Sounwave

Mark Anthony Spears (born February 28, 1986), known professionally as Sounwave, is an American record producer and songwriter. He is a frequent collaborator of rapper Kendrick Lamar, having worked on each of his projects since his 2009 self-titled extended play. Sounwave has also worked with artists such as Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, Kali Uchis, Schoolboy Q, Mac Miller, Chloe x Halle, and Bleachers. He has won eight Grammy Awards, becoming the first rap producer to win Record of the Year in consecutive years (2025-2026).

Early life Sounwave was born Mark Anthony Spears on February 28, 1986, in Los Angeles, California. His parents are elementary school sweethearts from Selma, Alabama, and relocated to Los Angeles in the 1970s so his father could pursue a dancing career for Soul Train. Spears has two older brothers and was raised in Compton. From there, he purchased a 4-track machine and began using the PlayStation video game MTV Music Generator (1999) to produce songs. Spears later reconnected with Lamar and became a member of TDE's in-house production team Digi+Phonics, alongside Tae Beast, Dave Free and Willie B. He produced three songs on Lamar's second album Good Kid, M.A.A.D City (2012): "Bitch Don't Kill My Vibe", "M.A.A.D. City", and "Sing About Me, I'm Dying of Thirst". As a member of Digi+Phonics, he was highlighted by Complex for a second time and earned his first Grammy Award nomination for Album of the Year for his work on Good Kid, M.A.A.D City.

2015–present: Breakthrough and other projects Spears produced a majority of Lamar's third album To Pimp a Butterfly (2015), which several publications have named as one of the best albums of the 2010s decade. At the 58th Annual Grammy Awards, he won Best Rap Song for co-writing the album's fourth single "Alright" and received a second nomination for Album of the Year. For Lamar's fourth album Damn (2017), Spears won Best Rap Album and picked up a third Album of the Year nomination at the 60th Annual Grammy Awards. In 2018, he co-wrote, produced, and handled A&R for the film soundtrack Black Panther: The Album, and contributed to singer-songwriter Kali Uchis' debut album Isolation. Black Panther: The Album received five nominations at the 61st Annual Grammy Awards, including for Album of the Year, marking the first time a soundtrack album was nominated for the honor since O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000). Its lead single, "All the Stars", earned nominations for Best Original Song at the Academy Awards, Golden Globe Awards, and Critics' Choice Movie Awards.

In 2019, Spears contributed to several singer-songwriters, including Beyoncé's soundtrack album The Lion King: The Gift, Taylor Swift's seventh album Lover, and Mary J. Blige's single "Know". The same year, he formed the synth-pop supergroup Red Hearse with musician and producer Jack Antonoff and singer-songwriter Sam Dew. Their self-titled debut album was released through RCA Records. For his work as the primary producer of Lamar's fifth album Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers (2022), Spears won Best Rap Album for the second time at the 65th Annual Grammy Awards, and earned a fourth nomination for Album of the Year.

Personal life Spears resides in West Hills, Los Angeles with his partner, poet and songwriter Reyna Biddy, and their son, Umi.

Discography +KeyIndicates songs solely written or produced by Sounwave Notable songs Year Song Artist AlbumWritten with Produced with 2011 "A.D.H.D" Kendrick Lamar Section.80 Kendrick Duckworth Sole production 2012 "Bitch, Don't Kill My Vibe" Good Kid, M.A.A.D City Kendrick Duckworth, Robin Braun, Vindahl Friis, Lykke Schmidt "M.A.A.D City" (featuring MC Eiht) Kendrick Duckworth, Ricci Riera, Axel Morgan, Aaron Tyler, Quincy Hanley THC, Terrace Martin "Sing About Me, I'm Dying of Thirst" — Skhye Hutch 2015 "Alright" To Pimp a Butterfly Kendrick Duckworth, Pharrell Williams Pharrell Williams "King Kunta" — Terrace Martin, Michael Kuhle 2016 "That Part" (featuring Kanye West) Schoolboy Q Blank Face LP Quincy Hanley, Kanye West, Ronald LaTour, Daveon Jackson, Kevin Gomringer, Tim Gomringer Cardo, Yung Exclusive, Cubeatz 2017 "Yah" Kendrick Lamar Damn Kendrick Duckworth, Dacoury Natche, Anthony Tiffith DJ Dahi, Top Dawg, Bekon "Element" Kendrick Duckworth, James Blake, Ricci Riera, Daniel Tannenbaum James Blake, Ricci Riera "Feel" Kendrick Duckworth Sole production "Loyalty" (featuring Rihanna) Kendrick Duckworth, Dacoury Natche, Anthony Tiffith, Robyn Fenty Bruno Mars, Philip Lawrence, Christopher Brody Brown, Robert Diggs, Russell Jones, Shawn Carter, Ricardo Thomas, Malik Cox, Calvin Broadus DJ Dahi, Top Dawg "Lust" Kendrick Duckworth, Dacoury Natche, Chester Hansen, Alexander Sowinski, Matthew Tavares, Leland Whitty DJ Dahi, BadBadNotGood "Love" (featuring Zacari) Kendrick Duckworth, Anthony Tiffith, Zacari Pacaldo, Travis Walton, Greg Kurstin Teddy Walton, Greg Kurstin, Top Dawg "XXX" (featuring U2) Kendrick Duckworth, Dacoury Natche, Anthony Tiffith, Michael Williams II, Paul Hewson, David Evans, Adam Clayton, Larry Mullen Jr. DJ Dahi, Top Dawg, Bekon, Mike Will Made It "God" Kendrick Duckworth, Ricci Riera, Dacoury Natche, Anthony Tiffith, Daniel Tannenbaum, Ronald LaTour, Travis Walton, Daveon Jackson, Mike Hector, Brock Korsan DJ Dahi, Ricci Riera, Bekon, Cardo, Top Dawg, Yung Exclusive, Mike Hector, Teddy Walton 2018 "All the Stars" Kendrick Lamar and SZA Black Panther: The Album Kendrick Duckworth, Solána Rowe, Al Shuckburgh, Anthony Tiffith Al Shux "King's Dead" Jay Rock, Kendrick Lamar, Future and James Blake Kendrick Duckworth, Johnny McKinzie Jr., Nayvadius Wilburn, James Litherland, Samuel Gloade, Anthony Tiffith, Michael Williams, Travis Walton, Antwon Hicks, Axel Morgan Mike Will Made It, Teddy Walton, Twon Beatz, 30 Roc 2019 "London Boy" Taylor Swift Lover Taylor Swift, Jack Antonoff 2022 "N95" Kendrick Lamar Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers Kendrick Duckworth, Matthew Samuels, Jahaan Sweet, Hykeem Carter Jr., Sam Dew Boi-1da, Jahaan Sweet, Baby Keem "Lavender Haze" Taylor Swift Midnights Taylor Swift, Jack Antonoff, Zoë Kravitz, Jahaan Sweet, Sam Dew Taylor Swift, Jack Antonoff, Jahaan Sweet "Karma" Taylor Swift, Jack Antonoff, Jahaan Sweet, Keanu Beats Taylor Swift, Jack Antonoff, Keanu Beats 2024 "Euphoria" Kendrick Lamar — Cardo, Kyuro, Johnny Juliano, Yung Exclusive "6:16 in LA" Jack Antonoff "Not Like Us" Mustard, Sean Momberger2025"Luther" (featuring SZA)Kendrick Lamar GNX—Jack Antonoff, Ruchaun "Scott Bridgeway" Akers, Kamasi Washington, Matthew "M-Tech" Bernard, Roshwita "Rose Lilah" Bacha"Gorgeous"Doja CatVie Amala Dlamini, Jack Antonoff, George Daniel, Kurtis McKenzie, Lee Stashenko, Stavros TsarouhaJack Antonoff, George Daniel"Stranger"Amala Dlamini, Jack Antonoff, George Daniel, Kurtis McKenzie, Lee Stashenko, Stavros Tsarouhs Jack Antonoff, Kurtis McKenzie, Fallen, Stavros

Albums produced Beyoncé – The Lion King: The Gift (2019), Cowboy Carter (2024) Bleachers – Gone Now (2017) Chloe x Halle – Ungodly Hour (2020) Kali Uchis – Isolation (2018), Sin Miedo (del Amor y Otros Demonios) (2020), Red Moon in Venus (2023), Orquídeas (2024) Kendrick Lamar – Section.80 (2011), Good Kid, M.A.A.D City (2012), To Pimp a Butterfly (2015), Damn (2017), Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers (2022), GNX (2024) Taylor Swift – Lover (2019), Midnights (2022)

Awards and nominations + Award Year Recipient(s) Category Result Academy Awards 2019 "All the Stars" Best Original Song Grammy Awards 2014 Good Kid, M.A.A.D City Album of the Year 2016 "Alright" Best Rap Song Song of the Year To Pimp a Butterfly Album of the Year 2018 Damn Best Rap Album Album of the Year 2019 "All the Stars" Record of the Year Song of the Year Best Song Written for Visual Media Black Panther: The Album Album of the Year "King's Dead" Best Rap Song 2023 Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers Best Rap Album Album of the Year 2025"Not Like Us" Record of the Year Song of the Year Best Rap Song 2026 GNX Album of the Year "Luther" Record of the Year Song of the Year "TV Off" Best Rap Song Himself Producer of the Year, Non-Classical Golden Globe Awards 2019 "All the Stars" Best Original Song Guild of Music Supervisors Awards 2019 Best Song Written and/or Recording Created for a Film Hollywood Music in Media Awards 2018 Best Original Song in a Sci-Fi, Fantasy or Horror Film