote Records
Kate PiersonGuitars and MicrophonesLazy Meadow Music
BraidsDeep in the IrisArbutus Records
Morgan PageDC to LightNetwerk Music Group
Milo GreeneControlElektra Records
BaioThe NamesGlassnote Records
Mas YsaSeraphDowntown Records
Natalie Imbruglia"Instant Crush" (single)Columbia Records
Beck"Dreams" (single)Capitol Music Group
Duncan Sheik"Selling Out (Fischer King Remix)"Atlantic Records
FoxTrottA Taller UsLittle Indians Records
Veruca SaltGhost NotesEl Camino Records
Speedy OrtizFoil DeerCarpark Records
Beauty PillBeauty Pill Describes Things As They AreButterscotch Records
Title FightHyperviewGood Fight Entertainment
BaltimoreTigers of the YearSelf-released

2016

ArtistAlbumLabel
Foo Fighters"Saint Cecilia" (single)Columbia Records/RCA Records
SiaThis Is ActingMonkey Puzzle/RCA Records
Dustin O'Halloran/HauschkaLion: Original Motion Picture SoundtrackSony Classical
Angel OlsenMy WomanJagjaguwar
SwitchfootWhere the Light Shines ThroughConcord Vanguard, Universal Records
GarbageStrange Little BirdsSony BMG/Vagrant Records
Tegan and SaraLove You to DeathRhino Entertainment/Vapor/Warner Bros. Records
Ronnie SpectorEnglish HeartSavoy Records
ThaliaLatinaSony BMG/Sony Music
BroodsConsciousCapitol Records/Island Records/Universal Records
Margaret GlaspyEmotions and MathATO Records
Ben AlessiU[32] [33] Big House Publishing
Moby/Moby & the Void Pacific ChoirThese Systems Are FailingArts & Crafts Productions
ColdplayA Head Full of Dreams 5.1 Surround MixParlophone

2017

ArtistAlbumLabel
BeckColorsCapitol Records
MorrisseyLow in High School BMG
HaimSomething to Tell You Polydor Records
RostamHalf-Light Nonesuch
Dams of the WestYoungish American 30th Century Records/Columbia Records
Ruth BSafe Haven Columbia Records
The ChainsmokersMemories...Do Not Open Columbia Records
ColdplayA L I E N S Parlophone
ColdplayAll I Can Think About Is You Parlophone
ColdplayKaleidoscope EP Parlophone
Mary LambertBold Mary Lambert Productions
Coldplay"Hypnotised" (song)Parlophone
Thievery CorporationThe Temple of I & I Eighteenth Street/ESL Music/Ye
BaltimoreSummer Rain Self-released
Ben AlessiPRSSR[34] Big House Recordings
MereshaEnter the DreamlandSonic Dolphin
Ha*Ash30 de Febrero[35] Sony Music Latin

2018

ArtistAlbumLabel
All Hail the SilenceAll Hail the SilenceSelf-released
Panic! At The DiscoPray for the WickedFueled By Ramen
ColdplayLive in Buenos AiresParlophone
ColdplayLive in Buenos Aires/Live in São Paulo/A Head Full of DreamsParlophone
DizzyBaby TeethRoyal Mountain Records
Speedy OrtizTwerp VerseGravesend
Dolly PartonDumplin'Legacy

2019

ArtistAlbumLabel
Vampire WeekendFather of the BrideColumbia Records
Maggie RogersHeard It in a Past LifeCapitol Records
ColdplayEveryday LifeParlophone
ClairoImmunityFader
Cherry GlazerrStuffed & ReadySecretly Canadian
Jacob CollierDjesse Vol. 2Hajanga Records
Goo Goo DollsMiracle PillWarner Records
Charly BlissYoung EnoughBarsuk Records
Sara EvansTBDBorn To Fly Records
Sour WidowsSour Widows EPSelf Released

2020

ArtistAlbumLabel
Alanis MorissetteSuch Pretty Forks in the RoadEpiphany Music / Thirty Tigers
HaimWomen in Music Pt. IIIColumbia Records
WallflowerTeach Yourself To SwimSelf-Released
My Morning JacketThe Waterfall IIATO Records
Jacob CollierDjesse Vol. 3Hajanga Records
Soul AsylumHurry Up and WaitBlue Élan Records
AWOLNATIONAngel Miners & the Lightning RidersBetter Noise Records
MorrisseyI Am Not a Dog on a ChainBMG
The KillersImploding the MirageIsland Records
Travis10 SongsBMG
Chicano BatmanInvisible PeopleATO Records
Troy "Trombone Shorty" Andrews / Little Big TownJambalaya (On the Bayou)ATO Records
Little Big TownNightfallATO Records
The StrutsStrange DaysATO Records
MarinaMan's WorldAtlantic
Hamilton LeithauserThe Loves of Your LifeGlassnote Records
HindsThe Prettiest CurseLucky Number
DizzyThe Sun and Her ScorchRoyal Mountain Records
Kaitlyn Aurelia SmithThe Mosaic of Transformation

2022

ArtistAlbumLabel
Maggie RogersSurrenderDebay Sounds, Capitol Records
MommaHousehold Name[36] Polyvinyl, Lucky Number

2024

ArtistAlbumLabel
Jacob CollierDjesse Vol. 4Hajanga Records
The OffspringSuperchargedConcord Records

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The Lodge Mastering wraps up 2007 with the Grammy's PRLog. The Lodge Mastering. Prlog.org. February 4, 2015.
  2. Web site: Music: Fran Healy Masters 'Wreckorder' at The Lodge Mixonline. Mixonline.com. February 4, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20130304094619/http://mixonline.com/recording/mastering/fran_healy_wreckorder_lodge/. March 4, 2013. dead.
  3. Web site: The Lodge Masters The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, Tiësto, The Raveonettes & More SonicScoop - Creative, Technical & Business Connections For NYC's Music & Sound Community. Ssonicscoop.com. March 29, 2011 . February 4, 2015.
  4. Web site: Emily Lazar Credits . AllMusic. February 4, 2015.
  5. Web site: Emily Lazar Discography at Discogs. Discogs.com. February 4, 2015.
  6. Web site: A day in the life of Emily Lazar, Grammy-winning mastering engineer. CBC Music. February 11, 2019. October 22, 2019.
  7. Web site: Major in Music Technology at Skidmore College. Skidmore.edu. February 4, 2015.
  8. Web site: BT Remakes Mastering at The Lodge with "These Hopeful Machines" SonicScoop - Creative, Technical & Business Connections For NYC's Music & Sound Community. Sonicscoop.com. February 2, 2010 . February 4, 2015.
  9. Web site: Emily Lazar Credits . AllMusic. February 4, 2015.
  10. Web site: Vampire Weekend Master Debut Album with Emily Lazar at The Lodge PRLog. The Lodge Mastering. Prlog.org. February 4, 2015.
  11. Web site: The Lodge's Emily Lazar & Joe LaPorta Master "Massive" New Foo Fighters Album SonicScoop - Creative, Technical & Business Connections For NYC's Music & Sound Community. Sonicscoop.com. January 5, 2011 . February 4, 2015.
  12. Web site: The Woman Behind The Curtain, Making Good Songs Sound Great : The Record : NPR. Npr.org. February 4, 2015.
  13. Book: Billboard. September 30, 2000. Nielsen Business Media, Inc.. 0006-2510. 62. February 4, 2015.
  14. Web site: The Lodge. https://web.archive.org/web/20050205034138/http://mixonline.com/mag/audio_lodge/index.html. February 5, 2005. dead. February 4, 2015.
  15. Web site: Ears, Passion, and Patience . June 6, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100808191902/http://emusician.com/mag/emusic_ears_passion_patience/ . August 8, 2010 . dead .
  16. Web site: Emily Lazar - Selected Alumni Bios - NYU Steinhardt. https://web.archive.org/web/20071122155749/http://steinhardt.nyu.edu/music/alumni/bio/lazar. dead. November 22, 2007. Steinhardt.nyu.edu. February 4, 2015.
  17. Web site: Antelope Audio Brings Back Popular OCXmas, Offering Special Discounts on OCX Master Clock and More PRLog. Hummingbird Media. Prlog.org. February 4, 2015.
  18. Web site: Avalon New Users. Avalondesign.com. February 4, 2015.
  19. Web site: Courtney E. Smith . Emily Lazar, First Woman To Win Engineering Grammy . Refinery29.com . 2019 . February 11, 2019.
  20. Web site: Paul Grein . Emily Lazar Is First Mastering Engineer to Land 3 Grammy Nods for Album of the Year . Billboard.com . 2021.
  21. Web site: MESFIN FEKADU . Who really had the album of the year? Emily Lazar did. . apnews.com . 2021.
  22. Web site: The Change Makers. Sound On Sound. September 2023. 21 March 2024.
  23. Web site: Emily Lazar Artist. The Recording Academy. September 25, 2022.
  24. Web site: 23rd Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards®. The Latin Recording Academy. September 25, 2022. September 23, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220923181649/https://www.latingrammy.com/files/23rd_latin_grammy_nominations.pdf. dead.
  25. Web site: PENSADO AWARDS - JUNE 28TH, 2014 LOS ANGELES, CA. Pensadoawards.com. February 4, 2015.
  26. Web site: The TEC Awards . The Tec Foundation . February 11, 2013 .
  27. Web site: The TEC Awards . The Tec Foundation . February 11, 2013 .
  28. Web site: The TEC Awards . The Tec Foundation . February 11, 2013 .
  29. Web site: Women In Music: Hitmakers from Behind the Scenes. December 14, 2015. Billboard.com. December 14, 2015.
  30. Web site: ELLE's Women In Music Power List. May 22, 2017. Elle.com. December 28, 2017.
  31. Variety's Power of Women Impact List. Variety.
  32. Emily Lazar, "Emily Lazar", Music Brainz
  33. Ben Alessi, "Ben Alessi", Music Brainz
  34. Web site: Ben Alessi Is a Serious Force of Creativity on Debut 'PRSSR' EP: Premiere — via Billboard. Big House Publishing. August 18, 2017.
  35. 30 de Febrero. liner notes . . . 2017 . 889854908225.
  36. Web site: Polyvinyl Records - Artists, News, Music - Shop Vinyl, Merch, Music and More . 2024-01-08 . Polyvinyl Record Co..