Let The Music Play #15: Greg Sweeney of Motive Creative Curates Soulful Classics And Alternative Hip-Hop Hits With DISCO Catalogs
Meet Music Director Greg Sweeney of Motive Creative, an agency based in Los Angeles that creates award-winning theatrical and series trailers for such clients as A24, Amazon, AppleTV, Disney+, Focus, Hulu, HBO, Netflix, Searchlight, Sony Pictures, and Universal Pictures.
“I started DJ'ing at my college radio station, which ultimately led me down the road to music supervision,” Greg tells DISCO. “I love sharing music with others and learning from others about the music that moves them. I especially like the discovery of music through the samples used in hip-hop and electronic music.”
Greg got his start in the industry in the music department at Warner Bros TV, where he learned about sync on the job as an assistant. Later, he worked his way up as a music supervisor on The Big Bang Theory, Rizzoli & Isles, and later seasons of Smallville. “I made a career shift from TV to supervision in the theatrical market – or, as it's commonly known ‘trailers,’” he says.
For our latest edition of DISCO’s Let The Music Play Series, Greg has curated a playlist of songs he’s enjoying right now, with a focus on classic and contemporary soul, gospel, jazz, hip-hop, reggae, and funk. Greg also shared some insight into why he picked a handful of songs from his playlist, which comprises 15 tracks overall. Each of the tracks can be found via DISCO Catalogs, where vetted music supervisors can access hundreds of Catalogs — from retro hits to new releases, indie artists to major label acts, local score composers to world music — via the Discover Music browser.
“I really like DISCO’s Similarity Search and MultiDISCO Search,” Greg says of his playlist-building process. “Both help me rediscover tracks I have in my database or discover new ones that I don't. DISCO makes it easy to add them to any playlist. These features are specifically helpful when I'm looking for alternative versions or covers of a specific song.”
Music Supervisors, you can access Greg’s playlist in the Discover Music section of your DISCO account.
We hope you enjoy his picks!
Kashmere Stage Band – “Kashmere” (Now-Again)
The Kashmere Stage Band was an elite student band at Kashmere High School in Houston, Texas. "Kashmere" is their signature song and famous b-boy break and an epic funk track that put this high school group in the same league as the era's top professional funk bands. Off of Now-Again's great funk compilation The Funky 16 Corners, it is a stand out track and instant party-starter. This song was notably featured on the Baby Driver film soundtrack.
Sugar & The Hi Lows – “I've Got You Covered” (Secret Road)
This is a very personal selection. Sugar & The Hi Lows, Amy Stroup, and Trent Dabbs released this song in 2012. It's a warm, reassuring love song with a gentle Americana/folk-pop feel. The song promises shelter and steadiness to a partner. This was the song my wife and I chose as our first dance at our wedding. Amy Stroup and Trent Dabbs performed a showcase at Secret Road headquarters, and because my wife and I were in attendance they performed the song live for us. They also gave us a handwritten lyric sheet. A true core memory my wife and I will never forget.
Young Fathers – “Tell Somebody” (Ninja Tune)
Young Fathers' Heavy Heavy was released in 2023 via Ninja Tune. "Tell Somebody" is an example of Young Fathers' unique and expansive repertoire. The song uses synthesized organs filling every inch of space in the mix until it explodes into a release of a wall of noise. Trailer gold.
Ofege – “It's Not Easy” (Now-Again)
Ofege was a 1970s school band from St. Gregory's College in Lagos, Nigeria. The track was recorded in Lagos in 1973 and originally released on EMI Nigeria and was largely influenced by the guitar solos of Carlos Santana, Jeff Beck, and Jimmy Page. It's a beautiful piece of East Nigerian psychedelic fuzz rock, later introduced to a global audience through the "Forge Your Own Chains" compilation by Now-Again.
Beenie Man – “Who Am I” (VP Records)
“Who Am I” is the lead single from Beenie Man's eighth studio album, Many Moods of Moses, released in 1997 via VP Records. Nothing defined the hip-hop/reggae movement quite like "Who Am I." Beenie even references Missy Elliott's "The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)" in the hook. It remains one of the defining dancehall anthems of the 90s.
The Ultimates – “Why I Love You” (Bank Robber Music)
In 1971, the West Philadelphia teenage group The Ultimates recorded this sweet and heartfelt song, which garnered little attention when it was released but has since been rediscovered as a lost soul music classic. It was later picked up by the lowrider scene in Southern California. Found this via Bank Robber Music.
The Cinematic Orchestra – “To Build A Home” (2015 Remaster) (Ninja Tune) -
A sync favorite and an amazing song on Ninja Tune. The song features Canadian singer-songwriter Patrick Watson, who also co-wrote it with Phil France and Jason Swinscoe. It's about creating a home for two people, though the fate of that home remains ambiguous. I had the honor of using this song for the trailer for Scenes From A Marriage for HBO. It's one of the most emotionally devastating pieces of music of the past two decades.
V.C.R – “Blue” (Maps)
V.C.R is a Memphis-based classically trained violinist and gospel singer who released "Blue" in 2022 on Leaving Records ahead of her debut LP. It's a nostalgic, sensual, and hypnotic song inspired by Minnie Riperton's "Inside My Love." A performer since age five, V.C.R. makes music that blends gospel, soul, funk, and classical influences – a genre she has dubbed "cinematic soul."
Max Richter – “On The Nature Of Daylight” (Mute)
Via Mute, this might be the most emotionally devastating song. Max Richter wrote this neoclassical composition for a string quintet. Featuring a minimalist structure, hauntingly slow tempo, and deep sense of melancholy, “On The Nature Of Daylight” was composed as a protest against the 2003 invasion of Iraq. It has become one of the most licensed pieces of modern classical music, appearing in the film Shutter Island where it was mashed up with "This Bitter Earth" by Dinah Washington.
Nubya Garcia – “The Message Continues” (Concord Records)
If you like Kamasi Washington, you'll love Nubya Garcia, a breakout star from the amazing UK jazz scene. "The Message Continues" is from Garcia's debut 2020 album, SOURCE, which blends broken beat, soul, and jazz.
Minnie Riperton – “Les Fleurs” (Wise Music) -
"Les Fleurs," from the 1970 album Come To My Garden, was written by Charles Stepney (Earth Wind And Fire), who also produced it with Riperton's husband Richard Rudolph. It contains layered vocals and a climactic orchestral backing from the string section of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. The song has had a remarkable sync life, being used in Jordan Peele's Us as well as the trailer for The Drama (which we did at Motive!). It's one of those rare pieces of music that feels simultaneously joyous and dramatic, intimate and psychedelic. It's one of the best songs ever made!
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