The Glossary: Mentrix | Composer

Next up in our series of Glossary features covering music tech roles, we spoke to composer Mentrix.

This special Glossary series features the insights of workshop leaders and speakers from our recently announced programme – Doors Open UNLOCKED: Empowering the future of music tech with Ableton, which you can read more about and apply for a place on here.

Samar Rad, aka Mentrix wrote her first song in 2013, in which year she also
contributed guest vocals to the Fink album Hard Believer. This was her first credit under the name Mentrix. In 2015 Samar settled in Berlin, where she began writing and recording for what would be her debut album. She trained with Iranian vocalists in LA and Paris, also teaching herself guitar and Daf, an Iranian framed drum. 

To accompany the album’s singles “Walk” and “Nature”, Samar collaborated with French director Gilles Estève to produce two short films, both filmed in
Iran in 2018 and released in 2020. 

In 2024, Mentrix collaborated with producer Gareth Coker to produce the soundtrack to Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown.

What is your role in music and what does your day to day look like?
I consider myself a creative with music as a medium. I feel lucky that my creative activity has led to a professional path, and although I set high standards for myself and worked hard to have quality outputs, it was never intentional. Most days I am surviving the day as a mum first - my husband is a touring musician - and carving time for myself to reconnect with my core, if I manage to do that, that's a win. I take a lot of time to move in my music making, but when I do, I seem to do sprints...so although I don't spend everyday in the studio, I listen relentlessly to the music that inspires me, and try to get whatever is in the way out of the way.

How did you get into your line of work?
Out of frustration really, and a lot of luck. My husband, who was my boyfriend then, had a home studio and it was inspiring to see him do what he does. I don't have his skills and never thought that music would be a path for me, but thanks to his faith in me, and the time he spent with me and my ideas, I am here today. In more practical terms, I started with a mic and a loop pedal. Fin, my husband, helped record and produce my songs. Once I moved to Berlin, I was introduced to Ableton and thanks to the software I learned to record myself which was a step in itself.

What skills are important in your job?
- Having a vision
- Being assertive
- Being resourceful
- Being optimistic
- Being charismatic
- Ability to inspire yourself
- Ability to focus
- Hard work

I would put these first: passion over skills, drive over experience, good personality over tools.

If someone is excited to do what you do, what advice would you give them?
I might be a one shot composer, I might go on doing sound art installation, or I
might produce a TV series next and become a screenwriter...my advice would be to follow what gets you excited, and do your research and be inquisitive. Be genuine; your passion, skill set and drive are your own, and you are unique. You will find your place, and opportunities will find you, as long as your focus is inward, the outward will happen. Ask your heart for whatever it is you wish, and contemplate within. It sound preachy but it worked for me.

What are your top 3 tips for someone who wants work in the music industry in general?
My biggest advice would be do not wait for anyone to discover you or give you a break. Luckily today with all the technology at hand anyone can find an audience. You don't need the whole world to do what you want to do...by this I mean, you don't need to be Taylor Swift or Hans Zimmer to do what I do, but it is great to have people in the industry to look up to - study their path and understand their journey. Look at yourself and see if it resonates, if you find common ground, follow in their path and then create.

1. Don't wait for anyone, be active and resourceful.
2. Study your influences, the influential figures, those you love, and see what you can learn and how you can relate. Figure out what it is that you love about them - you will have that in common with them, whatever it is, you have it, otherwise you would not be drawn to it, then develop that thing.
3. Create, do, and the rest will follow.

Applications for Doors Open UNLOCKED: Empowering the future of music tech with Ableton close at the end of Tuesday 18th March, apply for your place here.