MEET YOUR MAKER: Sam Wandtke
Anna Blumenthal
Sam, Sam, Sam. Where do we even start? Sam is a gem of a human. She is our in-house pedal doodler. If we had a nickel for every pedal doodle request we get, we could buy a Caribbean island. (Note to self: start charging for doodles).
She is also in charge of boxing and shipping your favorites Devices. Our pedals don’t nestle themselves in their cozy canvas bags, and the guitar pick and sticker and manual and baseball card don’t magically fly into the box, you know. That takes time and care. But much less time than it would with someone else doing it, because Sam works at the speed of light. She is weirdly fast. We actually have no idea how she and our other shipping wizard, Ram, get so much done every day, and we don’t want to know. But we are eternally grateful for her witchy magic.
The only break she takes is at 4:20pm, when she blares her airhorn on the company PA to make sure we all know it’s the best and most fun minute of the day.
Your life will be greatly improved if you have the chance to meet Sam IRL, but it’ll still get a whole lot better just by reading this blog.
Role at EarthQuaker?
Box & ship witch / pedal doodler / soothsayer.
How long have you been at EarthQuaker?
3.42069 years
What’s a typical (non-quarantine) day for you like?
Prepare my station for the day and talk to Ram about what is top priority. I mainly package/box the pedals but I also do a lot of doodling, inventory and shipping. I love taking Elsa out and taking "pet Elsa breaks". I listen to a lot of podcasts and music while I work. As long as the weather is bearable I like to take a 15 minute walk to see the geese and ducks at the locks nearby. At 4:20 I blast my air horn and everyone knows it's almost time for me to go home and we celebrate the day.
What’s your favorite thing about working at EarthQuaker?
The people I work with and get to meet.
What instrument(s) do you play, and what bands are you in?
I play mostly guitar, drums, bass, keys, ukulele and sing, down to try most anything...but I don't read music or anything. Current project is Zoo Ruins. I also love playing music with my bird and my partner Erica, who is a professional cellist. They read music. :)
Other favorite past projects are my first band ever from like nearly 20 years ago Bullet Teeth and Fangs Out.
What’s on your board(s) right now?
I have a few different setups, but always Rainbow Machine, Arpanoid, currently a Plumes, and Avalanche Run. I love the old DOD Octoplus and De Armond Twister.
What was your first pedal?
Ibanez DE7. The Organizer was my first EQD pedal.
Best concert you ever saw?
The Knife, Shaking The Habitual tour.
Best thing to eat in Akron?
My partner Erica's arepas, or their pozole.
Favorite Ohio city, after Akron?
Toledo, always and forever. The 419, just one off from 420 y'all.
Pre-EarthQuaker job?
Gotta Groove Record pressing factory, but I met Julie and Jamie at my old music shop Heights Guitars where we sold EQD pedals and loved them forever.
Favorite band?
I love so many...Fever Ray, Liars, Yma Sumac, Lower Dens, there are too many...it depends on the day.
Favorite podcast?
Making Gay History, The Moth, Code Switch, A Funny Feeling, Forensic Files, BirdNote.
Favorite book?
I love the thesaurus, Llewellyn's Magical Herbs Encyclopedia, and any book on birds, I love a lot of books.
Favorite movie?
Favorite TV show?
L word generation Q, but I love Twin Peaks and American Horror Story and Forensic Files.
Coolest skill, besides pedal boxing?
Birding & magick.
Favorite holiday and why?
Samhain, I just love the air.
Favorite recipe?
I really like making pretty salads with lots of color... and chicken wings with homemade blue cheese dressing.
Do you have a pet?
Gomez, green cheek conure. He loves music, and the fine arts, I think he was a frog in a past life, he loves showers and rain. He says "come on" and makes kissy sounds and screams really loud. I also have a tiny lava rock shrimp that is in a tiny ecosphere named schrimpscramp, he is like 10 years old and is a miracle.
Dumbest thing you ever bought?
I regret nothing.
Best Halloween costume you ever wore?
Gay Pride Babadook.
Best beauty tip?
Love yourself, you are so worth it.
Favorite EarthQuaker pedal?
Geez, I guess the Organizer.
Quarantine survival tips?
Take vision quests, try some backyard birding if you can, hug yourself and tell yourself you are strong and precious.
