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02/09/2024

In celebration of having the indelible maestro that is (aka ) on the latest episode of the Composer Magazine Podcast, we’re taking a look at some of his classic scores over the past decade.

Head to the link in bio to listen to Volker talk his creative process and harnessing reverb! 🎧

What’s your favourite Volker score? Tell us the in the comments below 👇

22/08/2024

For our August Cover Feature, artist Rosie Lowe talks taking back the reigns of production and how a new sense of self enabled collaboration on her sensational third album: ‘Love, Other’ (out now via ).

Head to the link in bio to read how Rosie made the leap into composition!

Words by

16/08/2024

Utilising field recordings, organic sounds & natural textures, and deep-rooted artist-to-artist connections forged on her journey, has composed her most personal and inspired record to date.

Head to the link in bio find out how!

13/08/2024

How does an artist channel their innate creative freedom and energy into a project as prescriptive as a film or TV show?

The member and solo artist delves deep into the mindset and process of scoring and ’s hit sci-fi show: .

Click the link in bio to listen to Julien’s incredible theme song (created along with ), and head over to the Composer Magazine site for the full interview!

Words by .william.levin
Photo by

06/08/2024

“I’ve always liked first takes; when I produce records for bands, I’m always trying to capture what a musician does in that early moment.” —

Producer, guitarist and composer Leo Abrahams talks about servicing a greater vision, synergetic collaboration with Martin France, and the creative process behind the follow-up to one of the most exciting experimental-jazz-duo albums of recent years: Krononaut II.

Link in bio for the full interview!

Photo by
Krononaut II out this Friday via .limb

19/07/2024

“With Orphan Black, I liked being forced into a beginner’s mind.”

For our July cover feature, we’re incredibly excited to feature an artist we’ve been devoutly following for over five years: !

From her iconic work with to an incredible solo career and a move into composition with ’s ‘North By Current’, Julien’s music has leapt from the stage to the screen — and defined the new season of one of the most acclaimed science-fiction series’ on TV.
william.levin speaks to Julien about the concept of applying creative meaning to a predetermined goal, being driven crazy (half in a good way) by Angelo’s documentary, and how visual thinking played a huge part in composing ‘The Lengths’ (along with ) for .

Click the link in bio for the full story!

18/07/2024

The nominations for all things soundtrack are finally in! 🏆

Well done to , .chuba & Atticus Ross, , & Daniel Pemberton, , , , , & .

Stay tuned for the ceremony on September 16th! Click the link in the bio to read our exclusive interviews with both Leopold and Carlos 🔗

18/07/2024

The nominations for all things soundtrack are finally in! 🏆

Well done to , .chuba & Atticus Ross, , & Daniel Pemberton, , , , , & .

Stay tuned for the ceremony on September 16th! Click the link in bio to read our exclusive interviews with both Leopold and Carlos 🔗

16/07/2024

With , the debut (and subsequently nominated) composer had to match a “unique, separate and exclusive universe” created by Yorgos Lanthimos and his creative team.

For their follow-up, , it seems that Jerskin was tasked with the same challenge. Starkly different to ‘Poor Things’, yet distinctive of the director’s style, their second collaboration has borne yet another fantastic soundtrack (partly mixed by sound designer , no less!).

Head to ’s page to listen to ‘Kinds of Kindness’ (available now via and ), and click the link in bio to read about how he and Yorgos began their creative partnership!

11/07/2024

“You want to actually connect with the audience and further the story with the music.” —

How do you ensure a globally beloved and aesthetically distinct game franchise gets the TV adaptation it deserves? You start with the music.

Sound supervisor Trygge Toven (Westworld, Loki) speaks with about riffing on ’s playlist, balancing licensed music with ’s excellent score, and bringing Galaxy News Radio (and more) to the screen for ’s sensational show.

Click the link in bio for the full read!

08/07/2024

”I get the impression that there’s a question of whether music being made remotely is as valid as people together in person — but I really enjoy working remotely as much as I do working in the same room as someone.” —

Collaborating from across the sea on an album both “beautiful” yet “really heavy”, Kevin Richard Martin (aka The Bug) and Joseph Kamaru () joined artistic forces to explore the concept of “Otherness” and bridge a generational gap in music making.

speaks to the pair about the fruit of their labours: the excellent ‘Disconnect’, out now via .limb. Head to the link in bio for the full read!

How have your experiences been collaborating with other artists remotely? Tell us in the comments below 👇

02/07/2024

We sat down for a quick Q&A with the extremely talented (composer of , ’ ‘Project CC’ and ’s ‘Three Ways’), who shared with us what tools she most often uses, what sort of collaboration she seeks, and which film — if any — she’d most love to re-score.

Head over to EmmoLei’s website (link in bio) to keep up to date with projects!

21/06/2024

What started off as a simple way to avoid acting at university turned into an award-winning and decades-spanning career, with his signature style coming to define most of .

We sit down with .phipps1 to discuss his legacy on the hit show, how to navigate an ever-changing industry, and how an unsuspecting part of England harboured one of history’s most important musical instruments.

Head to the link in bio for the full read! Both soundtracks for ‘Napoleon’ and ‘The Crown’ available via

18/06/2024

“I used a hand-made, bespoke version of the Mood Model D Synthesizer. It underpins emotional moments with warmth — or screams with rage like a beast of the deep.”

Head over to the Composer Magazine site for ’s (Dead Space, Until Dawn) exclusive insight into three tracks from his score for the ‘Still Wakes The Deep’, the new first-person game from indie developers The Chinese Room.

The soundtrack is available via

17/06/2024

With her new album, journeys into all-new storytelling territory.

Accompanying her sixth record is ‘A New Transmission’, an upcoming film and visual score which combines imagery, poetry and dancing in a “maternal balm” which hopes to “celebrate and validate the power of the Mother for us all.”

Head over to the Composer Magazine site to read more about how our June Cover Feature Artist is traversing multiple creative paths. Words by .

‘The Dream of Delphi’ out now via

15/06/2024

How can you tell when an idea is fully developed? Whether it’s time to implement it in a track or a composition, or if it needs to gestate for longer?

Our June Cover Feature artist Natasha Khan — aka, the sensational — talks about the lifespan of a creative concept, how becoming a mother and growing older has shifted her perspective & the storytelling component of her new album 🦇

Words by
‘A Dream of Delphi’ out now via

13/06/2024

“I would go away to the studio and just record improvisations — things started to appear fully formed”.

For our June Cover Feature, we’re celebrating the indelible : a powerful and visionary artist whose newest album, ‘A Dream of Delphi’, explores themes of motherhood, personal growth and sonic experimentation.

The record marks her sixth release, but also — as you’ll find out — a journey into the world of filmmaking... ✨

Words by
‘A Dream of Delphi’ out now via

07/06/2024

“There was a risk that if you approached it in too traditional a sense, the audience would feel too comfortable.” —

With an extraordinary blend of contemporary and traditional, working alongside brother Atticus Ross and co-composer .chuba, Leopold explains how deep research, Gagaku instrumentation and Shomyo chanting monks helped form the stunning soundtrack for one of the greatest shows this year: fxnetworks’ 🎎

Words by . Head over to the Composer Magazine site for the full read!

04/06/2024

“I think everybody’s sound becomes unique because of the environment they’re forced to be in.” —

We sat down with the and winning composer to speak about scoring ’s — a drug-fuelled and synth-powered descent into 1980s Miami — and how real experience in the industry helps inform his role as an educator. Head over to the Composer Magazine site for the full interview!

Words by

28/05/2024

Who’s seen ‘Furiosa’ yet? Unusually for a Hollywood production, composer was involved in his score for ’s right through to the final mixing.

Alongside sound designer Robert Mackenzie, Tom was able to ensure that his masterful soundtrack was reaching audiences in the perfect way. Head over to the Composer Magazine site for the full read.

What are your thoughts on composers re-recording and mixing their own work? Tell us down below 👇

25/05/2024

“This will be our biggest show to date, not just in terms of ambition, but also literal size.”

This coming Monday will mark a significant milestone in the musical and personal journey of composer, orchestrator and artist .

From first encountering the magic of Qawwali and using tools to self-teach writing for an orchestra, to collaborating with and forming the , Rushil’s exploration into the fusion of Eastern / Western music will see him headlining one of the world’s most iconic venues: the

Photography by &

24/05/2024

“I like repurposing instruments for something different to what they’re actually intended for.” —

With ’s , the fifth instalment in the Mad Max saga, Tom Holkenborg (aka Ju**ie XL) takes the concept of an action score to a whole new level. Reuniting with director George Miller almost a decade after Fury Road (2015), the Dutch composer was able to maintain complete creative control over his soundtrack and — in a case unusual for Hollywood — oversee its delivery right through to the final mix.

We sat down with Ju**ie XL to discuss forging the sonic identity for the new Mad Max era, how knowing when to use silence is a composer’s most useful tool, and why education is so important to him as a music maker. Head over to the Composer Magazine site for the full read!

‘Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga’, is out in cinemas TODAY. The OST is available via

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Videos

Episode 04 / Composer of the Year: Natalie Holt (Clip)

SOUND ON for an insight into how Natalie Holt composed Disney+'s #Loki! To find out even more about the creative process of our 2022 Composer of the Year, listen to Episode 04 of the Composer Magazine Podcast here: https://spoti.fi/3InMhjd

Episode 04 / Composer of the Year: Natalie Holt (Clip)

If you've still not listened to the full podcast episode yet - where @challyolly and our Composer of the Year @filmmusicholt discuss her teenage film-watching habits, her journey as a composer & much more - listen here! https://bit.ly/3uRbDy6

Composer Artist Pick: AZEKEL

Our artist pick this week is @azekel! Watch his brilliantly self-directed video for the remix of the single 'DUPĖ', featuring @KWESIARTHUR_, courtesy of @emPawaAfrica, here: https://bit.ly/3FTgZ17

Composer Magazine 2022 Cover Features

What a year it's been! Thank you to all our passionate readers & absurdly talented Cover Feature artists: Bonobo, Isobel Waller-Bridge, Aska Matsumiya, Son Lux, Peaches, Jung Jae-Il, Kyle Dixon & Michael Stein, Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith, John Debney, Nosaj Thing, Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross, Natalie Holt ☄️

A couple of months ago our editor spent time with London-based composer @benmarc_music who had just released his latest album, Glass Effect! Ben talks about his influences, time spent in the studio, favourite gear and what it's really like to be on tour. Film by Chloe Pemberton

Happy New Year!

As the year draws to an end we can't help but reflect on the amazing year we've had at Composer Magazine; we couldn't have done it without your support! From reaching the 100 article mark to hosting our first celebration of #Composers it's been an incredible 12 months. Thank you for all your support this year, see you in 2022 with even more great content! Take a look back at our 'What Does it Mean to be a Composer' film from our 'Celebrate #Composers' day back in September.

Happy Hollidays! 🎄

Happy Holidays! 🎁 - The Composer Magazine team

Have you seen @A24's #Lamb yet? We sat down with composer @totigudna on writing his first score to picture, working with @olafurarnalds, and more! Read the full feature at the link in bio.

Tóti Guðnason on scoring his first feature for A24's Lamb

Have you seen A24's #Lamb yet? We sat down with composer Tóti Guðnason on writing his first score to picture, working with Ólafur Arnalds, and more! Read the full feature: https://bit.ly/3ELTGo7

Sampling for Horror Scores with The Newton Brothers

Have you seen our interview with The Newton Brothers yet? We sat down with the duo in their studio and got talking about the story behind their pseudonym, how they built their careers, and their inspiring approach to scoring titles such as Netflix’s The Haunting of Hill House, Oculus, Gerald’s Game, and Doctor Sleep. Watch now: https://bit.ly/3bpw7Um

What Does it Mean to be a Composer?

We asked an incredible collection of #Composers to answer one question - 'What does it mean to be a composer?' Enjoy this collection of their responses - you might see some familiar faces! We'd love to hear your answer, let us know in the comments, or, make a video of your own (don't forget to tag us!) Learn more: https://bit.ly/3z1zjzm Music: Quentin Lachapele

Adam Taylor on Scoring 'The Handmaid's Tale' Theme

#Emmy nominee Adam Taylor is the brilliant mind behind the score for The Handmaid's Tale We sat down with him and talked about scoring the main theme for the series. Have you seen the latest season? 🙋🏽‍♀️ Watch the video: https://bit.ly/3sIz1Ls

John Murphy on scoring 28 Days Later, Sunshine & More

"You don't score to picture, you score to the story" John Murphy let us into his studio to talk creative process, 28 Days Later and his journey from Punk guitarist to film composer, and more! Watch the full video:https://bit.ly/3c3jj6K

28 Days Later Composer John Murphy talks film composing

John Murphy shredding out the iconic theme from Danny Boyle's 28 Days Later. Watch the full interview here: https://bit.ly/3c3jj6K

A true synthesizer pioneer, Suzanne Ciani - Diva of the Diode’s love of electronic music began in 1968 during a field trip to MIT. However, it was her decade-long adventure mastering the Buchla 200 that would define her career. ⁠ ⁠ Watch the full video here: https://bit.ly/2K12iAb