Sync Music Matters Podcast

In this episode of Sync Music Matters I’m talking to Producer, Editor and Post Production specialist Stephen Haren about working on His Dark Materials and other award winning TV series and films. Stephen wears a number of creative hats so I was keen to understand how that informs his application of music. We go under the skin of His Dark Materials, the series based on the books by Philip Pullman. Stephen talks about the active role he played in re-temping the series so that music had more gravity to it.  He used temp score by the likes of Trent Reznor (The Social Network), Marco Beltrami (A Quiet Place) but also preprepared cue ideas provided by the series composer Lorne Balf.  Temping movies with the composers own score is something I chatted about with editor of The Crown, Paulo Pandolpho in Episode 8 We also go under the skin and talk about the very different approach to soundtracking Northern Soul, the Elaine Constantine film starring Steve Coogan. The soundtrack for which was made up entirely of original songs. As with a lot of my interviews we talk about the lack of melody in modern film score. I chatted to Isobel Waller Bridge about it in episode 5 and Nanita Dessai in episode 8. Nainita offered directors’ reticence to commit emotionally as a reason. Stephen has some fascinating alternative theories! We also chat about the pitching process for composers for major TV series and films, the revealing process of watching audience previews during the production process. And Stephen and I share our love for the epic guitar riffs of the late Dimebag Darrell of the band Pantera Stephen Haren's Website His Dark Materials Soundtrack Some of Stephen Haren's Musical Influences Logan Soundtrack Social Network Soundtrack Mindhunter Soundtrack Northern Soul Soundtrack Johnny Dankworth The Good The Bad and The Ugly Filmscore Bernard Herrman Pantera - Vulgar Display of Power Jerry Goldsmith - Alien (Original Score) Jim Hustwit is a music producer and composer specialising in trailer music, production music and music for TV ads

In this episode of Sync Music Matters I’m talking to Emmy Award Winning Michael Price. Michael talks about his journey from the music department of WHSmith’s to composing for shows like Sherlock and Unforgotten.  He reveals the challenges of composing music over multiple series and how his creative approach changes when writing music as a solo artist.  He talks fondly of his time working with the late great Michael Kaman who apparently used to try and improvise action cues in a single take.  Several life milestones that have changed the ways that he wants to create and write music. In Episode 7 Danny Mulhern talks about improvisation and flow state which Michael also draws on heavily to be at his creative best. Michael Price Biog Emmy Award winning Michael Price has composed music for TV shows such as Sherlock, Dracula, and Unforgotten. He has received numerous award nominations and was recently nominated for a BAFTA and an Emmy for his work on Dracula with David Arnold. His film scoring work includes films such as Eternal Beauty, Cheerful Weather and Just Jim  As well as being a master of music for TV and Film, Michael releases music as a solo artist.  His solo work takes the form of beautiful improvised piano works, as heard on albums like Diary, or via the more lush, grand orchestral work, that you might hear on critically acclaimed releases Entanglement (2015) Tender Symmetry (2018) from via Erased Tapes’ His lastest release, The Hope of Better Weather, is rooted in the piano world but also exists as a bridge crossing into new terrain, including reworks and remixes from the likes of Yann Tiersen, Bill Ryder-Jones and Eluvium  And his forthcoming album, Whitsun, is an exploration of the connection between sound and memory.  Michael Price's website Some of Michael Price's Musical Influences: Michael Kaman Keith Jarret - Concert in Koeln John Tavener - The Protecting Veil Arvo Paert Japan - Ghosts   Jim Hustwit is a music producer and composer specialising in trailer music, production music and music for TV ads

In today’s episode of Sync Music Matters I’m talking to music producer and Creative Director of Evolving Sound, Jules Bromley Evolving Sound is a UK trailer music label and their mission is to deliver unparalleled, dramatic music designed specifically for theatrical promotion. Their tracks are custom-built to enrich, enhance, illuminate and contextualise awesome visual content Recent syncs include, Jurassic World: Dominion, 1917, Last Night in Soho, and Don’t Breathe 2 Jules’ career began in dance production and remixing, with a host of remix credits for the likes of Texas, Bran Van 3000, and David Arnold. He spent many years writing production music and has written for 25 albums on the Universal Production Music Catalogue. We go under the skin of Jurassic World: Dominion which was a recent custom trailer job they were involved with.  I ask Jules to break down the process of how trailers come into being from a studio starting a movie shoot to the final trailer that hits the screen and of course where the music fits into all of this. He also talks us through the structural nuances of trailer music and the 4 act structure Jules also has a fascinating backstory as he studied Land Economy and foreign languages at Cambridge University before quitting his job in his late 20s to pursue music. Evolving Sound Website Some of Jules Bromley's Musical Influences: Columbo "Rockabilly Bob" Rimsky-Korsakov Original Alien Trailer Brian Transeau BT Masters at Work The Upbeats Rush Iron Maiden About the host: Jim Hustwit is an award winning songwriter, composer and producer who writes trailer music and bespoke music for TV, film and ads.

In this episode of Sync Music Matters, Paulo Pandolpho talks about his journey from making films with his dad’s VHS camcorder in Brazil to becoming an Emmy nominated editor on The Crown.  He has a particular love for everything music and sound so we dig into how he uses music. So for example in the initial stages of The Crown, he often creates a temp score using the composers own music. On the series Apple Tree Yard Paulo was given much more freedom to work creatively with the composers stems. We discuss the importance and power of creative compatibility in a working relationship, the difference between cutting long form narrative vs cutting movie trailers and the pressure of working with someone looking over your shoulder. Paulo reveals the influence that films like Jurassic Park and Psycho had on his creative journey and we touch on the the sterling work of Hollywood greats like Gerard Butler, Steven Seagal and Jean Claude Van Damme Paulo Pandolpho is an Emmy nominated TV and film editor who is currently working on season 5 of The Crown, having previously worked on season 3 and 4.  His Emmy nomination was in the category Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing For A Drama Series - 2021 for The Crown season 4? Other credits include BBC series Dracula, The Origin by Andrew Cumming, Tin Star starring Tim Roth for Sky Atlantic, Les Miserables and Apple Tree Yard Paulo Pandolpho on IMDB    Stop Motion Animation of Jurassic Park Raptor Scene Alessandra Casolari  Fernando Meirelles  Martin Phipps - Composer of The Crown Midsommer Original Motion Picture Score by Bobby Krlic  Bernard Herman  Frankie Valli The Killers Jim Hustwit is a composer and music producer working in production music and trailer music. He also writes music for TV ads and podcast intro music In Episode 10 I'm talking to Jules Bromley of Evolving Sound

In this episode of Sync Music Matters I’m talking about composing trailer music with Rolf Krueger.  So the format of this episode is different than usual. It’s somewhere between an interview and a Musical Musing. Essentially I ask Rolf questions and he responds but I then expand on what he says and what learning we can take from it. Rolf and I talk about succeeding in music without any formal training, where to find musical inspiration, how to switch off and relax. We also talk plugins and outboard gear.   Rolf Kruger started cutting his musical teeth back in 1993 working for the label Selected Sound - with whom he spent 20 years as one of their top composers.  In 2013 Rolf’s love of movies led him to the US based trailer music house X- Ray Dog founded by Mitch Lijewski. Since then Rolf has been composing trailer music and has enjoyed trailer cuts with Avengers: Infinity War, Paddington, Mary Poppins Returns, Playing With Fire, Split, Fantasy Island, The Shallows You may have heard his music in ads for The American Horror Story and The American Crime Story. In 2018 rolf won Best Trailer Production Music Track - The Promise at the Production Music awards Rolf is currently writing for the Atomic Overture catalogue and you can also hear a veritable plethora of Rolf's work with BMG and Universal Production Music. You can listen to a selection of Rolf's Music here: Rolf Krueger Trailer Music