I produce epic music soundscapes for soundtracks. I achieved a certain fame as a music producer in South Africa with top DJs asking to be able to perform alongside me. (Now based in the UK). I have a great knack for prose and have written lyrics for songwriters and pros for advertising companies for over two decades.
I am an expert with Cubase and have used this software for almost 20 years now to produce epic sounding music soundscapes which create a great atmosphere for movies. Not only do I use MIDI to create the music, I am an accomplished keyboard and guitar player; much of my work therefore includes properly recorded acoustic tracks, in amongst the digital tracks, recorded at my home studio.
Concerning lyrics: they seem to pour out of me! If you need lyrics written on any subject matter, call on me.
Tell me about your project and how I can help, through the 'Contact' button above.
Interview with Sydiom
Q: Tell us about a project you worked on you are especially proud of and why. What was your role?
A: I created the CD called "Womb to World", which was a soundscape of the sounds that a baby's ears in its mother's womb. The point of the project was that mothers could buy this CD and play the music back to their babies to calm them. It was a massive success and has been selling for over 10 years now.
Q: What are you working on at the moment?
A: Actually working on a music show showcasing the last 50 years of the most popular folk and pop songs from South Africa. So not entirely related to what my profile speaks about. But great fun anyway.
Q: Is there anyone on SoundBetter you know and would recommend to your clients?
A: ZephyrHillMusic
Q: Analog or digital and why?
A: Both. The wider the scope the better. (And if you don't know how to play the trumpet, there is always the keyboard with properly sampled trumpet sounds {in an emergency})
Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?
A: There's very little I can't do for you and long, long, long years of experience means that I do it well, within time, within budget.
Q: What do you like most about your job?
A: The fact that it feeds my addiction - making music and writing lyrics.
Q: What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?
A: What can you do for me and how did you do it? There's very little I can't do for you and long, long, long years of experience means that I do it well, within time, within budget.
Q: What's the biggest misconception about what you do?
A: I have no doubt that I'm not the only person in the world that says that the biggest misconception is that music can be produced in a few minutes and the computer does it all for you!!
Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?
A: The mood they want to reflect. The length of the piece. When they need it by. Is there any specific instrumentation that you need in the piece that may require me to bring in a session musician. To please send me three examples of the sort of music they are looking for. Did Neil Armstrong push his way to the front of the lunar landing module?
Q: If you were on a desert island and could take just 5 pieces of gear, what would they be?
A: Yamaha acoustic guitar. Yamaha keyboard. Studio speakers. Rhode Condenser mic. Macbook Pro. Nothing new there. Can I have a 6th option, that being massive solar powered energy source?
Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?
A: 20 years writing and performing music.
Q: How would you describe your style?
A: Accessible. Melodic. Punchy. Uplifting.
Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?
A: Moviemakers. I watch at least five forms a week and I just love that whole industry.
Q: Can you share one music production tip?
A: Arrange and mix your music in mono. When it sounds right there, you have nailed it! Spreading out the songs stereo wise will be easy and your newly mixed tune will blow your mind.
Q: What type of music do you usually work on?
A: Singer-songwriter, trance, lounge, ritual, soundtracks, meditation.
Q: What's your strongest skill?
A: Arranging music. Creating amazing sounds, arranging them into a soundtrack production. And writing lyrics. Lyrics just pour out of me. It was my five year old nephew's birthday a week ago and I came up with this impromptu lyric: There was a young boy who was four, Who thought that he had to be more. With the stretch and strive, He popped over to 5, And his mum and dad fell on the floor!
Q: What do you bring to a song?
A: Epic emotions. My soundscapes work brilliantly with videos. See 60 sec demo here: youtu.be/ANMjjjpigms
Q: What's your typical work process?
A: Give me a brief. I make the music. I send you the music in .wav and .mp3 format.
Q: Tell us about your studio setup.
A: Home studio: Cubase and Reason DAW. Yamaha acoustic guitar. Yamaha keyboard. Studio speakers. Rhode Condenser mic.
Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.
A: Soundscapes for short, medium and long movies and lyric writing for songwriters.
- Sound DesignAverage price - $450 per minute
- Film ComposerAverage price - $150 per minute
- EditingAverage price - $40 per track
- ProducerAverage price - $350 per song
- Acoustic GuitarAverage price - $70 per song
- Ghost ProducerAverage price - $450 per song
- Podcast Editing & MasteringAverage price - $50 per podcast
- Faithless
- Arr. William Orbit
- Jean-Michel Jarre
20% off ( I am new to soundbetter )
