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Composer, producer, arranger

Rob is one of Australia's most respected orchestral based musicians, working with a wide range of artists as an orchestra leader in styles from classical to rock and live performance to film. He has composed, orchestrated and produced music for feature film and TV, along with myriad arrangements for solo recording artists and bands.

At Independent Music Productions we have been fortunate to work with many artists, producers and composers from Australia and worldwide to provide high quality music solutions to their individual needs.

Rob is continually excited about his involvement in new projects whether small or large and relishes the opportunity to push the boundaries of excellence.

From contracting and leading orchestras to creating finished music production for a wide variety of artists and styles we are able to offer remote services to the music industry, including:

Remote recording: violin, viola, cello (solo or multi-tracked)
Arrangements: string to orchestral, including fully produced tracks for your project
Composition and production: music for backing tracks, film, TV in a variety of styles (contemporary orchestral to world and rock)

Rob has worked with performing artists such as Elton John, Stevie Wonder, Hugh Jackman and film composers such as Carl Davis, James Newton-Howard, Cezary Skubiszewski and David Hershfelder.

I'd love to hear about your project. Click the 'Contact' button above to get in touch.

Interview with -___-___-----___

  1. Q: Tell us about a project you worked on you are especially proud of and why. What was your role?

  2. A: "Symphony of the Wild" is a music/film project that pushed the boundaries of using sampled orchestral libraries with live musicians' tracks. It has yet to be released but we managed to fit the producer's budget with for a large scale and complex music score. I composed, mixed and produced the score and it was all produced within my studio.

  3. Q: What are you working on at the moment?

  4. A: A music and film project that is connected to some current worldwide astronomical projects.

  5. Q: Analog or digital and why?

  6. A: Digital. Today we almost always have to transfer the finishes tracks somewhere by the internet and most clients insist on that medium.

  7. Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?

  8. A: Quality.

  9. Q: What do you like most about your job?

  10. A: Making music with a wide range of talents and coming up with something unique.

  11. Q: What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?

  12. A: How much? What's your budget?

  13. Q: What's the biggest misconception about what you do?

  14. A: That it's expensive and unapproachable from a remote location.

  15. Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

  16. A: What's your vision?

  17. Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?

  18. A: Don't be afraid to ask anything. I'm always happy to listen.

  19. Q: If you were on a desert island and could take just 5 pieces of gear, what would they be?

  20. A: My violin, a laptop with Logic, some manuscript, pencils and a bottle of wine.

  21. Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?

  22. A: I started as an orchestral violinist in the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra when I was 19 years old. I was a soloist and orchestra leader from my late 20's and a recording musician for commercial projects, both in Australia and London. In my early 30's I started my studio and writing arrangements and recording for artists from that studio. I became a contractor during that time and ending up as a freelance composer/producer/player for the next 17 years. I have been in the busines for over 38 years.

  23. Q: How would you describe your style?

  24. A: I'm not quite sure how to answer that as I don't like boxes. Best to say evocative and moody.

  25. Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?

  26. A: Sting, because he is constantly rewriting his sound and musical ideas. His use of different instruments, musicians and styles is so refreshing each time he performs.

  27. Q: Can you share one music production tip?

  28. A: When recording a live musician make it clear and as simple as possible, so as to allow them to bring their musical voice to the process. Complexity can create confusion.

  29. Q: What type of music do you usually work on?

  30. A: Orchestral style instrumental music for a wide range of styles and situations. With over 38 years experience styles and techniques have changed a lot in the whole music world.

  31. Q: What's your strongest skill?

  32. A: The use of my ears.

  33. Q: What do you bring to a song?

  34. A: Hopefully something unique that will enhance the final version, but at a really high level of musicianship and production, regardless of how simple or complex.

  35. Q: What's your typical work process?

  36. A: Find out from the client what they are hoping to achieve and what their vision of our services is. We usually give them a few options that might help them to make a decision and keep clear contact with them as the project progresses.

  37. Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

  38. A: The studio is set up to do a range of things. Composing, arranging, scoring, recording, mixing, printing and in stereo or 5.1 surround. Because we cater to artists and also film we have to have a large range of options to offer each individual project. Sometimes that is a solo violin line and sometimes a fully composed, produced and 5.1 mixed orchestral score.

  39. Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?

  40. A: That's a tricky one to answer as my influences are many and varied. I guess the people who have evolved their skills, as musicians, into the current environment, where so many wonderful music production tools are available.

  41. Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.

  42. A: Creating high quality music for their particular needs and working into their budget, be it large or small. As we have access to live or sampled instruments we are able to record at broadcast quality no matter what is required for our clients.

Gear Highlights
  • Logic Pro X
  • Vienna Symphony Ensemble Pro
  • Gigastudio
  • Kontakt
  • Berlin Strings
  • Mural Strings
  • Berlin Winds
  • Cinesamples Brass
  • True Strike