FAQ
Are you looking for interns/assistants/additional composers?
I’d never say never, but it is extremely unlikely. I’m always happy to hear from fellow composers about what they are up to, and you are always welcome to reach out over email, but please don’t be disappointed if I’m unable to respond and kindly never send me unsolicited material.
Can I use your music from [X] in my YouTube video/short film/school project/etc?
First of all, thank you for asking, as plenty of people don’t. Unfortunately, I’m the wrong person to ask as I can’t grant that kind of permission. Nearly all scoring work in the USA is done under “work for hire” agreements which means the music that film composers create is almost certainly owned by the studio behind the project. So you’d need to direct that question to them, or the soundtrack label that released the score (which is often a division of the same entity), in order to obtain the correct authorization.
I really love the cue you wrote for this specific moment that happens 10 minutes into episode 17 of show [X], but I can’t find it anywhere online. I’m desperate to have it, can you just send it to me?
No, I can’t. As detailed above, as part of the series or film that music is controlled by the studio which hired me to create it. Unless it was officially released on its own as part of an official soundtrack, it isn’t going to be made available.
Why wasn’t the 12 second cue from the middle of episode [X] released on the soundtrack?
Score soundtracks can only happen if both the composer and the studio want them to, and when it makes sense to. They are much more effort that you might imagine, and not every project warrants creating one. For those that do, I try my best to include the most important musical moments in a presentation that is an enjoyable listening experience. But the truth is that I never think about a soundtrack release while scoring a film or TV show until after I’m finished. My first and only priority is how my music works as score in service of the project. Afterwards I will do my best to put it together as a soundtrack, but it simply isn’t possible or sensical to include everything.
Will your score from [X] ever be available on vinyl/cassette/SACD/8-track tape?
I love and prefer physical media so this is always my preference, but again isn’t only up to me and simply isn’t always feasible for reasons of time and economics. Whenever it is a possibility, I push to do it, and will always post details as soon as I have them on my website and social media.
What was that incredible pop song in episode 17 of [X] and where can I find it?
Licensing pre-existing music is generally the domain of music supervisors, who have a very specific talent and expertise, so composers are usually the wrong people to ask this question.
I wrote/heard this amazing song that would be perfect for that project you are working on, can I send it to you?
See above re: music supervisors.
How did you get in the position of being able to do what you do? What is your creative process?
There is no prescribed path that will lead you to being a media composer, or specific way to craft a score. Nearly all of the successful composers that I know found a different way to get here and go about it in their own unique way. If you are particularly interested in the route that led me to this point, I’ve talked about it at length in various interviews over the years, most of which can be found by searching through the previous posts in the NEWS section of my website. I’ve also done two very thorough AMAs on Reddit.
What kind of gear/technology do you use?
I am as passionate about musical instruments and the technology behind creating and recording music as I am about the music itself, and am lucky to have great relationships with many musical instrument makers and retailers and am always looking to support all of them because they are so inspirational to me. But for that very reason, generally speaking I don’t publicly endorse or promote specific products or manufacturers.