Syd Butler - A Look At The Man Behind The Music
Syd Butler, a name that pops up in quite a few places across the music scene and beyond, is someone whose work has certainly made a mark. From shaping the sound of independent music to holding down the bass line on a popular late-night television show, his story is, you know, a pretty interesting one. He’s been a part of many creative efforts, and his influence seems to stretch across different parts of the entertainment world.
You might know him from his musical projects, or perhaps you've seen him on your television screen. He’s got a hand in a few different pies, so to speak, whether it’s helping new artists get their start or performing live for millions of viewers. His journey, actually, shows a blend of business sense and artistic talent, which is pretty cool to think about, really.
This piece will take a closer look at the various things Syd Butler has done, from his early days and family background to his many professional roles. We'll explore the different parts of his life that have come together to make him the person he is, covering his time with bands, his record label, and even his family life. It’s a chance, you know, to get to know a bit more about someone who has been quite busy making things happen.
Table of Contents
- Syd Butler - Who Is He Really?
- Personal Details of Syd Butler
- What Musical Groups Has Syd Butler Been a Part of?
- The Story of Frenchkiss Records and Syd Butler
- How Did Syd Butler End Up on Late Night with Seth Meyers?
- Syd Butler's Life Away from the Stage
- What Other Things Does Syd Butler Do?
- The Early Years and Influences on Syd Butler
Syd Butler - Who Is He Really?
Syd Butler is, you know, a person with a good many hats. He's known as a bass player, someone who helps artists get their music out there, and also as a family man. Born on August 15, 1972, in Memphis, Tennessee, he actually spent a good portion of his growing-up years in Washington, D.C. This early setting, it seems, really shaped his path, especially with the music scene there being what it was at the time. He came of age, sort of, when the D.C. punk and indie music world was really taking off, and that, you know, had a big effect on him.
His connection to music started pretty early, with influences like Dischord Records playing a big part in his thinking. This kind of background, honestly, gave him the spark to eventually create his own record company. Beyond just playing music, he’s someone who has helped shape how music gets to people, which is a pretty cool thing to consider. He's not just a performer; he's also a person who builds things in the music business, which is, like, pretty impressive. You can find his professional details, too, on platforms like LinkedIn, where he’s part of a very large group of people sharing their work lives.
Personal Details of Syd Butler
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Syd Butler |
| Date of Birth | August 15, 1972 |
| Birthplace | Memphis, Tennessee |
| Parents | Syd and Kay Butler |
| Spouse | Amy Carlson (married 2004) |
| Children | Lyla Butler, Nigel Butler |
| Known For | Frenchkiss Records founder, Les Savy Fav bassist, 8G Band bassist, A&R at Killphonic Rights |
| Film/TV Work | The Letter (2020), Lightning in the Hand (2014), Blue Jeans (2013) |
What Musical Groups Has Syd Butler Been a Part of?
When you talk about Syd Butler, his time with musical groups is, you know, a very big part of his story. He’s probably most recognized for his work as the bass player for Les Savy Fav. This group, made up of Tim Harrington on vocals, Seth Jabour on guitar, Syd Butler himself on bass, and Harrison Haynes on drums, has been around for a good while. They have a sound that’s really their own, and people who like that kind of music really connect with them. It’s been, like, almost six years since they put out a full album of new songs, which means their fans have been waiting a bit for more.
Recently, though, Les Savy Fav did something pretty exciting: they put out "Oui, LSF," which is their first album in, honestly, fourteen years. That’s a very long time to wait for new music from a group you enjoy. Syd Butler, along with Tim Harrington, has actually talked about this new collection of songs. They've shared, you know, why they decided to go back into the recording space after having only played shows every now and then for a decade. It seems like they felt it was the right moment to get back to making new sounds together, which is, you know, a pretty cool thing for fans to hear.
He even shared a bit about how he hurt his thumb, which is, like, something that happens when you’re a musician, I guess. And they also talked about why they picked their own practice spot to record the new songs, which is, in some respects, a very natural choice for a group that’s been together for so long. So, you know, it’s clear that his musical heart is very much with Les Savy Fav, and getting this new music out there was, I mean, a big deal for them.
The Story of Frenchkiss Records and Syd Butler
One of the things Syd Butler is very well known for is starting Frenchkiss Records. He got this record company going back in 1999, and it has, you know, grown to be a pretty important place for certain kinds of music. The idea for Frenchkiss, in a way, came from his younger days, growing up when Dischord Records was making a name for itself. That experience, you know, showed him what was possible when you really believe in artists and their sounds.
At Frenchkiss Records, Syd Butler has, like, helped to bring forward and support many artists who have gone on to make a real impact. He’s signed people and worked with them to help their music get heard, which is, honestly, a very big part of what a record company does. It's not just about putting out songs; it's about finding talent and helping it grow. So, in some respects, he's been a very important person in the careers of many musical acts.
He's still, you know, very much involved with the music business beyond just his own band. He’s also the co-head of A&R at Killphonic Rights, which means he’s still very much in the thick of finding and helping artists with their music. This kind of work, you know, shows his ongoing dedication to the music world, both as a person who makes music and someone who helps others do the same. It’s a pretty interesting mix of roles, really, and it speaks to his deep connection with the sounds he loves.
How Did Syd Butler End Up on Late Night with Seth Meyers?
It’s a pretty interesting story, honestly, how Syd Butler became the bass player for the 8G Band, which is the house band for "Late Night with Seth Meyers." It was, you know, a very quick process to get him into that spot. One of the first people they thought of for the job was, apparently, Frenchkiss head honcho and Les Savy Fav bass player, Syd Butler. The whole hiring thing happened so fast that he was, like, dropped into the position quicker than he even had a chance to really think about it all.
He was part of the 8G Band from 2014 until 2024, which is, you know, a good ten years of playing on television every night. Now, after being in that role for a year, he felt, actually, happier than he had ever been. Being part of one of the most unique late-night groups in television history is, I mean, a pretty special thing. It shows that his musical talents are recognized not just in the indie music world but also on a much bigger stage, which is, like, a really cool achievement for a musician.
Syd Butler's Life Away from the Stage
Beyond his busy life in music, Syd Butler has, you know, a very important part of his world that’s all about his family. He’s married to Amy Carlson, who many people know from her acting work. They’ve been married since 2004, which means they’ve shared, honestly, nearly two decades of their lives together. That’s a very long time, and it speaks to a very strong connection between them. They are, you know, parents who care a great deal for their two children, Lyla Butler and Nigel Butler.
Amy Carlson, his wife, is someone who is, you know, a loving mother to their kids. She’s also an amazing wife to Syd, which, you know, is something that really helps when both people have very busy schedules. Despite all the demands of their careers, they manage their home life and their professional work in a way that seems to be very good. This kind of balance is, actually, pretty impressive to pull off, and it shows that they are both very dedicated to their family and their work.
Amy Carlson herself is, like, very well known for her acting. People mostly remember her for her parts in the CBS police procedural series "Blue Bloods," the NBC drama "Third Watch," and the NBC daytime soap opera "Another World." She also appeared in one episode of "The Village" in 2019, and in two episodes of something else that isn’t fully detailed here, but you get the picture. So, you know, they are both very much in the public eye, but they seem to keep their family life pretty grounded, which is, I mean, a good thing.
What Other Things Does Syd Butler Do?
It turns out Syd Butler has, you know, a few more things going on besides just music and family. For one, he’s apparently very good at tennis. He’s been playing the game since he was fifteen years old, and it seems he’s a real student of it, meaning he really tries to understand all the different parts of how to play well. He’s been connected with the Lafayette Tennis Association since 2011, and during that time, he’s worked with both grown-ups and children, which is, like, a pretty varied teaching experience.
This shows, in a way, that his interests go beyond just the stage and the recording studio. It’s pretty cool to think about someone who is so involved in music also having a strong passion for something like tennis, where you need a very different kind of skill set. It suggests he’s a person who enjoys learning and getting better at things, no matter what they are. So, you know, he’s got a pretty full life, with many different activities keeping him busy.
The Early Years and Influences on Syd Butler
Syd Butler was born in 1972, which places his early years in the 1980s. That decade, you know, was a very interesting time, full of big hair, phones that were, like, very big, pastel suits, Cabbage Patch Kids, Rubik’s Cubes, and, you know, a lot of other things that really defined the period. Growing up then, especially in Washington, D.C., had a pretty big impact on him, honestly. He was, like, coming of age during the time when Dischord Records was really getting started and making a name for itself.
The influence of Dischord Records on him was, in some respects, very strong. That label, you know, showed him what was possible in independent music and how you could build something really meaningful outside of the mainstream. It’s pretty clear that this kind of background, this sense of doing things your own way, later gave him the drive to create Frenchkiss Records. So, you know, his early surroundings really helped shape the path he would take in the music business, which is, like, a pretty direct line from his youth to his later work.
His birthday, what he did before he became well-known, his family life, and other fun bits of information about him are all part of the story that makes up who Syd Butler is. He’s a person who has, you know, built a career around his love for music, while also keeping his family at the center of his world. From his beginnings in Tennessee and D.C. to his current roles, he has, actually, made a very distinct mark in several different areas.
So, you know, we've taken a look at Syd Butler from a few different angles. We covered his beginnings, his big role in Frenchkiss Records, his time playing bass for Les Savy Fav, and his decade with the 8G Band on "Late Night with Seth Meyers." We also touched on his family life with Amy Carlson and their kids, Lyla and Nigel, and even his passion for tennis. It’s pretty clear he’s a person who has done a good many things and continues to be very involved in both the music world and his home life.
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