The music I compose allows me to create the escapism that attracted me to so many genre films, shows and games. My music not only sets a tone or mood, it becomes a character of its own, supporting and mimicking the characters it underscores.
L.A. based music composer for games, movies, and shows. Specialized in horror, sci-fi and fantasy. The weirder, the better. Coming from visual arts & design, I honed my storytelling skills. As a teenager, I was a percussionist in school orchestras, studied music theory and film music, and composed many personal works at home. The ability to compose music and tell a story have collided. My music tells a story whether it is its own or that of others. Each work is tailored to be a cohesive work, not a compilation, and is presented as "concept soundtrack albums". Some are composed to actual movies as alternate scores while other albums are stand-alone works not composed to visuals and that tell their own story. The genres explored and focused on are primarily dark, sci-fi and horror. The styles range from traditional ensembles to ambient, synth, atonal, minimalist, and electronica/techno.
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Interview with D 4 Disgruntled
Q: Tell us about a project you worked on you are especially proud of and why. What was your role?
A: So far all of them I am proud of. One that sticks out the most is my concept soundtrack album Horror Re-Scored: Vol. 2. I re-scored The Exorcist 3. The movie had little to no music in it. Some choral like drones and grumbling voices were present in the film. I composed a complete 60 minute score to the film as though I had been hired to do it originally. The challenge to this project was that it is a very dialogue heavy film and music had to exist in a way as to emphasize narrative points and drama while not detracting from the dialogue. I did this project as a dedication to Christopher Young as it emulated his music style of the late 80s. But more so, he was contracted to replace the Barry De Vorzon score and wrote 25 minutes of music that has never been recorded.
Q: What are you working on at the moment?
A: I am working on 2 new concept soundtrack albums - the first is a sci-fi/action story I wrote and am creating a music score for and the other is a re-score of the horror film Pumpkinhead. I also am entering 3 film scoring contests - AbbeyRoad.com, IndieFilmMusicContest.com, and FilmMusicContest.com.
Q: Is there anyone on SoundBetter you know and would recommend to your clients?
A: Nope, I am new here.
Q: Analog or digital and why?
A: I would prefer to record things live but we are in a different age, and digital is just too easy and convenient for cheap projects.
Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?
A: That my music won't suck.
Q: What do you like most about your job?
A: Telling a story with music.
Q: What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?
A: Client: Can you make it sound like this or that composer? Me: I can but I won't. If you want that person, then hire that person.
Q: What's the biggest misconception about what you do?
A: That music can fix a bad project.
Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?
A: What is the project about? What are you hoping for the music to achieve? What is the deadline and budget?
Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?
A: If you want original music that supports your narrative while also having character, then allow the composer to do so. If you want something from the "sea of sameness" then I am probably not going to appeal to you.
Q: If you were on a desert island and could take just 5 pieces of gear, what would they be?
A: I wouldn't take anything. I would finally be on the vacation of a lifetime.
Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?
A: As a teenager, I studied music composition, learned music through playing by ear, performed in school symphony as a percussionist, and was in choral classes. In college I continued studying music theory and added music history and MIDI courses. However, due to lack of resources and funds to obtain personal music equipment outside of my keyboard and boombox, my career went in a different direction for some time after graduating college. I pursued graphic design, web design and user experience design - all using storytelling as part of the creative process. I left all that in 2016 to pursue music composing again. I have been composing mostly as an independent composer creating my own "concept soundtrack albums" for both profit and demo purposes.
Q: How would you describe your style?
A: An amalgamation of many. I become a fan of film music at an early age (in 1989). I have been collecting film scores ever since. So I have been exposed to and influenced by countless composers. Those who I draw influence from regularly though are Chris Young, Marco Beltrami, John Carpenter, Jerry Goldsmith, James Horner, and Hans Zimmer. Overall, I would say I sound like, well, me.
Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?
A: Christopher Young. He was one of my top 3 favorite film composers. The other two are now deceased (Jerry Goldsmith and James Horner). Young's bittersweet approach to dramatic emotion always touched me which helped me get through many emotional struggles as a youth. His style of composition is one that just simply takes me to other worlds.
Q: Can you share one music production tip?
A: Continue to learn. The technology keeps advancing quickly and the responsibilities of production continue to consolidate more onto the composer.
Q: What type of music do you usually work on?
A: Scores to horror movies. However, I am branching out to included sci-fi, fantasy and qorky dramas.
Q: What's your strongest skill?
A: Storytelling.
Q: What do you bring to a song?
A: I make the music tell a story, not just elicit an emotion. Like Jerry Goldsmith used to do with his music, I give the music character so when it is listened to outside the project, it stands on its own. My music helps to add the final "voice" and "identity" that the filmmaker is attempting to achieve visually.
Q: What's your typical work process?
A: I get as much information about the client's needs as well as uncover the types of music they like.
Q: Tell us about your studio setup.
A: Yamaha Synth Keyboard as my controller, PC computer workstation, Windows 10, 32 GB RAM, io7 core processor, 64-bit operating system, Digital Performer 9.5, Kontakt 6 Full Version Player, Spitfire VSTs, Soundiron VSTs, Omnisphere 2 VSTs, 8dio Chris Young's Soul Series VSTs, Halion Dark Planet VSTs and subscribed to EastWest Hollywood.
Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?
A: Jerry Goldsmith, James Horner, Richard Band, Christopher Young, and Hans Zimmer.
Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.
A: Compose music.
I was the Music Composer in this production
- Film ComposerAverage price - $150 per minute
Unlimited refinements on approved track concepts. If a completely new direction for a track is requested, there will be additional costs. Turn-around time is contingent on deadline.
- Christopher Young
- John Carpenter
- Marco Beltrami
- Digital Performer
- Yamaha Synth Controller
- Adobe Audition
20% off first time projects.
