Hello! My name, if you hadn't guessed, is Samuel, and if you couldn't tell I love audio! Whether it's podcasts, imaging, and live radio. I love being a part of a team that brings quality audio to listeners' ears. Well, you're here to read a little more about me, so why not take a peek at my life so far.
In 2019, during my final year in college, I created my first ever piece of audio, a scrambled mess of a radio drama. It was no masterpiece, but it was a lot better than a forgotten film about bike safety that I made two years prior for an AS in film studies. Unsurprisingly my radio drama won no awards, but it started something much better, a burning passion for more. I had spent around 3 months creating, learning, having much-needed fun… all by grabbing a mic and seeing what worked. Two months in, I lost it all, a lesson was learned that day one I apply it to every piece of work now. Backups. Every project, every raw piece of audio, every script has a backup. I hoard data, and always will. Luckily the project still came to completion on time, and I was left with an emptiness, I now wanted a place to create a masterpiece. So I looked for one. An eighteen-year-old with no prior experience, hardly any knowledge but that burning passion for more.
Seven months later, I walked into the Global Media HQ in Leicester Square, with a ticking clock and a goal. I had Fifteen months as an apprentice, working in a world I only recently came to know existed. I wanted to be the best. Luckily, I had the opportunity to work under three teams: Smooth, Classic, and LBC…. There is no better way to swim than to be chucked in the water…. I did nearly drown in the constant teachings and knowledge, but eventually, after time and many late nights, I started to get the hang of it. Fifteen months goes quickly when you never stop, and I worked on so many amazing projects. Some honourable mentions include: Five hundred and fifty musical piece rebranding, nothing quite lets you hear the sound of the station like listening to one-fifth of its music over three days. As well as imaging and promotion content for two elections. Also, thanking our NHS heroes with weekly promos. Using reporters to get the voice of a thankful nation heard by millions. Did I reach my goal to become the best in a field I had only known about for twenty-two months, no…. But I did make an impression….
I was hired as a freelance Sound Designer and Technical Operator at LBC, since then I have excelled in my work. I have taken pride in all my work, which has made me an essential part of the team at LBC. And as a Technical operator, I am in the mix outputting LIVE radio, there is no undo. This is a skill I am still learning, every show has its twists and turns, this is why I am so happy to have had the opportunity to work across nearly every aspect of the packed schedule.
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Now four years into my journey, I am the Sound designer for LBC, starting and finishing 95% of the sound design that hits the radios of LBC and LBC News listeners. I have spent time as Acting Head of Sound Design leading a small team of sound designers through the biggest news event of 2022 the death and funeral of the Queen.
My career has just started, and I am already off to a flying start, and I am in love with what I do. Every day I am aiming to be the best, striving to create unmissable audio products.
Orson Welles and The Mercury Theatre On Air team once broke the radio, I want to be a part of the next team to break the radio!
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Help me break the radio again!
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Samuel Thomas
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