So, you’ve been asked to write some music that’s ‘catchy’, ‘sing-able’ and ‘hummable’? Or you’re after it from your composer? This isn’t rare. A huge proportion of my career has involved writing music that is deliberately memorable. But what does a tune being ‘catchy’ actually mean? Aren’t all good tunes memorable? Or is it their ‘memorable-ness’ that makes them 'good'?
I’m at (fingers crossed) the stage of the penultimate draft on this project. Between the last draft and this one was a massive overhaul in tone to really shift the vibe of the film to a far more dark, serious and ominous arena.
It’s Saturday, so it’s a bit weird to be sitting down to type this out. I rarely work weekends - unless it’s on a play, which tends to shift work weeks to include Saturdays and ditch Mondays instead - but either way, having two clear days off a week is essential for me. If I …
Continue reading "How I structure my week – Blogmas #3"
Is this a good idea? A blog-post-a-day challenge, just December from the 1st til the 24th (or maybe 25th). I like blogging. I like writing. I like writing about composing. So to get me back in the habit, and to stop overthinking it, I’m doing a blog a day til Xmas. If I like it, …
Continue reading "All About The Lovely – Blogmas #1"
I'm on to the next stage of my DYCP project. Up until a few weeks ago I was learning new tools and techniques, and now I'm supposed to be composing. Which, in theory, sounds like a lovely thing, doesn't it? To have 3 months to just write whatever I want? Living the dream. But omg do I like to make things more difficult than they need to be and suddenly I'm feeling all this pressure to produce something awesome. We creatives do like to beat ourselves up unnecessarily, don't we.
Getting feedback is scary. Getting negative feedback is the WORST... or is it? Here's how to turn the fear of criticism on its head and into a superpower. Seek out and focus on negative feedback to zero in more accurately - and more creatively - on what your client wants from their music (or whatever …
Continue reading "The Four Steps I Use to Turn the Fear of Negative Criticism into a SUPERPOWER"
There is no magic bullet to getting a foothold into this industry… not unless you consider hard work, lots of rejection, or a healthy bent toward self-determination a “magic bullet”. Is there an easy way in? The answer, as with most things in life, is “no”. Most things that are worth doing don’t come easy. …
Continue reading "Ten Tips for Building a Career as a Music Composer for Film, TV and Theatre"
Well, sort of on the home stretch. On one particular project - Converging Paths. The final instalment, the final show - Story Book - is this Saturday, 28th July. It's been a long time coming. Our first instalment, Darkness at the Sun Court, was back at the beginning of the year in February but the work …
Continue reading "On The Home Stretch"
2010 has been awesome, more so than 2009, which was pretty damn cool in itself. I expect 2011 will follow the trend, but now I'm thinking about what I can do to help push 2011 into the stratosphere.
Note: 'Mr Bojagi' has now finished its short but very successful run on Daily Motion but you can still scroll down to watch me talk about the process of scoring the film and watch some other behind-the-scenes interviews with Brian and the rest of the cast and crew here. Brian Blessed stars in the fabulous, …
Continue reading "Watch Brian Blessed be Fantastical in ‘Mr Bojagi’"
