It was ten years ago that the world fell in love with Turbo Kid, and part of what made that small-scale, cult classic an underground worldwide phenomenon was the incredible musical accompaniment. Exceptional powerhouse of synthesizer alchemy, Le Matos brings a very cinematic approach to their compositions. You can say that for a lot of musicians, but this time it’s completely justified – especially because they have a background in cinematography. So when they work on something, there’s a narrative through line where shooting styles can inform the soundscape, and vice versa. We’ve been a fan of the Montréal-based outfit for almost that long, thanks in large part to their…
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Interview…Wow Jones and JimiJame$ on Propulsive Sounds, Gut-Feelings, and Musical Confidence
On today’s show, we got the thrilling opportunity to chat with two powerhouse musicians/composers and creators. These superstars have unparalleled talent and vision, and have made waves in the music industry. From crafting unforgettable scores to shaping the direction of major tours and projects, they continue to elevate the music scene in exciting ways. With multiple highly anticipated projects and a growing reputation for breaking new ground, Wow Jones and JimiJame$ are poised to take the world by storm. This highly creative team were handpicked by Tyler Perry to work on this groundbreaking Netflix series after impressing him with their work on Duplicity. The duo created a unique, modern-day soap…
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Interview…Composer Andrew Kawczynski on Nineties, Nuance and ‘Novocaine’
Awards season is in the rear view and 2025 has had some great films so far. Among them is the hard-action film starring Jack Quaid. To pair with the fun on screen, Lakeshore Records announced the release of Novocaine—Music from the Motion Picture featuring music by the super skilled sonicsmith team of composers Lorne Balfe and Andrew Kawczynski. The score features authoritative orchestrations that vividly reflect the action and intensity of the film. Directed by Dan Berk and Robert Olsen and starring Quaid and Amber Midthunder, Novocaine hit theaters in their funnybone on March 14. The film is a callback to the great R-rated comedies of the ’80s and ’90s; it’s got the grit of a…
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Interview…Composer Paul Leonard-Morgan is Dreddfully Good at Creating Musical Chaos
Composer Paul Leonard-Morgan provides a pulse-quickening backdrop to his latest project, Netflix’s documentary Chaos: The Manson Murders. His score weaves swirling orchestral instrumentation and rock elements with throbbing synthetic beats and drones that punctuate the intrigue of conspiracy unraveled in the film. We spoke to Paul in 2020 and since then, he’s been super busy. When we say he’s done a lot, we mean A LOT! His work always impresses us, and this one is a high point for sure. Like most features, providing music for a documentary is a task that should be careful not to crowd or overwhelm the dialogue. Yet with this project, director Errol Morris wanted Paul…
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Interview…Composer Jared DePasquale on Deep Dives Into Audio Soundscapes
For nearly thirty years Jared DePasquale has composed the musical scores for some of Western culture’s most celebrated stories and iconic characters. The recipient of numerous awards and critical acclaim, his work is widely recognized for its ability to musically capture complex characters amidst stories that are rich in texture and meaning. Early in his career, Jared apprenticed under Emmy and ASCAP Award winning composer Joseph LoDuca. With LoDuca, Jared learned the business of composing for A-list projects including the globally syndicated television shows Xena: The Warrior Princess and Hercules: The Legendary Journeys. Immediately following his apprenticeship, Jared scored several horror films for Full Moon Pictures and Rapid Heart Pictures…
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Interview…Harry Gregson-Williams on the Vocals, Violence and Variety in ‘Gladiator II’
As film score fans, the only thing we love more than revisiting our favorite scores is when a sequel happens and a composer gets to take the themes into new territory. As such, our guest today has expanded not only his own work but many other composers’ efforts. Scan through the site, and you’ll see that we are very fond of Harry Gregson-Williams, and it’s always a treat catching up with him to talk shop. While any acoustic endeavor might be intimidating, how could one even start thinking about working on a sequel to Gladiator?? It’s a perfect film that resounds to this day, and that goes double for its…
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Interview…Volker Bertelmann on the Comfort and Chaos Between the Quiet Moments in ‘Conclave’
One of the best films of 2024 is Conclave, and it will certainly top many critics’ top 10 lists. It’s a quiet narrative that doesn’t have a lot going on on the surface, but that’s the beauty of Edward Berger‘s film: what you don’t see is the most interesting part of the story. In a way, it’s very much like a duck whose feet are swimming feverously under the water to get to its destination. The film is utterly gorgeous – the sets, locations and costumes dazzle – and in a story about holy men serving an ideal, we get to see crisis of conscience, infighting and scheming behind the…
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Interview…Composer Aaron Zigman on the Compelling Compassion to ‘Six Triple Eight’
American composer and pianist Aaron Zigman has written more than 70 Hollywood film scores. Firmly established as one of Hollywood’s go-to composers, his film career was launched in 2000, when director Nick Cassavetes heard his work and asked him to collaborate on six films, including the romantic cult classic The Notebook, for which the composer’s score sold a record number of albums. Other box-office hits include Bridge to Terabithia, The Proposal, For Colored Girls, The Company Men, Wakefield,and the Sex and the City franchise. Similarly distinguished in television, Zigman has penned songs for shows including the popular series Fame and the Showtime TV movie Crown Heights, for which his setting…
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Interview…Composer Andrew Lockington on the Inspiration and Sonic Theatricality of the ‘Landman’ Series
Whether it’s a studio action film or an indie festival film, Composer Andrew Lockington‘s music demonstrates his approach to scoring each project in a unique way by finding a musical language to communicate the relationships and elements of the story that visuals cannot. Andrew’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of film scoring has inspired him to record in places such as the jungles of Papua New Guinea, the tropics of Costa Rica, an ancient temple in Northern Japan, a volcano in Polynesia, and an abandoned subway station beneath central London. His recent projects include the epic Sci-Fi feature Atlas starring Jennifer Lopez with longtime collaborator director Brad Peyton, as well as several…
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Interview…Composer Benoît Charest on ‘Where Rabbits Come From’ and Living the Dream
Writer/director Colin Ludvic Racicot’s animated story immerses viewers in a dystopian world, weaving a heartfelt tale of oppression and the unbreakable bond between a father and daughter. Where Rabbits Come From features stunning animation and a captivating score, as it follows the widowed rabbit seeking to reignite wonder and magic in his daughter’s life after the mysterious disappearance of her mother. Drawing inspiration from Racicot’s personal journey through fatherhood, this heartwarming film has captivated audiences of all ages during its international film festival tour. The Canadian director and writer has crafted tender and imaginative work that united some of the animation world’s most iconic talents. Animation legend Sylvain Chomet and…
