Emily B. Lazar is an American mastering engineer. She is the founder, president, and chief mastering engineer of The Lodge, an audio mastering facility that has operated in New York City's Greenwich Village since 1997. She won a Grammy Award for Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical for Beck's album Colors, becoming the first female mastering engineer to win in this category.
Early life and education Lazar was born and raised in New York. She earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Creative Writing and Music from Skidmore College, graduating cum laude with honors distinction in her major. During college, she wrote music, played in bands, and worked as a freelance engineer, producer and mixer. After college, Lazar worked at recording studios in New York City. Later she earned a Master of Music Degree from New York University's prestigious Music Technology program. While there, she pursued Tonmeister studies and was awarded a Graduate Fellowship. Lazar's thesis on Sonic Solutions, combined with an internship at Sony Classical, eventually led to a position at New York City based mastering facility, Masterdisk.
Career Lazar has worked on over 3,000 albums. In 2012, she was the first female mastering engineer to receive a Grammy Nomination for Album of the year for Foo Fighters’ Wasting Light. In 2014, she was the first female mastering engineer nominated for Record of the Year for Sia's hit "Chandelier” in 2014.”
In 2019, Lazar became the first female mastering engineer to win the Best Engineered Album (Non-Classical) Grammy, which she won for her work on Beck's Colors.
In 2021, Lazar became the first mastering engineer to land three Grammy nominations for Album of the Year. Leading up to the Grammy Awards, Chris Martin from Coldplay said that their latest album could have sounded terrible if it had not been for Lazar's mastering.
The Lodge Lazar's studio, The Lodge, is an audio mastering facility, opened in 1997 in Greenwich Village in downtown Manhattan. In 2023, The Lodge relocated to Stamford, Connecticut, with newly built state of the art recording, immersive mixing & mastering studios.
Awards and nominations Grammy Awards 2012 – Album of the Year for Wasting Light by Foo Fighters 2015 – Record of the Year for Chandelier by Sia 2016 – Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical for Recreational Love by The Bird and the Bee 2019 – (Win) Best Engineered Album (Non-Classical) for Colors by Beck 2020 – Album of the Year for Father of the Bride by Vampire Weekend 2021 – Album of the Year for Women in Music Pt. III by Haim 2021 – Album of the Year for Djesse Vol. 3 by Jacob Collier 2021 – Album of the Year for Everyday Life by Coldplay 2025 – Album of The Year for Djesse Vol. 4 by Jacob Collier
Latin Grammy Awards 2022 – Album of the Year for Deja by Bomba Estéreo
Pensado Awards 2014 – Lazar was nominated for the Master of Mastering - Mastering Engineers Award at the first annual Pensado Awards show.
TEC Awards 2012 – Lazar won the Technical Excellence & Creativity (TEC) Award in the "Record/Production Album" category for her work on Foo Fighters's Wasting Light.
2016 – Lazar won the Technical Excellence & Creativity (TEC) Award in the "Record/Production Single or Track" category for her work on Beck's "Dreams".
2019 – Lazar won the Technical Excellence & Creativity (TEC) Award in the "Record/Production Album" category for her work on Beck's Colors.
''Billboard Magazine: Women in Music: Hitmakers from Behind the Scenes2015 – Lazar was featured in the December issue of Billboard's Women in Music: Hitmakers from Behind the Scenes "Fine-tuned ears are the trademarks of these four creators. Emily Lazar's golden ears are in high-demand. Just ask clients like Foo Fighters, Beck and Coldplay, whose new album A Head Full of Dreams, tops Lazar's discography."Elle Magazine: The Women in Music Power List2017 – Lazar was featured in the June issue of Elle's The Women in Music Power List highlighting 14 women as "the industry's most influential execs, producers and songwriters."Variety Magazine: Power of Women Impact List''' 2019 – Lazar was featured in the April issue of Varietys The Power of Women Impact List recognizing "women at the forefront of their fields." Splice Awards: Impact Award (awarded to those who refuse to leave change up to chance)
2021 – Lazar received the Impact Award from music technology company, Splice, for her work in advocating for diversity and inclusion for producers and engineers in the recording industry.
Resonator Awards: Hall Of Fame
2024 – Lazar was inducted into the first class of We Are Moving The Needle’s Resonator Hall of Fame, which honors legendary producers and engineers who paved the way. Fellow inductees include – Alicia Keys, Leslie Ann Jones, Darcy Proper Marcella Araica, Ann Mincieli and Claudia Brant.
Music Producer's Guild UK - Inspiration Award
2024 – Lazar was awarded the 2024 Inspiration Award by the Music Producers Guild on Thursday, April 25 in London. This is awarded by the Music Producers Guild Awards Committee and will be presented to a person working in production in recognition of a body of work over several years which has significantly inspired others.
Credits
2010 Artist Album LabelBTThese Hopeful MachinesNettwerkVampire WeekendContraXL RecordingsCrime in StereoI Was Trying to Describe You to SomeoneBridge Nine RecordsMinus the BearOmniDangerbird RecordsEnvy on the CoastLowcountryPhoto Finish RecordsSleigh BellsTreatsMom and Pop RecordsAgainst MeWhite CrossesSire RecordsMaps & AtlasesPerch PatchworkBarsuk RecordsKathryn CalderAre You My Mother?File Under: MusicMatt Pond PAThe Dark LeavesAltitude RecordsChromeoBusiness CasualAtlantic RecordsChiefModern RitualsDomino RecordsMagic KidsMemphisTrue Panther SoundsTiëstoKaleidoscope: RemixedMusical FreedomArmin van BuurenMirageArmada RecordsÓlöf ArnaldsInnundir skinniOne Little IndianFran HealyWreckorderWreckord LabelTwin ShadowForget4AD RecordsMt. DesolationMt. DesolationIsland RecordsThe SuzanGolden Week for the Poco Poco BeatFool's Gold RecordsRaphaelPacific 231EMI FranceThe XcertsScatterbrainXtra Mile RecordingsThe Naked and FamousPassive Me, Aggressive YouUniversal/RepublicBTThese Humble MachinesNettwerkThe PostellesSpend the NightAstralwerksSkuli SverrissonSeria IISeria Music
2011 Artist Album LabelThe Naked & FamousPassive Me, Aggressive YouPolydor Ltd/FictionBrand NewYour Favorite Weapon (Reissue)Razor & Tie/Triple Crown RecordsThe RaveonettesRarities/B-SidesThe OrchardWhite DenimDDowntown RecordsFoo FightersWasting Light SAM Records/Roswell RecordsMorgan PageIn The AirNettwerk Music GroupBen LeeDeeper into DreamTen Finger Records/Gold VillageCubic ZirconiaFollow Your HeartFool's Gold RecordsÓlöf ArnaldsÓlöf SingsOne Little IndianAgainst Me!White Crosses/Black CrossesTotal Trebel MusicCANTDreams Come TrueTerrible Records/Warp RecordsBoy & BearMoonfireUniversal Music AustraliaFucked UpDavid Comes to LifeMatadorBig TalkBig TalkEpitaph Records/ANTI RecordsThievery CorporationCulture of FearESLAbove & BeyondGroup TherapyAnjunabeatsTiëstoClub Life: Volume II - Las VegasMusical FreedomCultsCultsColumbia RecordsAgainst Me!Total ClarityFat Wreck Chords
2012 Artist Album LabelThe KillersBattle BornMercury RecordsAlanis MorissetteHavoc and Bright LightsCollective SoundsShiny Toy GunsIIIFive Seven MusicSantanaShape ShifterStarfaith RecordsBTIf the Stars Are Eternal So Are You and ILaptop SymphonyBTMorceau SubrosaLaptop SymphonyGarbageNot Your Kind of PeopleSTUNVOLUMETiëstoClub Life: Volume 2 - MiamiMusical FreedomSondre LercheBootlegsMana RecordsDiamond RingsFree DimensionalAstralwerksBush TetrasHappyReachout International Records, Inc.The CringeHiding in Plain SightListen RecordsEleni MandellI Can See the FutureYep Roc RecordsTrustTRSTArts & Crafts ProductionsNigel DupreeUp to No GoodMighty Loud RecordsJeff WayneWar of the Worlds: The New Generation101 DistributionShoesIgnitionBlack Vinyl RecordsMatt BoerumCold Hearted DisasterMatthew BoerumMisstress BarbaraMany Shades of GreyMapleMusic RecordingsSay Anything...Is A Real BoyDoghouse RecordsIndochineParadize +10Sony Music
2013 Artist Album LabelVampire WeekendModern Vampires of the CityXL RecordingsWeeknightPost EverythingHand Drawn DraculaVarious artistsSaint HeronSaint RecordsThe KillersDirect HitsMercury RecordsBTA Song Across WiresArmada MusicSound City: Real to ReelSound CityRoswell RecordsHaimDays Are GonePolydorJames Vincent McMorrowPost TropicalVagrant RecordsThe Julie RuinRun FastDischord RecordsParty SuppliesTough LoveFool's Gold RecordsThe Fatty AcidsBoléroKribber Krown RecordsTyler WardHonestlySony MusicSky FerreiraNight Time, My TimeCapitol RecordsEmily Jane WhiteBloodlinesImportant RecordsHellogoodbyeEverything Is DebatableOld Friends RecordsVarious artistsGrand Theft Auto V SoundtrackRockstar GamesBalance and ComposureThe Things We Think We're MissingNo Sleep RecordsThe Living SistersRun for CoverVanguardGolden SuitsGolden SuitsYep RocVarious artistsThis Is the End: Original Motion Picture SoundtrackRCA RecordsBernard FanningDeparturesDew ProcessCandlelight RedReclamationImagen RecordsThe Boxer RebellionPromisesAbsentee RecordingsArmin van BuurenIntenseArmada MusicThe Postal ServiceGive Up:10th Anniversary Deluxe EditionSub PopMatthew Shell & Arun Shenoy"Genesis" (single)MTS Music/Narked Records
2014 Artist Album LabelSia1000 Forms of FearRCA RecordsThe ReassureEchoeÖrange Penguin StudioLinkin ParkThe Hunting PartyWarner Bros. RecordsLinkin ParkThe Hunting Party: Live From MexicoWarner Bros. RecordsSay AnythingHebrewsRCA RecordsMimicking BirdsEonsGlacial Pace RecordsGarbage10" Single Record Store Day ReleaseSTUNVOLUMEHamilton LeithauserBlack HoursRibbon MusicChristina PerriHead or HeartSony RecordsNeon Hitch301 to ParadiseWarner Bros. RecordsTRUSTJoylandArts & CraftsDive IndexLost in the PressureNeutral MilkLa DisputeRooms of the HouseNo Sleep RecordsTwofishZero CrossingSelf-released
2015 Artist Album LabelColdplayA Head Full of DreamsParlophoneThe Front BottomsBack On TopFueled By RamenPeachesRubI U She MusicBrandon FlowersThe Desired EffectIsland RecordsOh NoWelcome to Los SantosRockstar GamesHOLYCHILDThe Shape of Brat Pop to ComeGlassnote RecordsThe Bird and the BeeRecreational LoveRostrum RecordsMikaNo Place in HeavenCasablanca RecordsBTElectronic OpusBinary AcousticsSlightly StoopidMeanwhile...Back at the LabSilver Back MusicSmallpoolsLovetap!RCA RecordsRobert DeLongIn the CardsGlassnote RecordsKate PiersonGuitars and MicrophonesLazy Meadow MusicBraidsDeep in the IrisArbutus RecordsMorgan PageDC to LightNetwerk Music GroupMilo GreeneControlElektra RecordsBaioThe NamesGlassnote RecordsMas YsaSeraphDowntown RecordsNatalie Imbruglia"Instant Crush" (single)Columbia RecordsBeck"Dreams" (single)Capitol Music GroupDuncan Sheik"Selling Out (Fischer King Remix)"Atlantic RecordsFoxTrottA Taller UsLittle Indians RecordsVeruca SaltGhost NotesEl Camino RecordsSpeedy OrtizFoil DeerCarpark RecordsBeauty PillBeauty Pill Describes Things As They AreButterscotch RecordsTitle FightHyperviewGood Fight EntertainmentBaltimoreTigers of the YearSelf-released
2016 Artist Album LabelFoo Fighters"Saint Cecilia" (single)Columbia Records/RCA RecordsSiaThis Is ActingMonkey Puzzle/RCA RecordsDustin O'Halloran/HauschkaLion: Original Motion Picture SoundtrackSony ClassicalAngel OlsenMy WomanJagjaguwarSwitchfootWhere the Light Shines ThroughConcord Vanguard, Universal RecordsGarbageStrange Little BirdsSony BMG/Vagrant RecordsTegan and SaraLove You to DeathRhino Entertainment/Vapor/Warner Bros. RecordsRonnie SpectorEnglish HeartSavoy RecordsThaliaLatinaSony BMG/Sony MusicBroodsConsciousCapitol Records/Island Records/Universal RecordsMargaret GlaspyEmotions and MathATO RecordsBen AlessiUEmily Lazar, "Emily Lazar", Music BrainzBen Alessi, "Ben Alessi", Music BrainzBig House PublishingMoby/Moby & the Void Pacific ChoirThese Systems Are FailingArts & Crafts ProductionsColdplayA Head Full of Dreams 5.1 Surround MixParlophone
2017