Matt and Sam have been partners in crime since meeting as bright-eyed freshmen at Berklee College of Music. Fifteen years later, their often-intertwined musical journeys and like-minded approach lead them to partner up and create an inviting space for them and their clients.

Matt in Control Room

  • Founder/Engineer/Producer

    Matt’s foray into audio production came by way of his desire to record himself playing drums. As it turns out, if you have enough equipment to properly record a drum set, you have a de facto recording studio. After graduating from Berklee College of Music’s MP&E (Music Production & Engineering) program, he quickly found himself putting that equipment to work. Matt’s double-pronged career as a drummer and audio engineer has lead to some extraordinary opportunities.

    As a drummer Matt has played tours across the US and Europe, as well as countless shows in and around New York City. He has performed with a wide variety of artists, including Jeremy Jordan, Midge Ure, Paul Young, Emily Saliers (of the Indigo Girls), Dorrance Dance, Toshi Reagon, An Endless Sporadic and The Brighton Beat. As a producer and engineer Matt’s experiences range from producing an album with legendary songwriter Gary Portnoy, recording Podcasts hosted by Guy Raz, mixing theme songs for CBS Sports. His drumming and engineering work can be found on commercials for Zagats, Reebok and Airbnb.

    For more info check out mattgraffmusic.com.

  • Founder/Engineer/Producer

    Steadily making his mark as a leader, and a unique voice in modern World/Jazz/Groove based music, Sammy Wags is the critically acclaimed Composer/Producer of The Brighton Beat, Mr. Clifford, and an ever-evolving group under his own name. Sam’s personally curated blend of vintage and modern instruments and equipment mixed with an eclectic recording approach and ideology provide for a truly unique recording experience tailored for freedom of expression and creativity. Sam’s recording and production work has been featured on commercial and independent radio, network television, major studio films, and large market video game releases.

    Also an accomplished educator, Sam has a passion for music education, and has extensive experience working with students of all ages. Both alone, and with a variety of ensembles he has given clinics, workshops, and master-classes on rhythm, improvisation, creativity, composition and Jazz history.

    Regardless of challenge, risk and reward, Sam is determined to make his, and his peers voices heard in the ever-changing landscape of creative music. His consistent, overarching goal in all musical pursuits is to encourage thoughtfulness, to provoke emotion, and to lift the spirits of all who he interacts with. Success is not personal, it’s universal.

    Learn more, and see a detailed Discography at: www.SammyWags.com

Call us at 914.362.1807 for a free consultation!

OUR PHILOSOPHY

With the advent of digital recording, many aspects of record-making have changed over the last twenty years.  What used to require hundreds of thousands of dollars of tape machines, recording consoles and outboard gear can now be done with an interface the size of a textbook plugged into a laptop.  While most people agree that the expensive analog equipment sounds better, no one disputes that the possibilities afforded by digital recording have had a massive impact on how songs are written, tracked, mixed and mastered.  

And yet, while some of these methods of capturing a performance have changed, the fundamentals of making a great record really haven't. A good song performed by good musicians, and an engineer who knows how to capture the essence and emotion of a moment.  That's what matters. No amount of expensive vintage microphones, sweet sounding rack equipment, high end computers and pristine converters are going to make a lick of difference if the song isn't ready, the artist isn't happy, or the engineer isn't prepared.

At the Koop, we understand that a successful session relies on these fundamentals.  Sure, we have plenty of boutique, high end gear that will add richness and character to a performance, but we also understand that all of it is the icing on the cake.  Is the song finished? Is the moment right? Are the musicians comfortable and confident that their unique sound and vibe is being captured?  These are the questions that matter, and are what we ask ourselves every time we press record.