Meet Andy Seltzer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Andy Seltzer and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Andy, what do you attribute your success to?
I think one of the most important factors of my success in the career of music production is my ability to create an open, ego-less, respectful, and trusting sanctuary for artists; allowing lots of room to access their most honest selves in order to make meaningful art that they are proud of.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I am a music producer/songwriter who specializes in creating space for artists to channel their most honest selves into songs that they are proud to share with the world. I am known for aiding in the development of artists, especially at the beginning of their career, while also finding a sound that feels custom-catered to everyone I work with. I give artists confidence and support, encouraging them that the stories closest to their hearts are the most important to write about so that whoever hears it will feel a deep, true connection. I take much care in overseeing the big picture, i.e., where a song fits into a larger body of work or a point in an artist’s present life.

Attending college around 2013 is when I discovered my passion for producing, and I haven’t looked back since. I graduated early from school and made my way to NYC in 2015 with an internship at a publishing company. I lived in Brooklyn with my brother and commuted to Times Square every day to sit at a cubicle sending playlists of music to ad agencies, slowly making myself known to the producers/songwriters on the floor that I was a multi-instrumentalist while “conveniently” standing by the coffee machine. Soon, they began inviting me into sessions on guitar/bass, and before I knew it, my internship dissolved, and I was mostly going to the studio every day playing on other producer’s demos and occasionally getting to take sessions they were too busy for themselves. The A&Rs took notice of me bustling from room to room and graciously took a chance on setting me up with my first writing sessions, while a chance encounter with a BMI rep at a show led me to their offices, where I found my first true community of artists/writers that I’d begin to amass my catalog.

After a few years of writing sessions every day in the city, a serendipitous songwriting mixer at BMI one evening led me to befriending the artist Maggie Rogers, who I later co-produced a song for and who helped solidify my confidence that I was on the right path. I signed a publishing deal around 2017, began producing for artists like Chelsea Cutler and Valley, and then, in 2018, made the decision to move to LA, where I’ve been ever since!

I would not say the path has been easy by any means, but being my own biggest advocate over the years has thankfully created a consistent road. Having a bit of “blind faith” and telling myself that as long as I show up every day with a willingness to collaborate sans ego; using my skills to the best of my abilities as I try to bring out the most honest ideas from an artist has generally kept me taking baby steps in the right direction.

When I get hired to produce an artist’s project, I’m the most proud of my ability to take on the role of project manager/cheerleader/fan/friend/musical bodyguard to make sure their vision is carried out with integrity and minimal distractions from the outside world.

I am known for being a musical picture framer; if somebody begins painting aimlessly on the walls of a museum without the limitations of a border, there might never be a moment to call it finished or become too big to understand. If somebody calls something finished that feels too small or undeveloped, I try to amplify or expand on the idea until it’s the perfect fit. No matter how big or small, I strive to find the most honest and heartfelt way to create the frame for the song inside.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
there are endless sights to see in LA, but I would say depending on the trip I’d recommend coffee at the La Colombe in Frogtown and sit by the river, breakfast at Millie’s in Silverlake, Stories bookstore in Echo Park, Martlet Tattoo in Highland park, the Huntington Gardens and Getty art museum. vintage band t shirts at Soft Humans, checking out a show at The Lodge Room, chinese food for dinner at Genghis Cohen, and bowling at Shatto Lanes in Koreatown.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I dedicate my Shoutout series to my brother and manager Gregory of Gregory Mark Mgmt, who has been with me every step of my career and would not be here without.

Instagram: instagram.com/andyseltzer