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0:00/6:08
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Black Sugar 4:360:00/4:36
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La Sombra 5:570:00/5:57
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Monolanguage 5:390:00/5:39
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Father Asphyxia 6:540:00/6:54
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Quiet Quit 4:520:00/4:52
Salt & Static
“Salt & Static isn’t heavy because of its guitars or production, its gravity comes from what it’s willing and able to examine.” - Brittney Ann Lawrence
“Salt & Static stands out as a remarkable achievement in contemporary music.” - BlackCat
“It’s the sound of an architect setting down his blueprints and picking up a scalpel instead.”
Salt & Static is a six-track exploration of men’s mental health, built from deeply personal experiences of depression, addiction, grief, emotional suppression, fatherhood and suicidal ideation. Rather than unfolding as a single linear narrative, the EP presents a series of psychological snapshots, each capturing a different state of mind and the coping mechanisms that emerge when difficult experiences remain unresolved.
Across the record, vulnerability sits alongside anger, detachment, guilt, responsibility and the instinct to keep functioning even when communication begins to break down. The songs do not attempt to offer simple answers or transform difficult experiences into neat resolutions. Instead, Salt & Static focuses on the contradictions within them, the ways hope can become exhausting, destructive patterns can feel comforting, grief can become inseparable from identity, and love itself can carry the weight of sacrifice and loss of self.
Musically, the EP combines modern progressive metalcore with cinematic production, synthwave textures, hip-hop and nu-metal influences, atmospheric electronics and subtle elements drawn from Spanish harmony and rhythm. Crushing guitars and electronic low-end sit alongside orchestral passages, melodic hooks and moments of deliberate restraint, creating a sound that moves between physical intensity and psychological unease. Written, performed, recorded, produced, mixed and mastered by Sam George in Cáceres, the record uses those shifting musical languages to give form to emotions that can be difficult to articulate directly.
At its centre, Salt & Static is about the tension between experience and expression. Salt represents the body, sensation and the evidence of having lived through something, while static represents intrusive thought, emotional interference and the internal noise that makes genuine communication increasingly difficult. Intimate but expansive, the EP turns that conflict into a wider examination of survival, vulnerability and the systems people build to keep moving when they cannot always explain what they are carrying.
About Me
From Classical Roots to Contemporary Sounds
The Journey of Pick Up Goliath: Musician, Producer, and Educator
Hi, I'm Sam, but you might know me as Pick Up Goliath. My musical journey began in the world of classical music, where I first picked up the violin and clarinet. Those early days playing in orchestras laid the foundation for a deep love of music that would shape the rest of my life.
As a teenager, I discovered the thrill of rock music, which led me to start composing and songwriting. Joining rock bands and learning how to gig were pivotal experiences, and they ignited a passion for creating music that connects with people on a visceral level.
I went on to study Popular Music at Leeds University, where I majored in Songwriting. During this time, I joined the band Armstrong, and we spent four incredible years touring, writing, and recording. Our debut single, "Can't Go Back," even made it to number 65 on the UK Indie Chart, and our album Light Up The Night was a labour of love that opened doors to perform alongside some amazing bands like You Me At Six, The Pigeon Detectives, Attack Attack!, and many others.
After my time with Armstrong, I transitioned into education, earning my teaching qualifications and spending six rewarding years at The BRIT School in London. As a specialist in songwriting and composition, I had the privilege of teaching some incredibly talented students, including Raye, Rex Orange County, Lola Young, Cat Burns, Olivia Dean, and black midi. Helping shape the next generation of artists was an honour and a truly inspiring chapter of my career.
In 2018, I founded my own company, Pick Up Goliath Ltd., which allowed me to focus on writing bespoke compositions for both private and commercial clients. I also began producing for artists around the world, continuing to push the boundaries of what music can be.
Under the pseudonym Pick Up Goliath, I've been fortunate to collaborate with artists like Duran Duran's Dom Brown on two albums and have explored new musical landscapes through solo projects. I also launched an educational channel called The Producer Tutor in 2019, where I offered free music production tutorials and one-on-one lessons to aspiring producers.
My passion for teaching culminated in the publication of my book, Become a Competent Music Producer in 365 Days, with Routledge in 2023. It's been incredible to share my knowledge with an even wider audience.
After moving to Spain in 2021, I established Mammoth Sound Studio, where I've been producing records with local artists and expanding my creative horizons. Recently, I had the thrilling opportunity to collaborate with Massive Monster on a metal EP for the hit video game Cult of the Lamb, working alongside some of the biggest names in metal such as Howard Jones (Light the Torch), Matthew K. Heafy (Trivium), Scott LePage (Polyphia) and many others.
Through all these experiences, my goal has always remained the same: to create, inspire, and share the transformative power of music. Whether I'm producing, teaching, or composing, I'm driven by a deep love for music and a desire to help others find their own unique voice in the sonic world.
Awards
- ‘BEST OF EUROPE - European Metal’ at the InterContinental Music Awards 2026 for CULT
- ‘International Sound Engineer of the Year’ at the International Singer Songwriters Association awards 2026 for Artificial Ascendency
- ‘International Male Vocalist of the Year’ at the International Singer Songwriters Association awards 2026 for Artificial Ascendency
- Silver medal: ‘progressive metal’ at the Global Music Awards 2026 for Artificial Ascendency
- Gold winner: ‘Best Concept Album’ at the LIT Music Awards 2026 for Artificial Ascendency
- ‘Best Rock Song’ at the World Songwriting Awards Winter 2026 for Veil of Illusion
- Gold medal: ‘best progressive metal album’ at the European International Music Awards 2026 for Artificial Ascendency
- Silver medal: ‘creativity/originality’ at the Global Music Awards 2026 for Cult of the Lamb: Hymns of the Unholy
- Silver medal: ‘metalcore’ at the Global Music Awards 2026 for Cult of the Lamb: Hymns of the Unholy
- ‘Producer of the Year 2025’ at the Elite Music Awards 2025 for Cult of the Lamb: Hymns of the Unholy
- ‘Best Collaboration’ at the World Songwriting Awards Summer 2025 for CULT
- ‘International Male Album of the Year’ at the International Singer Songwriters Association awards 2025 for Cult of the Lamb: Hymns of the Unholy
- ‘Mejor Producción’ at the Premios de la Música Extremeña 2024 for Fronteriza (Mammoth Sound Studio Remix)