Film Composer | Producer

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Digital instuments are amazing and super comfy to use nowadays. Still analog has a bohemian look, makes you feel "the real producer", and sounds great. Making music is like cooking. No one cares about the casserole you've made the soup in. Both analog and digital can lead to great results, if there is an idea and skills behind that.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: I don't need to iron my shirt and go to office every day, seriously. My job is about freedom. Freedom to create, freedom of schedule, freedom of development. This job is all about learning and I like to learn.

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

A: Justy my powerful desktop, a large display, a soundcard, an AKAI and a mic.

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

A: My professional career started in 2015, as I received my first order, a pack of 3 Kazakh TV commercials for local major brand. I did my job well, so that more and more nice brands started to appear in my portfolio. Once I've hopped on a project, where I had to make an arrangement and record opera vocals for an Israeli commercial with Gal Gadot. Also I need to pay respect for my best friend Roman Vishnevsky, a Ukrainian film composer and music producer, we've worked together on different projects. Together we made some film projects and scored a theater play for National academic Ivan Franko drama theater. Our debut theater music won the highest national award — the Shevchenko prize.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: Experimental electronics with cinematic elements and pop influence, I guess. There are music critics and reviewers, and of course listeners who will better answer the question. I'm just making music, from heart to heart.

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

A: Ruslan Sirota — he is an amazing jazz piano player, born in Ukraine. Just love his musical language.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: It won't be a production tip, lol. Guys, take care of your health. We, producers, have sitting jobs and start to repeat the shape of our chairs (literally). One can be a brilliant producer, still have headaches or problems with back. Your body is something you need to learn better, than your music instrument. Knowledge of how to workout correctly (not just blind paying money to your coach or a rehab) is as important, as knowledg of how to mix kick and bass.

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

A: Hip-hop, orchestral/cinematic, trip-hop, IDM, various experimental stuff. Usually I switch genres or borrow some elements from different styles.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: A story. A balance between something your brain can recognize (the repetetiveness of the song) and introducing something unexpected. I bring a different angle of vision. My cinematic background allows me to do that.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: 1. Make some tea 2. Connect ass to the chair. 3. Connect my hands to the keyboard and mouse 4. ????? 5. PROFIT!!!

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

A: Quincy Jones, Max Martin, Finneas O'Connell, Mucky, Ambrose Akinmusire, Takashi Yoshimatsu, Noisia, Ruslan Sirota — there are lots of great producers and musicians. Still there is one more music source one can't ignore. It's ethnic and traditional music of different nations. The music wisdom of ordinary people can't be underestimated. As I was a kid, I ignored cartoons and switched the TV to Ukrainian authentic choirs and traditional ensembles. And now, my biggest inspiration is the music of my people.

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

A: Technically — scoring to picture, making arrangements, production of instrumentals, making beats, recording stuffs etc. But! As an outcome — I make a story for my clients. Regardless of the project, my job is to find the key idea (it could be a TV commercial, a film, a song or art project) and use my skills to make the story heard and be bold. People love good stories.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: Learning skill, definitely. I've learned lots of stuffs since my early childhood. Music instruments, languages, math etc (yeah I like math — I even had an "A" at differential equations at university lol). I can't imagine my life without learning something new. I have started my professional career with making music for TV commercials. That requires to be fluent in different genres. That's why nowadays in my production I may often borrow some elements or sounds while creating something in other genre. For example, while scoring a film I can use 808s and trap drums for film production, mix it with epic (damn I hate that word) drums, orchestra and cinematic synths and have a wonderful result which supports the picture. Or it's not a problem to compose an orchestral jazzy interlude in a hip hop song. Being versatile in different styles helps better to tell the story to your listener, whether it is a film soundtrack or a pop song.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: This year I've upgraded my PC to new Intel i5-12600k with 64gb RAM and 2x4tb SSDs. After the war started, I couldn't take all my studio equipment with me, so I've additionally purchased a used i7/16gb HP laptop and a cheap midi keyboard in Lviv city and continued working in my DT-770. "Not great, not terrible". Recently I've purchased a super fast RME Raydat + Focusrite Scarlett 18i20 (which works as a AD/DA convertor in standalone mode) for my heavy synth/orchestral projects. And yeah, I own a 1872 white Steinway concert grand. Mom's friend noticed my music talent as I was a kid and I was lucky to be gifted this wonderful piano.