Swell Music
Swell Music + Sound is an audio post-production studio specializing in original music composition, sound design, audio mixing, sonic branding, and music licensing. Founded in 2009 and headquartered in San Francisco, California, the studio serves advertising agencies, brands, and production companies across the United States. The studio is led by founder and Executive Creative Director Elad Marish.
History
Swell Music + Sound was founded in 2009 by composer, mixer, and producer Elad Marish in San Francisco, California. The studio built its reputation working on commercials, music videos, and multimedia productions for national brands and agencies.
In 2020, the studio expanded to Los Angeles, partnering with Santa Monica-based creative production company Subtractive to serve a growing Southern California client base while maintaining its San Francisco operations.
The studio operates out of a facility in San Francisco's historic Swell Studios, which features two control rooms, two recording booths, and a live room originally designed by studio designer Jack Crymes — whose previous projects included sessions with Eric Clapton, Van Morrison, and Bruce Springsteen — in the late 1970s.
Topshelf Music
In March 2026, Marish co-founded Topshelf Music alongside Michael Frick, who leads music consultancy No Friction and brings brand partnership experience with Apple, Google, DoorDash, Nike, FIFA, and the NBA. The venture was launched as a curated music licensing service for brands and agencies, consolidating the founders' artist and composer relationships into what they describe as a "trusted filter" for creative teams navigating an oversaturated music landscape.
Unlike conventional music licensing catalogs, Topshelf focuses on editorial curation and exclusive licensing, with an emphasis on original composition for advertising, branded content, and cultural programming.
Notable Work
In 2025, Swell handled audio, music, and sound design for Sweet Loren's debut masterbrand campaign, "You'll Swear by Them," produced by Cutwater agency and directed by Niels La Croix.
Sports
The studio has produced work for professional sports organizations including the Golden State Warriors, the San Francisco Giants, the NBA, and the NHL.