Graduating from college a few years ago I've been searching for ways to utilise my compositional knowledge across various genre of music. Writing for media requires this very skill and my latest instrumental project looks to impress my own views on how I would approach such a task.
Writing for a given visual stimulus gives a writer framework and direction to be creative but still allows them freedom to inject their style. Finding the right composer for the right film, programme or advert can be instrumental in making a project or ruining it.
With my latest album "A Night in Central" I've tried creating something that can stand alone as a melodic and sensitive album yet demonstrate its usefulness to enhancing media productions. Although this album has been written as an album, not a score that might interact with a film or program, I have still envisaged a scenario for each track and the album as a whole.
In my view, writing a composition that convincingly tells a musical story tends to mean your close to creating something that will successfully augment a visual production. Blending an album to project the atmosphere of being in the city requires careful combinations of aggressive male grooves and melodies with sensitive female companions. It is this complementary combination that always aids my writing process and helps give direction and framework. I’m also very conscious in looking for the correct balance of ideas. This can seriously effect the ability of a piece to deliver the intended musical ideas. Too many won’t work. Too little won’t work. Maintaining equilibrium it an art form in itself.
In approaching predetermined instrumentation I look to make all parts level with regards to their activity and musical contribution. Using certain instruments such as saxophone to only play melodies and rhythm section instruments like bass to only outline harmony should be an effect not a constant theme. My compositions are about achieving the desired sound or effect rather than satisfying standard convention to win favour with testosterone fuelled listeners.
Writing for a given visual stimulus gives a writer framework and direction to be creative but still allows them freedom to inject their style. Finding the right composer for the right film, programme or advert can be instrumental in making a project or ruining it.
With my latest album "A Night in Central" I've tried creating something that can stand alone as a melodic and sensitive album yet demonstrate its usefulness to enhancing media productions. Although this album has been written as an album, not a score that might interact with a film or program, I have still envisaged a scenario for each track and the album as a whole.
In my view, writing a composition that convincingly tells a musical story tends to mean your close to creating something that will successfully augment a visual production. Blending an album to project the atmosphere of being in the city requires careful combinations of aggressive male grooves and melodies with sensitive female companions. It is this complementary combination that always aids my writing process and helps give direction and framework. I’m also very conscious in looking for the correct balance of ideas. This can seriously effect the ability of a piece to deliver the intended musical ideas. Too many won’t work. Too little won’t work. Maintaining equilibrium it an art form in itself.
In approaching predetermined instrumentation I look to make all parts level with regards to their activity and musical contribution. Using certain instruments such as saxophone to only play melodies and rhythm section instruments like bass to only outline harmony should be an effect not a constant theme. My compositions are about achieving the desired sound or effect rather than satisfying standard convention to win favour with testosterone fuelled listeners.
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Members
JUSTIN SWADLING - PERFORMER-WRITER-PRODUCERType of music
Jazz
