Michael Samuel-Bryan
Mathew J. Rees
Paul Berry
Matthew Ian Cook
At the age of 16, it suddenly occurred to me that composing for television, films and games, was the only thing I wanted to do that would make me happy. So half a decade on, that's exactly what I'm doing.
Growing up in Wales gave me the opportunity to work with BBC Wales, and S4C, I sought to gain valuable experience wherever possible. When I was 18, I was lucky enough to work at the studio of world renowned harpist, arranger and composer Catrin Finch, where I was able to oversee and learn in-depth the process of mixing, editing and live recording.
My first big gig came in late 2014, composing for a Sit-Com on the Welsh National Broadcasting channel S4C. 'Mewn Twll' was a pleasure to work on, and an incredible experience for myself to compose music for National Television.
Since then, I haven't stopped.
Composing for documentaries in the U.S and Global media Idents, I really am enjoying life as a music composer.
My interest in music came quite late on compared to a lot of other musicians I know - I played the drums at 8 but didn’t get along with them. In fact it wasn’t until I was fifteen that I picked up the guitar and felt inspired enough to continue playing.
In my late teens I moved from wanting one dream job to another - pop star, blues prodigy, touring band - until a course in Music Technology at a local college grounded me firmly in the tech world. It was here that I would get my first taste of both hardware synthesisers and film music which lead me to where I am today.
It wasn’t until I saw Gone Girl in 2014 that I really worked out my sound - the soundtrack (by Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross) was everything I thought modern films needed - it was unconventional, disturbing and really brought the storyline into place. I knew then that was how I wanted my music to feel.
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I bought my first synthesiser when I was 21 and started using it to add depth and character to my musical compositions, before making electronic sound a foreground element of my more recent music.The blend of ambient electronic textures and traditional orchestral elements often create haunting sound and eerie backdrops.
Growing up in a musical family exposed me to all it had to offer. Learning several instruments from an early age grounded me in something I knew I couldn't let go of. Only when I was 16, did film music really appeal to me. Studying film at school opened a door to an art form I had never truly appreciated. As I listened to soundtrack after soundtrack I began to realise that this was what I wanted to do!
I took every opportunity I could find to hone my skills. I worked in a local recording studio, leaning what I could about the process of recording, mixing and editing. This led to opportunities in live sound. Working with a small team we would host concerts and gigs which showcased new local talent. All of this work allowed me to learn important skills in the industry that I was able to apply to my work.
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Coming to University gave me a chance to work with extremely talented and creative people who push me to create my best work. My efforts earned me jobs composing for short films, and working with independent game developers.
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I picked up the electric guitar in my early teens, where I took graded exams and performed in a variety of bands and school shows. I continued down this route for many years performing with fellow musicians until I noticed the musical works of Steve Jablonsky & Hans Zimmer in blockbuster films.
I then turned my attention to composition and technology where I undertook music technology at college. There my taste grew for not only film music but also video games and trailer music. I thoroughly enjoy the freedom and complexity of writing music that would be suitable for visuals as it challenges and drives my creative nature.
I have now focused my studies further as I currently study Music Composition and Technology for Film & Games at University along with the other composers in Headlight Audio. As well as undertaken external media project to gain valuable experience collaborating with others.