A creative dream team
What happens when a six-time Grammy Award-winning producer meets a visionary filmmaker? Pure creative magic. Join us as we take you behind the scenes with David Greenbaum and Sam Newton, who set out on a mission to create an entire song from scratch—in under a day.
From capturing the natural sounds of California to blending their unique artistic talents, their collaboration is a must-see. Watch our exclusive mini-documentary to unpack their creative journey.
Listen to the results
Check out the song Brontosaurus, the result of this unique project. It’s now available for download in the Artlist catalog under David’s stage name, Willow McKenna.
The interview
Q: Sam, as a filmmaker, you have a unique approach to storytelling. How did that influence your collaboration with David in creating this song, and what was it like to step into the role of a music producer?
I’ll be honest: David did 99% of the heavy lifting. He’s such an incredible producer and musician that it was inspiring to step into his world and learn from him for a day. I have a small background in making music, but to be asked by David to actually be in the song was definitely a rush I will never forget.
Q: I find the idea of incorporating sounds from your surroundings during a hike fascinating. Can you both walk us through how you chose the locations and what specific sounds you were looking to capture?
Any sound, even if it’s not coming from an instrument, has an inherent feel to it. It evokes a feeling and rhythm. So once we had a few sounds captured, I just listened and let it dictate a tempo and concept.
Q: David, how did the outdoor environment influence the creative process? Did it change the way you typically approach producing music in the studio?
I’m very blessed to live near some beautiful nature and hiking trails. I love going up there with the artists I’m working with. Ironically, it’s pretty quiet up there, which is part of the appeal. So I think we were just stoked to hear anything! I was mostly hoping for some percussive elements that would stick out from what you normally hear when working on a song in a studio.
Q: Sam, working with someone of David’s caliber must have been a unique experience. What was one thing you learned from him that you think other musicians or producers could benefit from?
I think what I took away from this experience is the importance of experimentation. David is the type of artist who plays around with 100s of sounds and instruments and isn’t afraid to get a little weird. It’s so cool to see someone at his level still just throwing things at the wall to see what sticks. No idea was a bad idea. He would experiment, refine, and repeat, and that was such a rad thing to see firsthand.
Q: David, what advice would you give musicians or producers who want to capture authentic sounds in their music, but may not have access to high-end studios or equipment?
Don’t be discouraged by your gear. We live in a time when that barely matters anymore. Creativity is way more important. You can even record sounds on your cell phone and process them like crazy in your DAW. Fidelity is overrated. Just push your gear to its limits and be wild and experimental.
Q: This collaboration between a seasoned music producer and a filmmaker is quite unique. How did your different backgrounds contribute to the final product, and what advice would you give to others looking to collaborate across disciplines?
Sam is brilliant. In front of and behind the camera, he’s playing some kind of 3D chess and winning, and he makes it look easy. His technical knowledge, tasteful aesthetic, and storytelling abilities were super impressive. I’d recommend to others to give people space to do what they do—see what you can learn.
Q: Capturing California’s natural sounds added a unique layer to the song. How did you both ensure that these sounds blended seamlessly with the music and didn’t feel out of place?
Starting with the sounds we found meant that they were the foundation we built the song on, so if any additional layer didn’t fit, we threw it out.
Q: Looking back on the experience, what is one takeaway or lesson from this collaboration that you think could inspire other creatives, whether they’re just starting out or already established in their fields?
Put your heart into whatever the universe puts in front of you. The journey of a creative professional can be very unpredictable, and you can find yourself in all kinds of situations you never would have thought you’d be in. You were put there for a reason—sometimes that reason is obvious, and sometimes it might not make sense until a while later. But just trust it, do your best, and learn what you can from it.
Wrapping up
David Greenbaum and Sam Newton’s collaboration is a testament to what’s possible when creative minds from different disciplines come together. Their 24-hour journey from a blank canvas to a fully realized track is both inspiring and educational for anyone passionate about art, music, or storytelling.
Brontosaurus is part of the Lonely Dinosaur album. Check out all its songs on Artlist and see how they can inspire your next project.
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