Boston Hassle: Stoicism, Star Wars, and Stax

A Conversation with Sean McLaughlin and Zach Bloomstein About Bringing a Big Production Mindset to Boston’s Independent Music Scene

WRITTEN BY: Eric Marshall

“In 2014, McLaughlin hired Framingham’s Zach Bloomstein as an intern. McLaughlin took him on as a studio partner not long after. Bloomstein, now living in Portland, OR was kind enough to speak with me over Zoom. He’s a gracious, efficient conversationalist. He takes the call in his home studio, and I can’t help but notice he’s wearing a Star Wars t-shirt. The two producers’ mutual appreciation for the classic sci-fi franchise is only a passing similarity. What’s remarkable is how in sync they are when it comes to their artistic philosophy and approach.”