Clams Casino Appreciation

-Written by Charlotte Holder-

As I have gotten older and more in tune with the sounds I like to hear and just how much the instrumental or beat of a song can make or break my enjoyment of certain songs, I have developed a profound love for producer Clams Casino who was somehow able to make even the Kid Laroi an enjoyable listen for me (terrifying thing to say I know). Clams Casino is the stage name of Michael Volpe, an American record producer and songwriter from New Jersey. Best known for his collaborations with artists like A$AP Rocky, Lil B, and Mac Miller. His instrumental mixtapes, particularly “Instrumentals” (2011), have had a significant impact on the hip-hop production scene. What makes Clams Casino so special is his role in the development of “Cloud-Rap” combined with his distinctive, ethereal production style. His beats often feature atmospheric sounds, and unique sampling techniques that transport the listener and create a truly revolutionary listening experience.

 I actually discovered who he was through one of my close friends. My friend Cohen introduced me to the world of Clams Casino and the impact an instrumental can have on music and the feelings one associates with a track. Clams Casino is notable due to his particular production style, which features ethereal and atmospheric sounds and frequently incorporates samples from a variety of genres, including R&B, hip-hop, and indie rock. In my own listening experience my pull to Clams Casino as a producer is deeper than just the artists he works with, granted that A$AP Rocky and Lucki are some of my favorites but it goes beyond just the artist. The instrumentals made by Clams Casino provide the backbone of a song, setting the tone, mood, and style. The beat and melody can influence the overall feel of the music. In simpler terms it makes my brain brrrr. Songs produced by Clams Casino Consistently work for me as a listener because I find they convey so much emotion, from feelings of nostalgia on the infamous “I’m God” beat to deepening my understanding of the lyrical complexities of “Cocaine Woman” by Lucki, as a producer he assists in perfectly attaching feelings in a profound way, far beyond what lyrics can be capable of. 

Beyond the scope of my listening experience I believe that Clams Casino does more than just create absolutely beautiful instrumentals for both himself and artists but he highlights the importance of the process of musical production and the roles of producers in the industry. A producer’s role is to not only provide the instrumental component for an artist but rather to execute a project’s vision, essentially they bring the music to life much like the way an illustrator turns a character to life. For producers and musicians, instrumentals are a means of artistic expression. They highlight the creator’s abilities, inventiveness, and distinctive sound. A producer’s job is to be versatile in order to collaborate with a multitude of artists and develop their own kind of portfolio of what they are capable of. Further Clams Casino and many other producers often take on more roles than just audio engineering when developing a project with an artist. Clams Casino has dabbled in songwriting and sampling other songs as well, this has helped him to fully master his craft and build such a strong name for himself. In my opinion if there were to be a producing hall of fame, he would deserve one of the biggest stars known to man. 

The importance of producers and their artistry is highlighted best by Clams Casino because he is a prime example of continued work and commitment to versatility in your art. As I did my deep dive to explore just how many tracks are produced by Clams Casino I realized just truly how versatile one instrumental by him could be. From working with artists like A$AP Rocky to having other artists like Lil Peep hopping on your instrumentals, Clams has assisted in creating profound listening experiences for a wide variety of fan bases. Beyond his direct work, Clams Casino’s influence on music culture, especially within the hip-hop and electronic music communities, is significant. His approach to production has helped shift the landscape and opened up new possibilities for what beats and instrumentals can be. I’m honestly not sure what to close with but if you haven’t ever checked out Clams Casino or really looked into who has produced some of your  favorite songs I absolutely would, it’s been an amazing way for me to discover more and further develop my listening experience.