The 2024 Grammy Awards are set to premiere on Feb. 4, but did you know that Emerson alumni are involved with nominated work?
Established in 1959, the Grammys have evolved into one of the most prestigious and globally recognized music awards, celebrating the artistic and technical accomplishments of musicians, producers, engineers, and other professionals.
In an interview with the Beacon, Bryan Schlam ’08, Dan Viafore, MA ’09, and Marcos Valles ’04 gave insight into how they received the accolades for their success and how Emerson attributed to where they are in their careers today.
Schlam is a director renowned for his outstanding contributions to projects such as “The Black Keys: Go” (2019), “James Bay: Us” (2018), and “Oscar: Sometimes” (2016). He has earned recognition for his innovative, creative direction with artists and brands like Amazon and General Motors. Nominated for his exceptional work on Tyler Childers’ “In Your Love” music video reflects technical brilliance and a keen understanding of the artistic nuances that elevate music videos to a form of visual art.
When asked about his creative process and how it reflects on his videos, Schlam elucidates that his own distinct niche was rooted in his experiences at Emerson and had a journey of self-discovery within the constantly evolving landscape of the film industry.
“I have a unique relationship with music videos because you can tell I’ve built a niche for myself where they’re very narrative and focused on storytelling,” Schlam said. “It’s really fun because I get to write and develop the creative for all the music videos they do. It’s very different from other people’s videos that are performance-focused or just focused on aesthetics.”
Schlam boasts a substantial tenure in the industry, marked not only by considerable success but also by his steadfast commitment to authenticity and the unwavering pursuit of his creative vision. Offering advice to students who want to break into the industry, Schlam notes that sometimes the key is simple: individuality.
“Find the disciplines and the type of videos and creative that you like, and focus on that and see if you can make a career out of that. Because if you’re just trying to chase whatever’s trendy in 3 or 4 years, it’ll look dated,” Schlam said. “You’re not being true to yourself. Just make sure that when it comes to your creative endeavors, you’re staying true to your aesthetic, what you want to do, and the stories you want to tell.”
Alumni are making significant strides in visual storytelling within the music industry, and Daniel Viafore is emerging as a standout talent in the mixing and sound engineering department.
With a wealth of hands-on experience amassed across renowned studios globally, Viafore excels in tracking and mixing sounds for artists like Olivia Rodrigo, JULIAPINK, and ASHER YELO. He has received Grammy nominations for mixing on Olivia Rodrigo’s track “vampire” and her debut record “SOUR.” His skill set extends to vocal tuning, editing, and post-production services, showcasing a versatile proficiency across multiple facets of audio production.
Beyond the technical aspects of his craft, Viafore’s dedication to his clients shines through in his approach. Viafore emphasizes the importance of pouring himself into each project he takes on, acknowledging that the outcome may vary with every piece of work.
“I’ve tried consistently to be present and go the extra mile for my clients. Sometimes, it pays dividends, and you get hired for more work. Other times, it won’t, but you can always walk away from a project feeling like you gave it your best shot,” Viafore said. “You just never know what gig could pan out to more work or get press that wasn’t expected. I love this saying, ‘luck is where preparation meets opportunity.’ I’ve been very lucky in my career, but I’ve put in a lot of work to try and be ready for those opportunities.“
Even amidst the pressure of working on highly anticipated projects like “vampire” and “SOUR,” where audience expectations ran high, Viafore remained steadfast in selecting a sound authentically aligned with the artist’s vision.
“In many ways, this project stayed true to my goal of trying not to ‘get in the way,’ Viafore said. “In the record world, it’s all about what the producer and artist are looking for, the sound they want. The editing that I did on these songs was guided completely by Dan Nigro and Olivia. On the first record, I followed his lead in terms of what they were asking for. By the time the second record came around, we had ‘SOUR’ under our belts and knew where to go.”
“vampire” achieved a remarkable debut before its nomination, claiming the top spot on the US Billboard Hot 100 with an impressive 35.5 million streams. Viafore has been attentive to Rodrigo’s approach to translating her music into live performances and songs, acknowledging and crediting her exceptional talent.
“As with all her work, ‘vampire’ and ‘GUTS’ are entirely about Olivia’s ability to emote through her singing. She is an incredible singer, so it’s all about her ability to connect with the audience. No matter the arrangement, size of the band, or song choice, they can all become anthemic sing-alongs in the live setting.” Viafore said.
Meanwhile, the resurgence of live music during the pandemic has brought recognition to musicians like Marcos Valles, nominated for his role as drummer in Noah Kahan’s band. Notably, Noah Kahan has earned a nomination in the fiercely competitive Best New Artist category, marking a dynamic and noteworthy moment in the evolving landscape of the music industry.
The credit for this success goes to Kahan’s groundbreaking third studio album, “Stick Season”, a phenomenon in its own right. Charting with anthemic indie-pop tracks rooted in folk-driven lyricism, the album has become a significant musical milestone.
Valles has been a musician since his Emerson College days, honing that for a while, he did not think it was an accessible career for him to pursue. However, a call from Noah Kahan’s manager, Drew Simmons, was a twist of fate that changed the course of Valles’ musical journey. The invitation to step in as a drummer for Noah’s band came when Valles contemplated leaving the music scene.
“Basically, I was actually kind of getting ready to quit music in 2017. And I got a call from Noah’s manager, Drew Simmons, saying that he needed me in about a week to fill in for the drummer they had just recently let go,” Valles said. “And so I’ve been a part of Noah since 2017, and, going strong, it’s been a pretty great experience to be involved in this. Noah is, in my opinion, one of the best musicians to be a part of because he’s just a good guy. He cares about you. It’s not that you’re just the hired musician.”
Valles highlights the unique aspect of working with Noah Kahan—being more than just a hired musician but an integral part of the band and a valued friend.
“You are his band. You are his bud and friend, which goes a long way in this business,” Valles said. “You don’t find too many people that really listen to you and are keeping you in mind.”
Transitioning from the sentiments of camaraderie and mutual respect in his collaboration with Kahan, Valles delves into his role as the drummer, emphasizing the intrinsic drive to be the propelling force that sustains the music.
“Being the drummer, you want to be that driving force that keeps it going. I’m honored to be a part of these great songs off of ‘Stick Season,’” Valles said. “I’m just honored to be the guy in the back there being the backbone or the cake.”
Valles extends his passion for music to live performances and mentorship. As he pursues a career in the music industry focusing on live performances, Valles generously shares his insights and advice with Emerson students, emphasizing the importance of being a good person beyond musical prowess.
“Be a good person. In my opinion, that’s one of the most important things,”” Valles said. “You can be the best musician or the best performer, but it will be bad for you if you’re not good to hang around with. So, the first thing is to be a good person to hang out with. Build those relationships. I wouldn’t have this position without my relationship with Drew during my Emerson days.”
Emerson alumni, like Valles, have consistently proven their talent and creativity in various fields, significantly impacting the industries they are part of. Their presence at the Grammys further highlights their remarkable achievements and showcases their ability to excel in the music industry.
While congratulations are deserved across the board to these alumni, there is no doubt that Emerson alumni are taking industries by storm. To see if these alumni score in the prospective categories, tune into the Grammys on Feb. 4.
