Sam Slater

Sam Slater is a British composer, sound designer, and record producer whose work bridges contemporary classical composition, experimental electronics, and sound for screen. He has twice won Grammy Awards for his role as score producer and musical sound designer on Oscar winning Joker and Emmy winning Chernobyl, and has worked extensively with Hildur Guðnadóttir and Jóhann Jóhannsson. Slater’s own work is characterised by use of unconventional sound sources and the design of new instruments, often blurring the boundary between composition and sonic engineering. He has constructed custom electroacoustic devices, altered acoustic instruments for new tonal possibilities, and used extended recording techniques to capture unusual resonance, distortion, and texture. These methods inform both his solo releases—Wrong Airport Ghost (2018), I Do Not Wish To Be Known As A Vandal (2022) and Lunng (2026) —and collaborative works. In 2022, Slater formed OSMIUM a collaborative experimental ensemble with Guðnadóttir, James Ginzburg (of Emptyset), and Rully Shabara (of Senyawa) . Known for its use of bespoke electroacoustic instruments and extended vocal and percussive techniques, OSMIUM merges heavy, metallic sonics with intricate rhythmic structures and immersive live performance. In 2025, he founded Mt. Brings Death with American guitarist Mason Lindahl, a label for experimental and cross-media projects. New solo and collaborative releases are scheduled for later this year.