L-R: Jamie Bunch, Lucia Alper, Phil Mossman, Dana Burch, Miriam Chaban, Michelle Curran, Matt Friedman, Jennie Wadhams. NOT PICTURED: Shauna Seresin
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Amber Music is one of the preeminent music production companies in the world, with offices in New York and Los Angeles.
Founded in 1993 by Michelle Curran, Amber’s composers and sound designers have consistently produced award wining work for a range of global clients, most recently receiving a Gold Lion at Cannes for Best Use of Music in 2008, and the only Gold Clio that was awarded in the Music category in 2009.
Amber Music offers custom commercial and long form composition, sound design, and full music supervision services including licensing from third party publishing houses and record labels, as well as from our own back catalogue.
Michelle Curran
President & Creative Director
Michelle Curran began her career as head of promotions at both Island and London Records working with such notable artists as U2, Grace Jones, Bob Marley, Robert Palmer, leading to an extensive network within the music industry. Michelle set up and ran Logorhythm Music and the Real Music co. before starting up Amber music 15 years ago.
Under Michelle, Amber Music has gained a reputation for producing tracks that have an edge. She prides herself on discovering and employing some of the most talented composers out there and it’s what makes Amber continually at the top of the agencies’ list when music comes into the mix. The company has a broad client base that spans both sides of the Atlantic, with offices in London, New York & LA.
Michelle has produced music for over 2000 TV commercials including the emmy award winning PBS Fish, as well as “Lake of Darkness”, shown on UK TV starring Sadie Frost, and produced the music for the Hunger Trilogy TV films put out by Showtime directed by the Scotts’. This was comprised of 3 programs, “The Swords” directed by Tony Scott, “manashatwa” directed by Jake Scott, and “Narcros” directed by Russell Mulcahy. Michelle also recently completed a Nomis project with agency Johannes Leonoardo released in the U.K., for which Amber Music won a Gold at the 2008 Cannes Lions.
Being considered a revered industry leader, Michelle is frequently asked to judge music categories at prestigious award shows such as The Clios and AICP.
In addition, she has been recognized as one of the 16 “Most Influential Women in Advertising In the World” by Boards Magazine.
Quotes from Industry Peers in Boards Magazine September 2003 Issue:
Trevor King, sales rep, The Blue Rock Editing Company, NY:
“And at the center of the festivities was and always will be that heavenly creature Michelle, a gracious and generous hostess, strutting around in her fabulous frocks and locks piled high, all festively adorned. For me, Michelle typifies all the best qualities of the Amber Music brand: smart, fresh, interesting and never dull.”
Ken Yagoda, VP Executive Producer, Time Warner, NY:
“She has an incredibly sophisticated view of the marketplace. But she also has a keen eye and ear for talent and for what will make a good fit. She also has a loyalty to her clients that, in an era of maybe too much greed, is totally refreshing.”
From Boards Magazine September 1, 2006 article “Advertising Women of Excellence: Honored for Contribution to the Production Community”:
“While she may come off a little devil-may-care, it’s well thought out – Curran knows who she is, and by a similar turn, she knows exactly what her 13-year-old London-, New York- and LA-based company Amber Music is: dedicated to the highest quality. Indeed, she considers ‘keeping true to what I believe in creatively and not being frightened to speak my mind when needed’ as a career highlight.”
Jennie Wadhams,
CEO
Jennie Wadhams began her career in London in the mid 1970’s as a production assistant at McCann Erickson working on clients Martini, Levis, and McVities. Her next stop was at award winning agency Collett Dickenson Pierce where she was promoted to producer and worked for clients Fiat, Texaco, Heineken, Hamlet Cigars and Cinzano.
As Head of Broadcast at Abbott Mead Vickers, she worked on Volvo and Budweiser amongst other accounts, and helped build the agency’s department under legendary Creative Director David Abbott.
She also worked on the production company side at BFCS for directors Richard Sloggett, Michael Seresin and Bob Brooks.
During her career she has worked with directors Alan Parker, Hugh Hudson and Tony and Ridley Scott.
After her move to the US in the early 1990’s she was recruited as Head of Broadcast at D’Arcy, and then Publicis in New York working on clients Proctor and Gamble, Ernst & Young and Heineken. Before joining Amber Music in 2008 she produced the new worldwide branding campaign for Chevron out of McGarry Bowen.
Philip Mossman
E/P NY
Phil Mossman is a veteran of groundbreaking music production with an insider’s knowledge of how great music is made. Uniquely, he has recorded and toured with some of the most cutting edge artists of the last 15 years while managing to create award winning scores to picture over the same period. He also has a knack for spotting, developing and producing new talent. And in a move that seems to encapsulate his career so far, he has recently become Amber’s Executive Producer in New York.
Philip exploded into prominence in the mid 90’s with Andrew Weatherall’s electronic, post-rave outfit Sabres of Paradise. The Sabres’ combination of coolness and credibility caught the attention of many of the UK’s most important tastemakers of the time. As a result David Holmes recruited Phil to collaborate on ground breaking scores to a slew of movies. Among them, Stephen Soderbergh’s Out Of Sight and Oceans 11 drew particular critical acclaim.
During this same period Phil worked on several pioneering releases including Primal Scream’s Xtrmntr and David Holmes’ Bow Down To The Exit Sign. And it was through working on these recordings that he made two crucial contacts that would prove pivotal in the next stage of his career: DFA honcho, James Murphy and Amber Music boss, Michelle Curran.
When Philip chose New York as his home in 2001, James Murphy promptly invited him to join the newly minted outfit, LCD Soundsystem. Five years, two Grammy nominations, and hundreds of stunning live performances later, Philip had just made the tough decision to quit touring when he got the call from Michelle that Amber beckoned.
Flash forward another two years to 2008 and Philip lifted the Gold Lion award at Cannes, along with his fellow composer Will Bates for the Nomis, “Damn Boots” campaign.
Philip’s latest move is to Executive Producer of Amber New York. In this role he is able to combine his hard won wisdom and talent-development skills with his intuitive and highly focused approach to production and scoring to picture.
Dana Burch
E/P LA
Dana Burch got her start in the city where music was born – Motown, otherwise known as Detroit Rock City. At the tender age of 9, she picked up a cello and made some squawks and squeaks until one day she found out she was actually pretty good at it. She toured around the globe with an orchestra during her teenage years, and spent the rest of her time immersed in learning the lyrics to as many songs as possible. After earning her degree at the University of Michigan, she packed up her bags and headed out to New York City. For years she worked as an assistant, coordinator, manager, and wrestled her way to the ranks of producer. One day Dana was set up by a mutual friend to meet the Michelle Curran, and the rest is herstory. A few weeks later Dana flew to Los Angeles to produce for Amber’s west coast team and she’s doing what she does best – kickin’ butt, takin’ names, and helping make some rockin’ tunes.
Matt Friedman
Music Supervisor
Matt Friedman. Doesn’t that sound good? Ohhhhh that guy. Tallest Amber employee, did you know that? Probably not. He loves to search. For music, bugs or even money. That’s why we hired him. Try him. You’re gonna like the way he searches, I guarantee it.
Jamie Bunch
Manager of Business Affairs
Jamie Bunch has spent the past decade working and living music. Hailing from Austin, Texas, she got her start early with intern roles at the Austin Music Liason’s Office (where she booked bands for City Council meetings), Atlantic Records, and with critically acclaimed singer/songwriter David Garza. Upon earning her BBA from the University of Texas, she moved to Los Angeles and worked for a boutique music publishing company. Two years later, she earned a position in the music booking department at The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn/Ferguson and spent 4 ½ years helping give acts like The Shins, Paolo Nutini and Rodrigo Y Gabriela their first network TV appearances. Jamie left the Late Late Show when she relocated to New York, and joined the Amber family in the business department in 2008.
Lucia Alper
Assistant Producer
Way back during the era of Punk Rock Revival in ‘03, Lucy Alper was introduced to Amber Music and it was love at first sight. This love affair culminated in Lucy being hired as Amber’s very first intern. After that, she studied hard and earned a BA in psychology, worked many an odd job, and traveled the world (well, some of it). One day, she awoke with a start and realized she had to pursue her lifelong dream of being a singer/songwriter and/or ruling the world. Until that day comes, Lucy is happy being Amber’s most excellent Junior Producer.
Shauna Seresin
In-House NY Sales
Born in London, England, Shauna’s always had a thing for music and after leaving The London College Of Fashion with two diplomas in her pocket, she decided there were too many designers in the world for her and focused her efforts on singing. She managed to get signed to 3 record labels: RCA, Mercury Records and Acid Jazz. She has recorded and toured with some fantastic artists such as Paul Weller, Jamiroquai, Jah Wobble and Diana Brown to just name a few.
Before moving to New York, she worked for CHI & Partners as a TV Producer and also assisted the Head Of TV working on accounts like Toyota, Lexus, Royal Bank Scotland, Typhoo, Britvic, Carphone Warehouse, The Sunday Times and many more. In addition, she also worked in post-production houses for 4 years as an Assistant Producer/ PA and dabbled a bit working in Production for Stink.
Shauna has known Michelle Curran for many years and has always admired the work that she and her team have produced and created. So after a lot of pursuing over the years, Michelle has finally gotten her way and made Shauna a part of the Amber Team. She’s thrilled to be with talented and gifted people, creating wonderful sounds and being a part of that.
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