Artist Spotlight Series: Sulene van der Walt

Welcome to our Artist Spotlight Series, a Q&A where we delve into the sync journeys of the exceptional musicians who make up the Marmoset roster. At Marmoset, we believe in amplifying the voices of historically underrepresented artists and curating the best human-powered music to meet the evolving needs of our clients.

By working with Marmoset, you’re not just accessing high-quality, custom-tailored music; you’re directly supporting the incredible talents and hard work of our musicians.


Who are you?

Sulene. Artist, composer, producer, mix and mastering engineer.

How did you hear about Marmoset?

Many years ago I was researching online top music licensing agencies, and Marmoset’s name popped up. I wanted to break into composing for commercials, so I made a list of about twenty music houses and Marmoset was one of them. They were the only one that responded to me and gave me a shot, and I’ve been writing for them ever since. 

Describe Marmoset in 3 words.

Ethical. Kind. Organic. 

How has working with Marmoset impacted your life?

Marmoset’s done so much for my career and overall life. They were the first music house to give me a shot as a composer for commercials.  Since they hired me, and taught me the ropes, I now compose for ten music houses and make a good living as a composer. I’ve also developed friendships with the people who work at Marmoset — we  regularly chat and I’ve even gone to Portland to hang out with them.  Bob Werner is also my O-1 Artist Visa sponsor. I’m extremely grateful to Marmoset because they gave me the opportunity to develop my composing skills and leave the touring world (I was a for-hire touring guitarist for years before I started composing for sync).  

What is the placement or project you’ve done with Marmoset you’re most proud of?  

Ummm wow there are so many it’s hard to pick one. I guess I’d say the “Verizon First to 5G” campaign because it was the first custom music spot I ever won and my music was used over three different  commercials and aired on TV. That gave me a real boost as a writer.

Also, being the producer for the AC project for Frankie Simone. I produced two singles (“Lemon Drop” and “I Wanna Ride“) for an artist I really admire, and also with another artist I look up to (Katy, Dear Nora). That was really cool.

Check out Sulene van der Walt’s music on Marmoset here.

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