Film composer

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

A: A elementary school in the Slum had never had a music program nor money to buy instruments. I bought 12 recorders, brought a guitar, and harmonica and taught them a English song which they learned line by line ( they speak Swahili) We used the words as an English lesson I gave them the instruments I brought. They still use them a year later.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: I’ve been to Nairobi Kenya 6 times in 7 years in humanitarian endeavors. I am putting together a documentary about the Kibera Slum (largest in Africa) depicting the abject poverty there. I will be incorporating African sounds and images along with video and interviews of life in the slum

Q: Is there anyone on SoundBetter you know and would recommend to your clients?

A: Don’t know anyone

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Mostly digital though both have their pluses. I’ve used both

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

A: I promise to stay and work within the music budget. I can create fast and on the spot or I can watch a clip and immediately create the music. Hard to describe but it just comes naturally

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: The ability and gift to create from my imagination and put it into the hearts of people

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

A: How do you write such beautiful music spontaneously? I answer. It’s a gift. It just comes. I catch a mood like a wave and ride it to shore

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

A: A few have said some tracks are too long. I disagree. It’s necessary for an artist to fully integrate what he’s feeling into the score.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: What is the overall feeling (tone) you have for the movie? Happy, sad? Reflective? When you read the script, how will your listeners feel? Pensive? Fearful? Agitated? Peaceful? Hopeful?

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

A: Listen to enough of my tracks to see the varied and diverse way I create. I create sound pallets that place your mind in a different space. Transpose you to a new vista of experience

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

A: My Taylor guitar, a banjo, a violin, a D harmonica and a Zoom recorder

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

A: Since I was 11. I’m 71 now.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: Classic trained, but adventurous and daring I love to place simple light melodies against darker themes

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

A: Hans Zimmerman. I love his style and technique Love the Inception theme

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: get in the mood to create and it will flow. Even if you only have a part of a melody go with it… the rest will come

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

A: I totally love soundtracks and major themes from movies. I also create short trailers

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: I create spontaneously, either from my head or watching a film clip. I can catch the mood and feel of the director and what he ‘hears’ and then I reproduce it with my creativity. I have literally 1000s of dollars of synths and software. I also have a 1893 Vose & Sons piano that sounds fabulous

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: Super fresh, exhilarating novel melodies and music surprises that make my soundtracks captivating and memorable.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: I create and record spontaneously on the fly from keys ( MainStage/ FL Studio, Pro Tools to my Zoom (SD card) then back to Lurssen console to edit

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: Korg Nautilus, Korg microkorg, Arturia controllers (2). Tons of top tier software, 2 pro retinas, I Mac, Taylor 800 series guitar, ‘70s Charvel electric, Zoom recorder

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

A: Enya, George Winston,

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

A: I create instrumental, spontaneous filmscapes and trailers for movies.