Score: The Podcast (Epicleff)

In this special episode of MORE SCORE on Patreon, Robert Kraft speaks to Russian composer Dmitry Selipanov about fleeing his home in Moscow because of the war. With his family now sequestered in a temporary home in nearby Georgia (possibly never returning to his home or music studio), Dmitry discusses the most difficult decision he’s ever had to make for his family’s well being, and his hopes that his successful film scoring career may one day be able to continue in another country.

NOTE: This is a free sample episode of MORE SCORE. MORE SCORE is the premium offseason bonus show of SCORE: THE PODCAST, with regular interviews, behind-the-scenes materials, and a whole lot more. You can subscribe on several platforms here:

PATREON (best option with subscriber levels & merch): http://Patreon.com/MoreScore

APPLE PODCASTS: Click "Subscribe" on the Score: The Podcast show page. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/score-the-podcast/id1357882784

ALL OTHERS: Click the link in our show description to subscribe. 

This is a bonus episode and part of Score: The Podcast's extended conversation with Kyle Dixon & Michael Stein. 

Robert asks the Stranger Things duo about their musical inspirations, including Tangerine Dream in Risky Business, and then they reveal how they "always" envisioned their music from their band SURVIVE as part of a "scene." Plus, their use of a thumb piano (kalimba) and starting out on Stranger Things season 3. 

EPISODE NOTES, PICTURES & VIDEOS: https://www.score-movie.com/podcast

Robert and Kenny start the show sharing a clip from the Rise of the Planet of the Apes scoring session with composer Patrick Doyle, discussing whether Toy Story 4's slow start should be considered a disappointment and updating the developing Michael Giacchino subtweeting situation with The Batman.

Then award-winning composer Pinar Toprak (Captain Marvel, Justice League, Krypton, Fortnite) joins to tell the story of how Hans Zimmer's The Prince of Egypt soundtrack might have started her journey into the film music world, getting her first scoring gig while working under orchestrator William Ross, writing pop music for another galaxy for Krypton and revealing that her demo for Wonder Woman was heard by Marvel music supervisor Dave Jordan which got her a shot at Captain Marvel.

Follow us on Twitter @ScoreThePodcast

Hosts: Robert Kraft & Kenny Holmes
Executive Producer: Matt Schrader
Coordinator: Carol Kuswanto

Copyright 2019 Score: The Podcast

Score: The Podcast welcomes composer John Powell, Academy Award nominated composer of How To Train Your Dragon and How To Train Your Dragon 2, the Bourne franchise of films, Shrek, Antz, Happy Feet, Ice Age series, Rio, and the new Solo: A Star Wars Story (May 25).

 

Robert and Kenny begin the show talking about Deadmau5’s new comments about wanting to become a film composer and how often popular recording artists can cross over successfully. Robert gives examples of artists who’ve broken out into film music success immediately, including Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, Junkie XL (Tom Holkenborg), Daft Punk and Joseph Trapanese and others.

 

Then John Powell enters the studio to talk about his new score for Solo: A Star Wars Story and working alongside John Williams. Plus, the groove of the Bourne series and why Powell says he thanks “Matt Damon’s backside” for making the music work.

 

A new episode of The Inside Track with Music Psychologist Dr. Siu-Lan Tan explores the musical foundation of film scores and how rhythms of twos and threes are the building blocks for great music.

 

Then John and the guys talk about How To Train Your Dragon and sitting next to Hans Zimmer when Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross’ The Social Network beat him for the Academy Award. Plus, his approach for getting multiple cues “spinning” until the last minute on an animated film where things can change until the very end, and his work with Blue Man Group and Rio.

 

Lastly, John and the guys play an animated film score edition of Name That Score, where you — yes, you! — could be a winner! Plus, John teases the unique sound of vuvuzelas he recorded for Solo: A Star Wars Story.

 

EPISODE NOTES, PICTURES & VIDEOS: https://www.score-movie.com/podcast

 

FOLLOW @ScoreThePodcast http://twitter.com/ScoreThePodcast

 

Hosts: Robert Kraft and Kenny Holmes.
Executive Producer: Matt Schrader.
Copyright 2018 Epicleff Media

The composer behind the hit miniseries THE DROPOUT talks about her upbringing, recording electronic and orchestral music for film, and how she overcame not being able to “hook” the music until she discovered Elizabeth’s theme in theme. Plus, what Robert learned from Jim Henson about bringing kids into the workplace and a dream TV series Robert plans to do with Anne!

Robert and Kenny begin the show discussing the passing of legendary Oscar-winning composer Ennio Morricone, maestro of 400+ films and credited with creating the sound of "Spaghetti Westerns" for films like The Good, the Bad and the Ugly and A Fistful of Dollars. Then, the guys check Score: The Mailbox with a question about the difference between studio musicians and concert musicians.

Later, Oscar-nominated composer Patrick Doyle joins the show from Shepperton Studios in England, his home studio for 30 years. Patrick shares stories of many of his great scores including following in the footsteps of John Williams for Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, scoring and playing "Kevin" in Brave, diving into the Marvel Cinematic Universe with Thor and his account of the famous "Got a Cookie For Ya" cue for Rise of the Planet of the Apes.

This episode is presented by Spitfire Audio.

Follow us on Twitter @ScoreThePodcast, or send Kenny and Robert your questions for the mailbox at ScoreTheMailbox@epicleff.com.

Hosts: Robert Kraft & Kenny Holmes
Executive Producer: Matt Schrader
Coordinator: Carol Kuswanto

© 2020 Epicleff Media

In this special episode before the season finale of Score: The Podcast, Robert and Kenny are joined by director Matt Schrader, who has been working on the first ever "cultural diplomacy" mission to North Korea, with the help of The Human Rights Foundation.

To watch the video or donate to this cause with your own flash drive, you can go to http://score-movie.com/northkorea.

Hosts: Robert Kraft & Kenny Holmes
Executive Producer: Matt Schrader
Coordinator: Carol Kuswanto

Copyright 2019 Score: The Podcast

Breton Vivian is an English-Australian composer known for his scores to Yellowstone (with Brian Tyler) as well as the recent miniseries 1883. We talk about how working at Brian’s studio (and helping him move it) helped Breton come into his own as a composer.

Plus, the different ways themes, unique solo instruments, and orchestra can play together in western-inspired score. He also talk about his entry into film scores (growing disillusioned with the UK band scene) and how there’s no substitute for taking lots of meetings with potential creative collaborators.

Interview by Matt Schrader on MORE SCORE.

Robert and Kenny start the show welcoming in Blockbuster creators Matt Schrader and Peter Bawiec, discussing what they took away from creating their Spielberg-Lucas-Williams biopic podcast and taking questions from fans on social media. The guys also stay to chat about this week’s top headlines including Aladdin, HBO’s Chernobyl, Hulu’s Catch 22 and more.

Then Kris Bowers joins the show to chat about his super early expectations of being a pianist, working with hip-hop greats Kanye West and Q-Tip, his collaboration with NBA Champion turned Oscar-winning filmmaker Kobe Bryant and breaks down his latest projects including Ava Duvernay’s Netflix mini-series When They See Us.

Follow us on Twitter @ScoreThePodcast

Hosts: Robert Kraft & Kenny Holmes
Executive Producer: Matt Schrader
Coordinator: Carol Kuswanto

Copyright 2019 Score: The Podcast

Disney's ENCANTO composer Germaine Franco sits down to talk about its #1 soundtrack, working with Lin Manuel Miranda, her start with composer John Powell (and how she met Robert Kraft), and much more! 

Robert and Kenny begin the show discussing how the Emmys will start honoring original scores for documentary, DC Universe new TV series Swamp Thing getting canceled after one episode, and other hot releases coming up this week.

Then award-winning composer Benjamin Wallfisch (Shazam!, It, Hidden Figures, Blade Runner 2049, Hellboy) joins to tell the story of being raised in a musical family, growing up obsessing over two chords in Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata, his mentoring and collaborative relationship with Hans Zimmer, how he and director David Sandberg were just geeking out the entire time working on Shazam! and having first ever meeting in Hollywood was with our very own, Robert Kraft!

Follow us on Twitter @ScoreThePodcast

Hosts: Robert Kraft & Kenny Holmes
Executive Producer: Matt Schrader
Coordinator: Carol Kuswanto

Copyright 2019 Score: The Podcast

“Music that will bring Beethoven to his knees” We couldn’t pass up the chance to record with BOTH visionary director Robert Eggers and composer Robin Carolan, whose period-horror NOSFERATU released on Christmas Day. (Robert confirms for the record it IS — sort of — a Christmas movie.) This interview done remotely, with Robert and Robin together in the same room in London. How Robert’s breakout film THE WITCH led to a creative partnership with Robin, a UK-based music producer who had never scored a film before. Why he took 6 weeks to agree to take Robert’s Viking epic THE NORTHMAN — and how it proved a trial by fire for his composing career. Robert talks about his history with NOSFERATU going back to high school (once thought of as an imitation of Dracula, but has achieved its own legendary mythological status). How Robert challenged Robin to “bring Beethoven to his knees” in the opening scene, and the decision to craft hypnotic “spirals” and haunting vocals to keep the danger close even when Nosferatu is not on screen. And why Robert’s films — dripping with rich mythology — extend the traditional orchestral approach into unsettling, aleatoric music and modern sounds that carry the audience in and out of comfort. Interview by Kenny Holmes and Matt Schrader. For exclusive and 4K footage inside studios of your favorite composers, follow Score on YouTube Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and X. Check our Vienna Symphonic Library’s collection of innovating libraries and samples at vsl.co.at — including their flagship Synchron Series, recorded at Vienna Synchron Stage, where hit films and shows for HBO, Disney, Star Wars, Marvel, Bear McCreary’s score to Rings of Power on Amazon Prime Video, and many more are recorded. Check out Synchron Duality Strings libraries, or check out the free sample player, freebie libraries and demos at http://vsl.co.at To learn more about recording at Vienna Synchron Stage, visit http://synchronstage.com Score: The Podcast is a presentation of Epicleff Media and is produced by Holmes Productions. Video Timecodes 0:00 Intro 4:05 Vienna Symphonic Library 7:16 Robert Eggers & Robin Carolan 21:00 'The Northman' 31:18 Starting 'Nosferatu' 40:28 Hypnosis of 'Nosferatu' 48:56 Most Difficult Scenes of 'Nosferatu' 1:01:53 VSL Synchron Series 1:03:47 VSL "Batman" Demo

Robert and Kenny begin the show with special guest, Matt Schrader discussing the season finale release of Blockbuster and checking Score: The Mailbox, with questions about composer compensation, live-to-picture film music concerts and how to present music to a director.

Later, Emmy-nominated composer Blake Neely joins the show to share how he overcame the early doubters, the excitement of scoring superhero crossover episodes like Arrow and The Flash, why his relationship with Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman is all about trust, the secret to scoring the tension in Greyhound and advice on preparing aspiring composers for rejection.

This episode is presented by Spitfire Audio.

Follow us on Twitter @ScoreThePodcast or send Kenny and Robert your questions for the mailbox at ScoreTheMailbox@epicleff.com.

Hosts: Robert Kraft & Kenny Holmes
Executive Producer: Matt Schrader
Coordinator: Carol Kuswanto

© 2020 Epicleff Media

Robert and Kenny start the show discussing the release of Hildur Guðnadóttir ’s score for Joker and the upcoming release of the highly-anticipated film as well as a group of music-related documentaries in theaters.

Then, Emmy-winning composer Mac Quayle joins the show to share stories of his early years in music producing reggae and dance music, why the illegal download era and an economic shift in the music industry moved him toward scoring, how he connected with Cliff Martinez to learn the industry, and takes us through his work for many hit series including Mr. Robot, American Horror Story, American Crime Story and Pose.

This episode is presented by Spitfire Audio

Follow us on Twitter @ScoreThePodcast

Hosts: Robert Kraft & Kenny Holmes
Executive Producer: Matt Schrader
Coordinator: Carol Kuswanto

Copyright 2019 Score: The Podcast

Robert Kraft and Carol Kuswanto interview legendary film music mixer Alan Meyerson on his illustrious career, how he weaves his own creativity into music written by composers, the stories of working with Hans Zimmer, how the pandemic changed his job, and what's in store for the future of film music.

The duo behind THE WONDER YEARS on ABC talk about their use of 50s and 60s Motown vibes to make the show one of a kind. Plus, Jacob & Roahn discuss their backgrounds, how they positioned themselves to get the job, and why experimentation is key to unlocking the perfect sound.

YouTuber Rudy Mancuso has been following SCORE for years, as a musician and composer in his own right. He joins Kenny Holmes and Matt Schrader to discuss his breakout hit film from SxSW ‘MÚSICA’ out now on Prime Video — a semi-autobiographic film, years in the making, that pushes musical possibilities to refreshingly brilliant musical storytelling. Directed as only a composer could, MÚSICA (also starring Camila Mendes and J.B. Smoove) is an exploration of synesthesia, in which Rudy experiences real life in semi-musical form. Rudy discusses how his content creator life was the perfect practice for navigating his own feature film, why puppets (yes, puppets) are so integral to his film, and why he never had any doubt he would direct AND compose the music himself.

Composer Daniel Hart and director David Lowery talk about the upcoming World Soundtrack Awards in Ghent, their musical collaboration and workflow on THE GREEN KNIGHT and how they met, other projects currently in the works, and even vegan French fries. Interviewed by Robert Kraft, only on MORE SCORE.

THEN: Around the 45:00 mark, Robert and Carol Kuswanto catch us up on the nominees for the World Soundtrack Awards, and what to look for in October!

MORE SCORE welcomes composer Robert Aiki Aubrey Lowe — a sound artist, performing artist and experimental film composer. He's collaborated with composers Jóhann Jóhannsson and Hildur Guðnadóttir on scores for SICARIO and ARRIVAL, and his recent score for the horror film CANDYMAN refreshes the genre with an inventive score that manages to still pay homage to one of Robert's favorite composers Philip Glass, who composed the music in the original 1992 cult classic film.

Matt Sullivan has one of the most unique jobs in film music. He's a musical supervisor, but he prefers the term musical director, more similar to theater. He cut his teeth on musical-oriented films, overseeing the storyboards, early edits, and even vocal coaching for actors, as well as live recordings on set. For West Side Story, he worked directly with Steven Spielberg and composer David Newman for more than a year.

What does the future of film music hold? Matt Sullivan is one of the best people to answer just that!

Robert and Kenny begin the show talking about the trailer for Queen biopic Bohemian Rhapsody, and how much Robert once offered Led Zeppelin to use Stairway to Heaven in a Ridley Scott film.

 

Then Austin-based composing duo Kyle Dixon and Michael Stein of Stranger Things join to talk musical inspirations from 311 and Portishead to Radiohead, and their band SURVIVE getting a random email from The Duffer Brothers back in 2014.

 

In The Inside Track, music psychologist Dr. Siu-Lan Tan explores the fascinating ways music changes our perception of New York City.

 

Then our guests talk about sneaking onto the Predator set, and their film composing careers as they start scoring Stranger Things 3. Then, a '80s Movies edition of Name That Score, where you — yes, you — can be a winner!

 

EPISODE NOTES, PICTURES & VIDEOS: https://www.score-movie.com/podcast

 

FOLLOW @ScoreThePodcast http://twitter.com/ScoreThePodcast

 

Hosts: Robert Kraft and Kenny Holmes.

Executive Producer: Matt Schrader

Copyright 2018 Score: The Podcast

Scottish-born composer Paul Leonard-Morgan (Last Breath, Cyberpunk 2077, Tales from the Loop, Limitless) is a master of different mediums — from film/television to video games, concerts and working with recording artists like bands Belle & Sebastian and Snow Patrol, among many others.

His latest, survival-thriller Last Breath starring Woody Harrelson, is his second score to this story — he also scored the hit documentary about the real people. Paul details how he evolved his approach for the narrative film, including his own wetsuit dive to record metallic clinks against boats in Malibu, California, in order to create a unique, journalistic feel to the music approach.

How his collaborations with legendary composer Philip Glass came about for Tales from the Loop, after they both worked with documentary filmmaker Errol Morris. Plus, how the aggressive and dark sound of Cyberpunk 2077 came together, and why writing tunes — and staying passionate under grueling deadlines — is the magic that unlocks success.

Interview by Kenny Holmes and Matt Schrader.

For exclusive and 4K footage inside studios of your favorite composers, follow Score on YouTube Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and X.

Score: The Podcast is presented by Vienna Symphonic Library. Check out Vienna Symphonic Library’s collection of innovating libraries and samples at vsl.co.at — including their flagship Synchron Series, recorded at Vienna Synchron Stage, where hit films and shows for HBO, Disney, Star Wars, Marvel, Bear McCreary’s score to Rings of Power on Amazon Prime Video, and many more are recorded. Check out Synchron Duality Strings libraries, or check out the free sample player, freebie libraries and demos at http://vsl.co.at

To learn more about recording at Vienna Synchron Stage, visit http://synchronstage.com

Score: The Podcast is a presentation of Epicleff Media and is produced by Holmes Productions.

Video Timecodes

0:00 Intro

1:49 Vienna Symphonic Library

3:59 Paul Leonard-Morgan Interview

6:51 Scoring Drama vs. Documentary

9:29 ‘Last Breath’ opening

12:51 Recording Boats in Malibu

17:28 Finding Unique Sounds

19:58 Paulstretch Experimenting and ‘Dredd’

20:52 Musical beginnings

28:31 Punk-rock heart

31:37 Finding a style

35:54 Finding Inspiration

40:22 Philip Glass collaborations

42:00 ‘Tales from the Loop’

51:21 ‘Cyberpunk 2077’ & writing

1:00:34 Three Things

1:06:56 Charles Manson’s music

1:12:01 VSL Synchron Series

1:13:46 VSL ‘Forrest Gump’ Demo

Kenny Holmes and Matt Schrader interview the dynamic duo behind Netflix's COBRA KAI.

We discuss their beginnings as interns with composer Christophe Beck and working on FROZEN and ANT-MAN, how they took their first jobs after, and volunteering to score YouTube's KARATE KID spinoff before they knew anything about it.

How to score a campy 80s retro style drama? Zach and Leo have the answers! Plus, their awesome new collaboration with MONDO on a beautiful vinyl box set, and why Zach and Leo organized it to be its own experience.

Link to vinyl LP pre-order: https://mondoshop.com/collections/all/products/cobra-kai-original-soundtrack-3xlp

NOTE: Due to a problem with our Riverside.fm recording system, the audio mix for this interview varies from our normal mix. We apologize! This is a good one to play out loud instead of on headphones if you're sensitive to differences in volume.

Giona Ostinelli & Sonya Belousova talk about the road from classical pianist to scoring films together, their strange instrument selection, recording slurping sounds for the score to NBC's The Thing About Pam, and The Witcher season 1. Plus, a special pig performance of their hit song "Toss A Coin To Your Witcher" (yes, it's as odd and wonderful as it sounds). Enjoy!

Composer Colin Stetson (The Menu, Hereditary, Color Out of Space) talks about capturing a fresh sound for The Menu, trying not to collapse while playing saxophone, and why it makes for terrible bar tricks. Interview by Kenny Holmes and Matt Schrader.

One of the original members of the indie band Arcade Fire, Richard Reed Parry (THE IRON CLAW, EILEEN) discusses his jump into film scoring, the importance of finding “mojo” and “vibe,” and how the wrestling biopic The Iron Claw nearly stumped him musically — until he unlocked the rich, layered sound that carries the film. How Spike Jonze’s film “Her” prepared him for the next stage in his career, and why he believes it’s important to be as musically dynamic with other musicians as possible.

What it’s like to play in Hollywood scoring sessions?

Fernando Arroyo Lascurain is a violinist for film scoring sessions (and a brilliant composer as well, who composed the music for Blockbuster: The Story of James Cameron). He breaks down the current state of the scoring session world amid Covid-19 changes, as well as the magic that happens when 100 musicians get perfectly in sync.

Is there anything you’ve ever wanted to know about orchestras? Let us know and we’ll break down in a future episode!

Robert and Kenny begin this Season Finale with special guest, Matt Schrader discussing the trailer release of The Batman, Travis Scott & Ludwig Göransson's chart-topping single release for TENET, Hans Zimmer's new cue for WW84 and checking Score: The Mailbox. Plus, the team reflects on their favorite moments of this season of the show.

Later, 3x Oscar-winning composer Howard Shore joins sharing stories of his iconic work on The Lord of the Rings trilogy and why he couldn't turn the project down, why the maestro spends so much time finding the proper venue for recording the orchestra, the tricky task of underscoring Robin Williams in Mrs. Doubtfire and why he had to write his own version of the "Happy Birthday" song for Big, which later got cut from the film.

This episode is presented by Spitfire Audio.

Follow us on Twitter @ScoreThePodcast or send Kenny and Robert your questions for the mailbox at ScoreTheMailbox@epicleff.com.

Hosts: Robert Kraft & Kenny Holmes
Executive Producer: Matt Schrader
Coordinator: Carol Kuswanto

© 2020 Epicleff Media

Robert, Kenny, Matt and Carol begin the show discussing the results from this year’s EMMYs and finalizing the standings of the 2nd Annual Score: The Podcast Emmy Predictions.

Then Award-winning composer Nicholas Britell joins to share stories of how he started working with director Barry Jenkins for Moonlight without ever hearing a note of his music, staying at director Adam McKay’s pool house over the summer while working together on The Big Short, starting his path into the film music world from playing the piano at the age of five after watching Chariots of Fire, having a career detour in currency trading and sharing bizarre stories from hanging out with Robert in France for a never-released movie they worked together on.

This episode is presented by Spitfire Audio

Follow us on Twitter @ScoreThePodcast

Hosts: Robert Kraft & Kenny Holmes
Executive Producer: Matt Schrader
Coordinator: Carol Kuswanto

Copyright 2019 Score: The Podcast

Composer Chanda Dancy talks about I WANNA DANCE WITH SOMEBODY, the Whitney Houston biopic, as well as her film DEVOTION. She also talks about her career rise and a music industry overlapping with film music industry. Interview by Robert Kraft.

Composer Dave Palmer breaks down his Dallas-based recording artist career journey that culminated in his home studio in Ojai, California, and meeting Oscar-winning filmmaker Peter Farrelly to score THE GREATEST BEER RUN EVER starring Zac Efron. Dave talks about the key to a piano cue packing a heart-wrenching punch, meshing original score with songs of the Vietnam War era, and why this film feels different tonally than any other you’ve seen before. Interview by Kenny Holmes and Matt Schrader.

Robert and Kenny begin the show talking through the World Soundtrack Award nominees and Matt gives his Summer Movie Review and rankings.

Then Emmy-winning composer Sean Callery joins the show to talk about starting his career as a Disneyland Tokyo keyboardist, working with Mark Snow on the X-Files and later on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, 24, Homeland, and how he scored still images from Jessica Jones before seeing picture.

Then Sean talks about some last-minute additions to episodes he’s scored, including finishing music the day before a show airs and scoring shows year round.

Lastly, Sean joins us to play a “TV Tunes” edition of Name That Score, where you — yes, you — could be a winner!

EPISODE NOTES, PICTURES & VIDEOS: https://www.score-movie.com/podcast

FOLLOW @ScoreThePodcast http://twitter.com/ScoreThePodcast

Hosts: Robert Kraft and Kenny Holmes
Executive Producer: Matt Schrader
Copyright 2018 Score: The Podcast

In this special summer episode, Daniel Pemberton, composer of Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse, Daniel discusses his unique approach to the hit sequel's postmodern score, the success he’s had since his last appearance on Score: The Podcast — including SLOUGH HOUSE and The Trial of the Chicago 7 — and details about the upcoming tour of his Spider-Verse score, live to picture! Interview by Robert Kraft.

Kenny and Robert begin the show with a special “Theme Song Throwback” segment joined by longtime WWE composer Jim Johnston. The maestro of the squared circle reveals his secrets for writing the most iconic entrance themes of professional wrestling’s top superstars including The Undertaker, Stone Cold Steve Austin and Goldust.

Then, Oscar and Grammy-winning composer Ludwig Goransson joins the show sharing what surprised him about Christopher Nolan while recording the score for his upcoming blockbuster film Tenet, his mesmerizing first trip to Jon Favreau’s office when meeting about writing his now Emmy-nominated score for The Mandalorian, how a song on Community led to a collaboration with Childish Gambino that won the 2019 grammy for record of the year and how he heard his music played by an orchestra for the first time at age seventeen.

This episode is presented by Spitfire Audio.

Follow us on Twitter @ScoreThePodcast, or send Kenny and Robert your questions for the mailbox at ScoreTheMailbox@epicleff.com.

Hosts: Robert Kraft & Kenny Holmes
Executive Producer: Matt Schrader
Coordinator: Carol Kuswanto

© 2020 Epicleff Media

In this jam-packed double-guest episode, Kenny and Robert begin the show chatting with Serj Tankian, Grammy-winning singer/songwriter, rockstar frontman of System of a Down and rising star film composer. Serj shares why he made the decision to jump into film composing, recalls the exact moment he decided to make music his career and what Robert Kraft told him the first time they met in 2008 that ended up coming true, reveals when he fell in love with the orchestra, and explains why making another System of a Down album isn't off the table.

Subscribe to MORE SCORE on Patreon for year-round interviews, film music talk and even cool merch: http://Patreon.com/MoreScore

Later, the Emmy-nominated composer duo of Saunder Jurriaans & Danny Bensi join the show sharing stories of starting a band together in New York and how and why they transitioned into film music, working with Jason Bateman and the unique way they got the gig for Ozark, what makes them select a documentary project and why they love taking on a project that takes them out of their comfort zone.

This episode is presented by Spitfire Audio

Follow us on Twitter @ScoreThePodcast or send Kenny and Robert your questions for the mailbox at ScoreTheMailbox@epicleff.com

Hosts: Robert Kraft & Kenny Holmes

Executive Producer: Matt Schrader

Coordinator: Carol Kuswanto

© 2021 Epicleff Media

Composer Mac Quayle (AMERICAN HORROR STORY, MR. ROBOT, GASLIT, AMERICAN CRIME STORY: IMPEACHMENT) talks about how he scaled up his music team to be able to take on multiple shows he loves. What he thought about Danny Elfman's Coachella performance and what it means for composers. Plus, how getting stoned in a college music theory class — he flunked the assignment — helped him discover the value of experimental music (with his NY-based band Fibre.) Interview with Matt Schrader and Kenny Holmes on MORE SCORE!

Special Episode! Oscar-winning director Damien Chazelle sits down with his composer Justin Hurwitz ahead of their new film, BABYLON. Why Chazelle involves his composer long before his script is "final," and how he uses it to create storyboards. How the music of WHIPLASH and LA LA LAND were informed by music, and the challenges of bringing to life the 1920s-era BABYLON with all its brilliant, raucous and cacophonous musical splendor. Interview by Robert Kraft and Matt Schrader.

Back in 2007, two composers pooled some money to record a bunch of musicians so they could use the samples. They were really good! Harry Gregson-Williams loved it. Now it's Spitfire Audio, the most innovative sample library company in the world. This is the story of those two composers, Paul Thomson and Christian Henson!  (Note: This is not a paid advertisement for Spitfire Audio. We actually wanted to interview them earlier on Score: The Podcast, but didn't want it to look like a conflict of interest since they support that show! Enjoy the cool story of how these composers fell into entrepreneurship.)

Robert and Kenny start off the show updating numbers for Avengers: Endgame’s record-shattering opening weekend at the box office and discuss Bear McCreary’s rocking sneak peek for the Godzilla: King of the Monsters soundtrack.

 

Then Oscar-winning composer Steven Price (Gravity, Our Planet, Baby Driver, Fury, Suicide Squad) joins us to tell his story of growing up listening to 60s rock music in the U.K., his path into the film music world as a music editor for films such as The Lord of the Rings: Two Towers, his approach to the intense walrus scene from Our Planet and why he told his wife he'll spend the rest of his life proving himself as an Academy Award-winner for Gravity.

Follow us on Twitter @ScoreThePodcast

Hosts: Robert Kraft & Kenny Holmes
Executive Producer: Matt Schrader
Copyright 2019 Score: The Podcast

 

The System of a Down frontman and vocalist Serj Tankian reveals he's been listening to Score: The Podcast on his daily walks, and talks about his successes and ambitions doing more film composing. (He also gives a special shout-out to Kenny's lady Elva—a huge SOAD fan—at the end!)

Composer Pinar Toprak dives into her performance with Billie Eilish and Finneas at the Oscars, and her process creating a theme suite for the NFL and Thursday Night Football on Amazon Prime Video. Then, why the music for SLUMBERLAND is some of the most personal she’s ever written. Interview by Kenny Holmes and Matt Schrader.

Composer Gabriel Mann talks through his decision to leave Pre-Med in college to become a musician — and why his parents fully supported him. Then, how working with David Schwartz led to him leaving composer altogether — and why David brought him back to collaborate on ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT. Later, we talk about writing lyrical melodies for A MILLION LITTLE THINGS, why Disney's musical machine is so vast, and a top-secret musical stage play in the works now (based on an 1980s classic) from Gabriel's band, The Rescues, coming in 2023. Interview by Matt Schrader.

We catch up with composer extraordinaire Christophe Beck (UNFROSTED, ROAD HOUSE) for the first time in six years! Christophe shares how early piano lessons led to dreams of making his own album (now in the works). Plus, how years leading a composer team on major films refreshed his love of teaching and sharing, his creative rapport with director Doug Liman, and working with comedy icon Jerry Seinfeld in his directorial debut on the Netflix satire/“Pop Tart biopic” UNFROSTED. Interview by Kenny Holmes, Matt Schrader, and Robert Kraft.

Academy Award-winning composer, producer, and multi-instrumentalist Gustavo Santaolalla joins Score: The Podcast for a lively conversation about the phenomenon his music helped create in The Last of Us, and why it's different than any of his other work. Plus, writing the score to Brokeback Mountain prior to anything being filmed, how the records he made with the band Arco Iris (at age 18) become a blueprint for his career, and how he put the instrument "ronroco" on the map. Gustavo also shares details about his upcoming projects, including a performance in October at the World Soundtrack Awards in Ghent, Belgium, where he will be with our own Robert Kraft.

This is a bonus episode and part of Score: The Podcast's extended conversation with Christophe Beck about his love for modular synths and the changing form of film music, plus his first live performance in Holland and the premiere party for the film The 12th Man.

The full-length episode of Score: The Podcast with Christophe Beck is available now.

EPISODE NOTES, PICTURES & VIDEOS: https://www.score-movie.com/podcast

FOLLOW @ScoreThePodcast http://twitter.com/ScoreThePodcast

Hosts: Robert Kraft and Kenny Holmes.
Executive Producer: Matt Schrader.
Copyright 2018 Epicleff Media

Composer Siddhartha Khosla on his massive hit that is ONLY MURDERS IN THE BUILDING (now midway through Season 2), where those incredibly catchy melodies came from and why he loves to write them. The thematic reason why Sidd says the show needed an orchestra — and how SCORE: THE PODCAST’s own Carol Kuswanto ended up playing piano for the score! (She joins to break it down.)

We also chat with Sidd about whether discovering true-crime podcasts in between seasons changed the tone of his music, working with top-notch editors, and the hidden clues in season 1’s score. Interview by Robert Kraft and Matt Schrader, with Carol Kuswanto, only on MORE SCORE.

This is a bonus episode and part of Score: The Podcast's extended conversation with Mychael Danna.

Mychael Danna talks about working on Little Miss Sunshine and the band DeVotchKa and Nick Urata, and the quirky soundtrack that changed “indie” films forever.

The full-length episode of Score: The Podcast with Mychael Danna is available now.

EPISODE NOTES, PICTURES & VIDEOS: https://www.score-movie.com/podcast

FOLLOW @ScoreThePodcast http://twitter.com/ScoreThePodcast

Hosts: Robert Kraft and Kenny Holmes.
Executive Producer: Matt Schrader.
Copyright 2018 Epicleff Media

Oscar-winning composer Volker Bertelmann (CONCLAVE, ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT) explains his unique approach to creating analog textures, themes, and layered complexity. How a church piano led him to a breakout hip hop album in Germany, and then into his own musical experimentation with “prepared piano” — including albums and live performances with ping pong balls in pianos.

How his prepared piano techniques create sounds many believe are synths, but are actually recorded sounds carefully crafted. How his collaboration with director Edward Berger has led to a new exploration of sound. And why you should always prepare (even for an Oscars speech!) but be ready to go with the flow of the moment as a musician.

Special thanks to Nate Gold and Soundbite Studios in Los Angeles. Interview by Kenny Holmes and Matt Schrader.

For exclusive and 4K footage inside studios of your favorite composers, follow Score on YouTube Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and X.

Check out Vienna Symphonic Library’s collection of innovating libraries and samples at http://vsl.co.at — including their flagship Synchron Series, recorded at Vienna Synchron Stage, where hit films and shows for HBO, Disney, Star Wars, Marvel, Bear McCreary’s score to Rings of Power on Amazon Prime Video, and many more are recorded. Check out the free sample player, freebie libraries and demos at http://vsl.co.at

To learn more about recording at Vienna Synchron Stage, visit http://synchronstage.com

Score: The Podcast is a presentation of Epicleff Media and is produced by Holmes Productions.

Robert and Kenny begin the show discussing the trailer release and score cues of Dune with original score by Hans Zimmer. Kenny asks Robert to explain why the music used in trailers most often doesn't reflect the score/sound of the film.

Subscribe to MORE SCORE on Patreon for year-round interviews, film music talk and even cool merch: http://Patreon.com/MoreScore

Later, Oscar-nominated and Emmy-winning composer Carter Burwell (Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, The Morning Show, Space Force, Fargo, Carol, Twilight series, No Country For Old Men, True Grit, The Ballad of Buster Scruggs, The Tragedy of Macbeth and so many more) joins the show sharing that his initial leap into film was as an animator, how he connected with the Coen Brothers and why their bond has only gotten stronger after more than a dozen films together, explaining why he never left the east coast, and detailing his first earthquake encounter in 1994 while scoring Airheads, which happened to be one of the most catastrophic earthquakes in history.

This episode is presented by Spitfire Audio

Follow us on Twitter @ScoreThePodcast or send Kenny and Robert your questions for the mailbox at ScoreTheMailbox@epicleff.com

Hosts: Robert Kraft & Kenny Holmes

Executive Producer: Matt Schrader

Coordinator: Carol Kuswanto

© 2021 Epicleff Media

Robert and Kenny begin this Season Premiere (now with video!) with special guest Matt Schrader, discussing our new Patreon exclusive show MORE SCORE, The Oscars' rough ending, Composer Carol's new album "Smile" and much more.

Later, composer Tom Holkenborg aka Junkie XL joins the show to share the unique story of getting fired from Justice League, only to be brought back years later to release the Snyder Cut. Tom details why he started from scratch on the four-hour score instead of continuing where he left off and the incredible challenges the pandemic brought along the way.

This episode is presented by Spitfire Audio

Follow us on Twitter @ScoreThePodcast or send Kenny and Robert your questions for the mailbox at ScoreTheMailbox@epicleff.com

Hosts: Robert Kraft & Kenny Holmes

Executive Producer: Matt Schrader

Coordinator: Carol Kuswanto

© 2021 Epicleff Media

Composer Henry Jackman joins to talk about THE GRAY MAN, his musical relationship with the Russo brothers, how the birth of his son during the pandemic changed his perspective, and what kind of obsession it takes to truly make something meaningful. Interview by Kenny Holmes and Matt Schrader.

Kenny and Robert begin the show discussing the 2020 Emmy nominations, the updated theatrical rollout plan for Christopher Nolan’s Tenet, composer Alan Menken achieving EGOT status with a Daytime Emmy win and checking Score: The Mailbox with a question about why all film scores aren’t released.

Then, Oscar and Golden Globe-winning composer Alexandre Desplat joins the show to discuss his new film with Wes Anderson, The French Dispatch, his transition from French cinema to Hollywood films and how the scoring process is different, writing songs for Guillermo Del Toro’s upcoming live-action Pinocchio, how he lost his favorite pair of glasses when first meeting John Williams and the advice Ennio Morricone gave him that he constantly thinks about.

This episode is presented by Spitfire Audio.

Follow us on Twitter @ScoreThePodcast, or send Kenny and Robert your questions for the mailbox at ScoreTheMailbox@epicleff.com.

Hosts: Robert Kraft & Kenny Holmes
Executive Producer: Matt Schrader
Coordinator: Carol Kuswanto

© 2020 Epicleff Media

Matt Schrader, Kenny Holmes and Robert Kraft give their three film scores that influenced their lives, before reviewing More Score Patrons favorites! Lots of editing in this one, including some original clips from the Matt Schrader and Robert Kraft archives!

Special episode of MORE SCORE on SCORE: THE PODCAST! (For year-round interviews like this one, and 49 bonus interviews to date, subscribe to our bonus show MORE SCORE using any of the links below.

IN THIS EPISODE OF MORE SCORE: Dave Porter, the prolific composer of Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, reflects on 15 years making what some (including Matt) consider to be the best television shows ever made. The bumps along the road, the phrases Dave hears in his head still from creator Vince Gilligan, whether the Breaking Bad universe is really over, and how his career’s future is in the hands of his TV family built over the last two decades. Interview by Kenny Holmes and Matt Schrader.

MORE SCORE is a fan-supported show available on Patreon, Apple Podcast and Spotify. To support for $10/month and get full episodes from inside the film score world, use the links below:

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Patreon: http://Patreon.com/MoreScore

Composer of the new historical epic NAPOLEON Martin Phipps joins Score for the first time! How he located a piano once owned by Napoleon himself for the score. Plus, his path to film and television music, his work on Peaky Blinders, Black Mirror and The Crown, and establishing trust with the great Ridley Scott. How Martin overcame his early doubts about musical approach for NAPOLEON to meet its spectacular giant sets, and musically signaling Napoleon as an ambitious outsider rising to power.

Interview by Robert Kraft and Kenny Holmes.

Icelandic composer Herdís Stefánsdóttir talks about crafting a modern score for the Victorian-era THE ESSEX SERPENT on AppleTV+, alongside co-composer Dustin O’Halloran, and her score to Y: THE LAST MAN on FX. How her path from law-school dropout to writing music for dance students worried her parents. Plus, how Herdís ended up working with the late Jóhann Jóhannsson (ARRIVAL, THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING) and meeting Hildur Guðnadóttir (JOKER) in Reykjavik — and what its like scoring films and television with Icelandic musicians. Interview by Matt Schrader on MORE SCORE.

Score: The Podcast welcomes James Newton Howard, Oscar-nominated and Grammy Award-winning composer of films including Pretty Woman, The Fugitive, The Sixth Sense, Treasure Planet, Signs, The Village, King Kong, Blood Diamond, Michael Clayton, Defiance, Batman Begins & The Dark Knight, The Hunger Games series, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them and most recently Red Sparrow.

Robert and Kenny begin the show discussing the score-only release of Star Wars: The Last Jedi, which is a major indicator that audiences are expressing more interest than ever in the music of entertainment. Robert and Kenny discuss how the music of "Atlanta" and "The Chi" are evolving hip hop in music.

James Newton Howard talks about working with M. Night Shyamalan on "Signs," Hans Zimmer on Batman Begins and The Dark Knight and scoring Peter Jackson's King Kong via video conference in four and a half weeks.

In "Behind the Score," Hans Zimmer talks about the importance of capturing the first few frames of a movie to set its musical tone. Lastly, the guys play a Danny Elfman-themed edition of the game "Name That Score," where you — yes, you — can be a winner!

 

EPISODE NOTES, PICTURES & VIDEOS: https://www.score-movie.com/podcast

FOLLOW @ScoreThePodcast http://twitter.com/ScoreThePodcast

Hosts: Robert Kraft and Kenny Holmes.
Executive Producer: Matt Schrader.
Copyright 2018 Epicleff Media.

At 34, UK-based artist and composer Daniel Blumberg is the youngest person nominated for this year’s Best Score at the Oscars. His work on The Brutalist, nominated for 10 Academy Awards, is a continuation and evolution of Brady Corbet’s directorial talent — a longtime friend and collaborator. Daniel talks us through his formative experience at Cafe Oto in London — a hub for eccentric and inventive musical talents, which has also inspired Daniel’s own highly reviewed solo albums. Daniel explains why he had to visit Italy himself to calibrate the echoes of a marble quarry, why he and Brady always envisioned the opening as a balance of tension and payoff, and why he left in raw recordings of musical “sketches” on purpose to help convey the endless pursuit of creative perfection the film depicts. Why the rising awards buzz around his unique score makes him nervous, and the unlikely (but true!) admiration for Wallace & Gromit.Interview by Kenny Holmes and Matt Schrader. Recorded at A24 Studios in Los Angeles.For exclusive and 4K footage inside studios of your favorite composers, follow Score on YouTube Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and X.Score: The Podcast is presented by Vienna Symphonic Library. Check out Vienna Symphonic Library’s collection of innovating libraries and samples at vsl.co.at — including their flagship Synchron Series, recorded at Vienna Synchron Stage, where hit films and shows for HBO, Disney, Star Wars, Marvel, Bear McCreary’s score to Rings of Power on Amazon Prime Video, and many more are recorded. Check out Synchron Duality Strings libraries, or check out the free sample player, freebie libraries and demos at http://vsl.co.atUse promo code SCORESMART10 for 10% off Synchron Smart Orchestra 2.0, valid until March 17To learn more about recording at Vienna Synchron Stage, visit http://synchronstage.comScore: The Podcast is a presentation of Epicleff Media and is produced by Holmes Productions.

Kenny, Robert and Matt launch this offseason special talking about the Spitfire Audio Black Friday sale, and their success of the offseason show MORE SCORE, which is now available for $10/month on Patreon, Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Subscribe to MORE SCORE on Patreon for year-round interviews, film music talk and even cool merch: http://Patreon.com/MoreScore
... in your Apple Podcasts feed: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1357882784
...on Spotify: http://anchor.fm/score/subscribe

Then, the brilliant Bear McCreary joins to catch us up on his many projects, including Masters of the Universe Revelation, Vol. 1 & 2 out this week. Bear breaks down the metal symphonic sound he pitched Kevin Smith in their first meeting, and why that was a risky approach. He details working with Mark Hamill on a couple projects, and explains some of his early career missteps that he's made an effort to correct, allowing him and his studio Sparks & Shadows to thrive.

This episode is presented by Spitfire Audio

Follow us on Twitter @ScoreThePodcast or send Kenny and Robert your questions for the mailbox at ScoreTheMailbox@epicleff.com

Hosts: Robert Kraft & Kenny Holmes
Executive Producer: Matt Schrader
© 2021 Epicleff Media

Composer Natalie Holt talks about her theremin-infused score for Marvel’s LOKI, her first love of film music (John Williams’ E.T.), and how incredible it was to be able to utilize a new theme from John Williams for OBI-WAN KENOBI. Plus, how her pop string quartet helped pay the bills and led her into film composing — and why she threw an egg at Simon Cowell on Britain’s Got Talent in 2013. Interview by Matt Schrader on MORE SCORE.

In another loaded double-guest episode, Kenny and Robert begin the show chatting with World Soundtrack Awards Film Composer of the Year nominee Nainita Desai (The Reason I Jump, For Sama, American Murder: The Family Next Door) about her early years working as an engineer and mixer, overcoming "imposter syndrome," the art of writing music for documentary and keeping the authenticity of true stories and why she was caught by surprise when she learned she was nominated by the WSA.

Subscribe to MORE SCORE on Patreon for year-round interviews, film music talk and even cool merch: http://Patreon.com/MoreScore

Later, award-winning composer and record producer Dan Romer (Luca, Beasts of the Souther Wild, Beasts of No Nation, Wendy, Superman and Lois) joins the show to sharing what he learned about scoring Italian influenced music, revealing what motivated him to create unique sound palettes for his scores, and details what happened with No Time To Die and why being replaced on that film only made him stronger.

This episode is presented by Spitfire Audio

Follow us on Twitter @ScoreThePodcast or send Kenny and Robert your questions for the mailbox at ScoreTheMailbox@epicleff.com

Hosts: Robert Kraft & Kenny Holmes

Executive Producer: Matt Schrader

Coordinator: Carol Kuswanto

© 2021 Epicleff Media

This is a bonus episode and part of Score: The Podcast's extended conversation with Tina Guo.

Tina talks about performing and recording for Wonder Woman with Hans Zimmer, and how her upbringing in Shanghai, China, helped to nurture her musical passion, and the “metal” sound she’s been able to bring to her otherwise traditional music.

The full-length episode of Score: The Podcast with Tina Guo is available now.

EPISODE NOTES, PICTURES & VIDEOS: https://www.score-movie.com/podcast

FOLLOW @ScoreThePodcast http://twitter.com/ScoreThePodcast

Hosts: Robert Kraft and Kenny Holmes.
Executive Producer: Matt Schrader.
Copyright 2018 Epicleff Media

Oscar-winning filmmaker (The Last Repair Shop) and Emmy-winning composer Kris Bowers details a series of life experiences that propelled him to a groundbreaking score on his first animated film, The Wild Robot. How his parents’ nudge into music led to him developing a “life plan” he still employs today. Why his jazz origins are so useful in the way he approaches film music. Plus, how new emotions (unlocked from recently becoming a father himself) impacted his approach to the themes of The Wild Robot. Kris dives into how he discovered a sound and music palette to channels a vibrant “wilderness” alongside an orchestral approach (with a futurist vibe), and his fond memories of working with both Kobe Bryant and Quincy Jones who influenced and inspired his creative energy to new projects. Interview by Kenny Holmes and Matt Schrader. For exclusive and 4K footage inside studios of your favorite composers, follow Score on YouTube Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and X. Score: The Podcast is presented by Vienna Symphonic Library. Check out Vienna Symphonic Library’s collection of innovating libraries and samples at vsl.co.at — including their flagship Synchron Series, recorded at Vienna Synchron Stage, where hit films and shows for HBO, Disney, Star Wars, Marvel, Bear McCreary’s score to Rings of Power on Amazon Prime Video, and many more are recorded. Check out Synchron Duality Strings libraries, or check out the free sample player, freebie libraries and demos at http://vsl.co.at To learn more about recording at Vienna Synchron Stage, visit http://synchronstage.com Score: The Podcast is a presentation of Epicleff Media and is produced by Holmes Productions.

Robert and Kenny begin the show discussing the HBO film Bad Education, which includes the latest score by Michael Abels. Over the weekend, Kenny also re-watched Avatar, a film Robert worked on with James Cameron and James Horner. Robert reveals that Beyoncé was the original choice for the end credits song, but she was too expensive.

This episode is presented by Spitfire Audio.

Follow us on Twitter @ScoreThePodcast, or send Kenny and Robert your questions for the mailbox at ScoreTheMailbox@epicleff.com.

Hosts: Robert Kraft & Kenny Holmes
Executive Producer: Matt Schrader
Coordinator: Carol Kuswanto

© 2020 Epicleff Media

Robert and Kenny start off the show by discussing the announcement of Avengers: Endgame passing Avatar to become the highest-grossing movie of all time, big trailer releases including Top Gun: Maverick and Cats, then they are joined by pianist Marcos Bocanegra who was invited to be on The Ellen Show after a video of him playing the piano at Costco went viral. 

Then legendary composer, music producer and 3x Oscar-winner Giorgio Moroder and his collaborator, composer Raney Shockne join us to share the stories behind their collaboration on Queen of the South, how Giorgio created the sounds and changed film music with his scores for Midnight Express and Scarface, writing iconic original songs for film including Top Gun and Flashdance, working with Daft Punk for the 2014 Grammy-winning album of the year Random Access Memories and designing a sports car in his free time.

This episode is presented by Spitfire Audio

Follow us on Twitter @ScoreThePodcast

Hosts: Robert Kraft & Kenny Holmes
Executive Producer: Matt Schrader
Coordinator: Carol Kuswanto

Copyright 2019 Score: The Podcast

This is a bonus episode and an extra segment from Score: The Podcast's extended conversation with Tyler Bates.

Tyler talks about his score for Watchmen and how he tries to tie in the visuals that are constantly changing. Plus, Tyler talks about the new soundtrack for Dark Nights: Metal.

The full-length episode of Score: The Podcast with Tyler Bates is also available now.

EPISODE NOTES, PICTURES & VIDEOS: https://www.score-movie.com/podcast

FOLLOW @ScoreThePodcast http://twitter.com/ScoreThePodcast

Hosts: Robert Kraft and Kenny Holmes.
Executive Producer: Matt Schrader.
Copyright 2018 Epicleff Media

You might know JOHN DEBNEY from the poster of SCORE: A FILM MUSIC DOCUMENTARY.  Or the first episode of SCORE: THE PODCAST. (Or any of the dozens of hit films and beautiful scores he's written.) But he's also the king of the holiday movies!

It's been a few years since we caught up with John! He has a lot coming up — plus we'll talk his favorite holiday — Halloween — and HOCUS POCUS! Plus his upcoming Christmas concert tour with ELF, and talking with John Williams for Disney+'s new HOME SWEET HOME ALONE.

Robert and Kenny begin the show talking about shows they’ve been watching including Tales From the Loop (with music by Philip Glass) and the second season of Amazon's Homecoming. Then, Homecoming and composer Emile Mosseri stops by to share how he came on board with the hit series, the challenges of stepping in on a show that was previously scored with licensed scores from composers including legendary maestro Bernard Herrmann and the difference of scoring a TV series versus his previous film The Last Black Man in San Francisco.

Later, 2x Oscar-winning composer A.R. Rahman joins the show all the way from Chennai, India to share his story of teaching himself how to use his late father’s musical equipment, making the decision to work at a young age to help support his family in lieu of school, passing on a scholarship to Berklee to score his first film, connecting with director Danny Boyle for the smash hits Slumdog Millionaire and 127 Hours and starting his own music school in India.

This episode is presented by Spitfire Audio.

Follow us on Twitter @ScoreThePodcast, or send Kenny and Robert your questions for the mailbox at ScoreTheMailbox@epicleff.com.

Hosts: Robert Kraft & Kenny Holmes
Executive Producer: Matt Schrader
Coordinator: Carol Kuswanto

© 2020 Epicleff Media

Robert, Kenny, Matt and Carol begin the bonus episode discussing upcoming films such as Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, Knives Out, Tenet and A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood. 

Then Award-winning composers Andy Grush and Taylor Stewart share how they became a composer duo, their individual paths to the film scoring world and how they transitioned into the horror genre, working with director Mike Flanagan who they’ve collaborated for The Haunting of Hill House, Hush, Ouija: Origin of Evil and Oculus, behind the scenes story from iconic one - shot episode from The Haunting of Hill House, incorporating polychords and twelve-tone technique in their score for the upcoming Doctor Sleep, and the importance of having zero ego when working as a duo.

This episode is presented by Spitfire Audio

Follow us on Twitter @ScoreThePodcast

Hosts: Robert Kraft & Kenny Holmes
Executive Producer: Matt Schrader
Coordinator: Carol Kuswanto

Copyright 2019 Score: The Podcast

Composer Andrew Lockington (ATLAS, MAYOR OF KINGSTOWN) joins SCORE to talk about Toronto, working with and under the tutelage of fellow Canadian Mychael Danna after wanting to start a rock band, and how his interest in orchestration led to his composing breakthroughs. Plus, working with Jennifer Lopez, creating “suites” of music, what makes temps so tricky to work with, and how he’s built a relationship with director Brad Peyton across multiple big-budget action films. Interview by Kenny Holmes and Robert Kraft.

Robert and Kenny start off the show by talking about Ramin Djawadi’s tour announcement for Game of Thrones Live, the 2019 Cannes Film Festival and other hot releases for the week!

Then Academy Award-winning editor and award-winning composer John Ottman (Bohemian Rhapsody, X-Men series, The Usual Suspects, Valkyrie) joins us to tell the story of his path into the film music world, having to put both the film editor and composer hats on major studio films, working alongside the band members of Queen on Bohemian Rhapsody and the major bumps in the road during production and co-writing a song with Robert back in his time at Fox.

Follow us on Twitter @ScoreThePodcast

Hosts: Robert Kraft & Kenny Holmes
Executive Producer: Matt Schrader
Coordinator: Carol Kuswanto

Copyright 2019 Score: The Podcast

Robert and Kenny begin the show by discussing the announcement of Settling The Score: David Arnold vs. Michael Giacchino concert and upcoming hot releases including The Lion King and The Art of Self-Defense.

Then award-winning composer Nathan Barr (True Blood, The Americans, The House with a Clock in Its Walls, Carnival Row) joins to share the story of starting his path to film music world with a crazy trip of driving a school bus from New York to Brazil, restoring the original Wurlitzer organ from the Fox scoring stage that was used by Bernard Herrmann in Journey to the Center of the Earth and John Williams in Empire of the Sun, breaks down his writing process for The Americans and building the amazing Bandrika Studios.

This episode is presented by Spitfire Audio

Follow us on Twitter @ScoreThePodcast

Hosts: Robert Kraft & Kenny Holmes
Executive Producer: Matt Schrader
Coordinator: Carol Kuswanto

Copyright 2019 Score: The Podcast

It's not often that we get to talk to a composer in depth about his path from a 10-year-old starting piano lessons to working in film and video games. Austin Wintory has been scoring films for 15 years from the time he left college, and has now written music for video games in prestige franchises including Assassin's Creed, Command and Conquer, John Wick, Counter Strike, League of Legends, and many more.

We go the distance with Austin about how he took charge of his high school orchestra program, didn't get into his dream school USC but found a way to get there anyway, and began to leverage his early student film projects into video games and films!

Robert and Kenny discuss the boom in score concerts, and review a few entries of our #NameThatScore theme-writing contest. Jeff Russo comes in to discuss how he got the call to do Star Trek: Discovery, and the music of FX’s award-winning Fargo and Legion (which we find out during the show has been renewed for season 3).  Finally Jeff joins a sci-fi edition of Name That Score, where you — yes, you — could be a winner! EPISODE NOTES: https://score-movie.com/podcast

In this bonus “Theme Song Throwback” episode, Robert and Kenny are joined by Seinfeld composer Jonathan Wolff to celebrate the 30-year anniversary of the record-breaking series. Wolff tells stories of the creation of the theme song and why Jerry Seinfeld wanted something different, how Larry David saved his iconic music from being thrown out and reveals that the show originally aired with a different opening title theme.

 

Follow us on Twitter @ScoreThePodcast

Hosts: Robert Kraft & Kenny Holmes
Executive Producer: Matt Schrader
Copyright 2019 Score: The Podcast

Geoff Zanelli makes his long-awaited Score debut after one of Netflix’s most watched animated films of all-time, the Adam Sandler-produced LEO. In this episode, Kenny and Robert discuss the long-awaited arrival of MAESTRO, the Leonard Bernstein biopic, which we discussed on the 2nd episode of SCORE: THE PODCAST back when it was to be directed by Spielberg. Then, Robert and Geoff reminisce about drinking absinthe in Paris, before jumping into the challenge of making Adam Sandler laugh, and the paradox of writing “funny” music in animation. Plus, Geoff talks about his path from music school to being an intern at Hans Zimmer’s Remote Control Productions in the early (Lion King era) 1990s, sitting in on Alan Meyerson mixes, and getting his first opportunities while working for John Powell on the movie Face/Off. 

Robert and Kenny begin the show joined by Blockbuster podcast creator Matt Schrader, discussing the brand new season profiling director James Cameron. The team discusses the major changes the to the theatrical release schedule including blockbuster films Tenet, WW84, No Time To Die and Top Gun: Maverick and what all of this could mean for the future of movie theaters. Then, Kenny checks Score: The Mailbox with a question for Robert about his favorite memory of working with the late maestro James Horner.

Later, Emmy and Golden Globe-nominated composer Daniel Pemberton joins from London to explain how his early love for electronic music found him scoring a TV series while still going to school. Pemberton shares his stories of working on his first big film with director Ridley Scott, a chance run in with director Danny Boyle while riding his bike through London, experimenting on his scores for films like Spider-man: Into the Spider-Verse, Steve Jobs and Yesterday, and why he believes there is no such thing as bad music.

This episode is presented by Spitfire Audio.

Follow us on Twitter @ScoreThePodcast, or send Kenny and Robert your questions for the mailbox at ScoreTheMailbox@epicleff.com.

Hosts: Robert Kraft & Kenny Holmes
Executive Producer: Matt Schrader
Coordinator: Carol Kuswanto

© 2020 Epicleff Media

Kenny begins this extended edition of the show by talking about the sudden surge in vinyl sales, and argues there’s a huge future ahead for the medium, with major companies jumping into the industry. Then Matt presents his spoiler-free Summer TV roundup of recommendations and disappointments, and the guys tally the scores from their Emmy Nomination predictions.

Then we’re joined by Tom Holkenborg, electronic DJ and composer of films including Mad Max: Fury Road, Deadpool, Tomb Raider, 300: Rise of an Empire and Peter Jackson’s upcoming Mortal Engines.

Tom talks about first meeting Robert Kraft at Fox, years before his composer career took off, and getting kicked out of music school for his rebellious approach to drums.

Then Tom talks about why he recorded custom drums for Mad Max, and his Studio Time series that breaks down his musical approaches.

Lastly, Tom joins the guys for a “#1 Blockbusters of the 2000s” edition of Name That Score where you — yes, you — can be a winner! Play along for free by tweeting @ScoreThePodcast, where you could win a fabulous prize!

EPISODE NOTES, PICTURES & VIDEOS: https://www.score-movie.com/podcast

FOLLOW @ScoreThePodcast http://twitter.com/ScoreThePodcast

Hosts: Robert Kraft and Kenny Holmes
Executive Producer: Matt Schrader
Copyright 2018 Score: The Podcast

Composers DRUM & LACE and IAN HULTQUIST join us to discuss putting their energetic synth-driven score to a vibrant cinematic ride through Los Angeles that you may want to, dare we say, sink your teeth into!

How they found the sound, scored 70 minutes of music without the help of assistants or a team (!) and why the next few months will be the busiest of their budding careers!

Robert and Kenny begin the show discussing Taika Watiti being chosen as the next Star Wars director, breaking down the rules changes for the Oscars, updating the flub announcement of Daft Punk scoring a new film and checking Score: The Mailbox.

Then, Oscar-winning composer Rachel Portman joins to talk about her first solo album "Ask The River" releasing on 5/8, her trailblazing career that started with learning piano from a teacher in her small village and her hope to one day score a western.

This episode is presented by Spitfire Audio. Follow us on Twitter @ScoreThePodcast, or send Kenny and Robert your questions for the mailbox at ScoreTheMailbox@epicleff.com.

Hosts: Robert Kraft & Kenny Holmes
Executive Producer: Matt Schrader
Coordinator: Carol Kuswanto

© 2020 Epicleff Media

Robert and Kenny begin the show discussing film scores that didn’t qualify for the 2019 Academy Awards, including John Powell and John Williams’ score for SOLO: A Star Wars Story which notably missed the deadline for submission. 

Then music psychologist and author Dr. Siu-Lan Tan, who is featured in SCORE: A Film Music Documentary and Score: The Podcast Season 1, joins the show to discuss her fascinating studies of film music. She explains why music can give us goosebumps, the use of eye-tracking, the “ventriloquism effect” and many more ways we can be affected while watching a film or television series.

In honor of this bonus episode’s guest, we dug up the very first episode of The Inside Track with Dr. Siu-Lan Tan to revisit how composers use the final notes of a film to manipulate your feeling about the ending.

Lastly, Kenny and Robert get to some audience questions sent in over social media for Dr. Tan. She discusses why the choir has such an emotional impact on us, why themes and motifs help tell the story and why certain instruments are used to create moods. To close out the episode, Kenny selects a lucky listener as the winner of an autographed copy of Dr. Tan’s book, Psychology of Music: From Sound to Significance, Second Edition.

FOLLOW @ScoreThePodcast http://twitter.com/ScoreThePodcast

Hosts: Robert Kraft and Kenny Holmes
Executive Producer: Matt Schrader
Copyright 2019 Score: The Podcast

Hosts: Robert Kraft & Kenny Holmes

Executive Producer: Matt Schrader

Copyright 2018 Score: The Podcast

You might know JOHN DEBNEY from the poster of SCORE: A FILM MUSIC DOCUMENTARY.  Or the first episode of SCORE: THE PODCAST. (Or any of the dozens of hit films and beautiful scores he's written.) But he's also the king of the holiday movies!

The composing duo MONDO BOYS is behind some of the big breakout indie films of the last half decade (SHUT IN, FATMAN, SILK ROAD). They talk about their unusual path from experimenting as teenagers in San Diego in the late 1990s, to their process creating some of the most original and polished hybrid scores in Hollywood today.

Mike Schanzlin and Mike Griffin discuss the origin of their MONDO BOYS moniker, their workflow together, why thinking like a director helps them musically, and how a few virtuoso instrumentalists can make a good score great. Interviewed by Matt Schrader.

Robert and Kenny begin the show celebrating the 30-year anniversary of Seinfeld. In a special “Theme Song Throwback,” TV composer Jonathan Wolff explains how Larry David saved his iconic theme from being thrown out.

 

Then award-winning composer Henry Jackman (Detective Pikachu, Wreck-It Ralph series, Captain America: Winter Soldier) joins to talk about growing up as a choir boy in London, his transition from the record industry to film music after one random phone call and why you probably cried at the end of Captain Phillips.

Follow us on Twitter @ScoreThePodcast

Hosts: Robert Kraft & Kenny Holmes
Executive Producer: Matt Schrader
Copyright 2019 Score: The Podcast

Robert and Kenny begin the show discussing the winning composers at the Creative Arts Emmy Awards and checking the standings of the 2nd Annual Score: The Podcast Emmy Predictions.

Then Award-winning composer Marco Beltrami shares the story of his first big break on Wes Craven's Scream, details importance of his longtime partner and collaborator Buck Sanders, getting hired by Robert on his first blockbuster film I,Robot, crafting his Emmy-winning score for the Oscar-winning documentary Free Solo and sharing his excitement for what he calls his greatest work to date in Ford v Ferrari.

This episode is presented by Spitfire Audio

Follow us on Twitter @ScoreThePodcast

Hosts: Robert Kraft & Kenny Holmes
Executive Producer: Matt Schrader
Coordinator: Carol Kuswanto

Copyright 2019 Score: The Podcast

Robert and Kenny begin the show discussing the nominees for the 2021 World Soundtrack Awards, including many former guests and friends of the show. Kenny also shares why Blake Neely had an exciting and unexpected surprise while watching the Tokyo Olympics over the weekend.   

Subscribe to MORE SCORE on Patreon for year-round interviews, film music talk and even cool merch: http://Patreon.com/MoreScore 

Later, Emmy-nominated composer Rupert Gregson-Williams (Aquaman, Wonder Woman, Hacksaw Ridge, Veep, Catch 22, The Crown, Behind Her Eyes and more) joins the show sharing his early stories of growing up with his brother and fellow A-list composer Harry and why they only recently collaborated on a project after many years of success as solo composers, detailing why a particular cue on The Crown was his most challenging job to date, and revealing why Adam Sandler prefers to skip spotting sessions on his films.

This episode is presented by Spitfire Audio

Follow us on Twitter @ScoreThePodcast or send Kenny and Robert your questions for the mailbox at ScoreTheMailbox@epicleff.com

Hosts: Robert Kraft & Kenny Holmes

Executive Producer: Matt Schrader

Coordinator: Carol Kuswanto

© 2021 Epicleff Media

Robert and Kenny begin the show joined by Matt Schrader and Carol Kuswanto for the show's annual Emmy predictions. The group makes predictions for seven categories: Drama Series, Comedy Series, Limited Series, Original Main Title Theme Music, Music - Limited Series, Music - Documentary Series, Music - Series.

Then 5x Emmy-winning composer and current Emmy nominee Jeff Beal joins the show telling the story of getting fired on his first hit TV show Monk, winning the Emmy for main title theme, then getting rehired. Jeff also discusses his working relationship with David Fincher on the Netflix hit series House of Cards and exclusively reveals his first sketch of the main title theme.

Lastly, Jeff join the guys for a special round of #NameThatScore with a "westerns" theme.

This episode is presented by Spitfire Audio

Follow us on Twitter @ScoreThePodcast

Hosts: Robert Kraft & Kenny Holmes
Executive Producer: Matt Schrader
Coordinator: Carol Kuswanto

Copyright 2019 Score: The Podcast

This is a bonus episode and part of Score: The Podcast's extended conversation with Tamar-kali (Mudbound, Come Sunday, Between Earth and Sky).

The full-length episode of Score: The Podcast with Tamar-kali is available now.

EPISODE NOTES, PICTURES & VIDEOS: https://www.score-movie.com/podcast

FOLLOW @ScoreThePodcast http://twitter.com/ScoreThePodcast

Hosts: Robert Kraft and Kenny Holmes.
Executive Producer: Matt Schrader.
Copyright 2018 Epicleff Media

Composer David Fleming (The Last of Us, Blue Planet II) talks about his inventive score for Prime Video’s new Mr. & Mrs. Smith, working with Donald Glover, coming up through the Remote Control composer system with Atli Orvarsson, Steve Jablonsky and Hans Zimmer, and why the new Jim Henson documentary will melt everyone’s hearts. Interview by Kenny Holmes, Matt Schrader and Robert Kraft.

In our third double-guest episode in a row, Kenny and Robert begin the show chatting with rockstar songwriter, musician and composer, Isabella Summers (Little Fires Everywhere, Panic, Physical) aka “The Machine” from Florence + The Machine. Isa reveals that she always wanted to work in film and even scored and directed her own horror films as a kid, explains how she jumped head first into film scoring and continues to learn as she goes and breaks down the differences between scoring with a partner and writing solo.

Subscribe to MORE SCORE on Patreon for year-round interviews, film music talk and even cool merch: http://Patreon.com/MoreScore

Later, Oscar-winning composer Elliot Goldenthal (Frida, Batman Forever, Heat, Interview with the Vampire, Alien 3, Pet Sematary, Demolition Man and so many more) joins the show to discuss growing up in Brooklyn and absorbing multiple styles of music, his working relationship with late director Joel Schumacher, how Jim Carrey’s Riddler influenced his themes for Batman Forever, why he compares a tight deadline to a car crash, and shares his secret for overcoming writer’s block.

This episode is presented by Spitfire Audio

Follow us on Twitter @ScoreThePodcast or send Kenny and Robert your questions for the mailbox at ScoreTheMailbox@epicleff.com

Hosts: Robert Kraft & Kenny Holmes

Executive Producer: Matt Schrader

Coordinator: Carol Kuswanto

© 2021 Epicleff Media

Composer Joe Trapanese talks about how long he can experiment to find a unique sound, why he doesn't mind long delays for his movies to come out, and his decision to take fewer scoring jobs, to ensure each one is something he can find fulfillment in. Plus, working for years on his upcoming thriller Spiderhead directed by Joseph Kosinski (TRON: Legacy, Oblivion, Top Gun: Maverick)

Robert and Kenny begin the show discussing what they watched over the weekend including Doctor Sleep, score by The Newton Brothers and Ford v Ferrari, score by Marco Beltrami and Buck Sanders

Then, Emmy, Grammy and Tony-winning music director Alex Lacamoire stops by to help count down the release of Hamilton coming to Disney+ on July 3. Alex shares stories of working on the show, his reaction to the script when Lin-Manuel Miranda first presented it and his future projects including In The Heights.

Later, Oscar-nominated and 6x Grammy-winning composer Terence Blanchard joins the show revealing how he began working with iconic director Spike Lee, how their relationship has evolved after 30 years of collaborating, the importance of growing up in a musical city like New Orleans and how he almost got kicked out of a Knicks game while sitting courtside with Spike.

This episode is presented by Spitfire Audio.

Follow us on Twitter @ScoreThePodcast, or send Kenny and Robert your questions for the mailbox at ScoreTheMailbox@epicleff.com.

Hosts: Robert Kraft & Kenny Holmes
Executive Producer: Matt Schrader
Coordinator: Carol Kuswanto

© 2020 Epicleff Media

Robert and Kenny begin the show by discussing composer Dan Romer to compose for Bond 25, other hot releases like Stuber, The Farewell, and Crawl. The hosts also answer a viewer question about soundtrack releases and discuss the big earthquake in Southern California.

Then award-winning composer Christopher Lennertz joins to share the story of growing up with an illustrious group of mentors around him including the late maestro Elmer Bernstein, accidentally walked into Henry Mancini’s recording session which later gave him the final push into becoming a film composer, working with pop stars Kelly Clarkson, Nick Jonas and Janelle Monáe on Uglydolls, and the artistic genius of Seth Rogen.

This episode is presented by Spitfire Audio

Follow us on Twitter @ScoreThePodcast

Hosts: Robert Kraft & Kenny Holmes
Executive Producer: Matt Schrader
Coordinator: Carol Kuswanto

Copyright 2019 Score: The Podcast

Robert and Kenny begin the show talking about the upcoming Quincy Jones documentary and debate the Oscars’ new “Popular Film” category.

Then Heitor Pereira comes in to discuss how his Brazilian family sold a car and he sold his only guitar to buy a ticket to New England on a cargo ship so he could study music.

In The Inside Track, music psychologist Dr. Siu-Lan Tan discusses how TV shows tailor their tunes to support the ideas behind the show, with examples from Seinfeld to Lost and The Simpsons.

Then Heitor talks about the origin of his “Backyard Industries” studio and how he convinced Hans Zimmer to use “a concerto” of guitars on Gladiator.

Lastly, Heitor joins us to play a “Guitar Film Scores” edition of Name That Score, where you — yes, you — could be a winner!

EPISODE NOTES, PICTURES & VIDEOS: https://www.score-movie.com/podcast

FOLLOW @ScoreThePodcast http://twitter.com/ScoreThePodcast

Hosts: Robert Kraft and Kenny Holmes
Executive Producer: Matt Schrader
Copyright 2018 Score: The Podcast

Kenny and Robert being the show discussing the return of live concerts, specifically film music, as the nation begins to return to normal post-pandemic. The Hollywood Bowl announced their summer lineup which includes the return of John Williams' "Maestro at the Movies" show featuring David Newman as conductor and a live-to-picture performance of Ludwig Goransson's Oscar-winning score of Black Panther. Subscribe to MORE SCORE on Patreon for year-round interviews, film music talk and even cool merch: http://Patreon.com/MoreScore Later, Oscar-nominated composer David Newman joins the show discussing his family legacy in film music, why he always had his heart set on conducting the orchestra, what it was like growing up around film music legends like John Williams and ultimately being a session player on iconic scores like ET and teaming up with Steven Spielberg on the highly anticipated remake of West Side Story. This episode is presented by Spitfire Audio Follow us on Twitter @ScoreThePodcast or send Kenny and Robert your questions for the mailbox at ScoreTheMailbox@epicleff.com Hosts: Robert Kraft & Kenny Holmes Executive Producer: Matt Schrader Coordinator: Carol Kuswanto  © 2021 Epicleff Media