In this episode, we’re joined by brilliant and versatile composer, sound designer and producer Max Brodie!

Max walks us through his early musical journey from playing in thrash metal bands as a teen and recording bands with borrowed gear, to carving out his own unique sound and writing for production music libraries.

We also take a closer look at one of Max’s impressive recent ventures, scoring the CBBC animated series Duck & Frog! With 50 episodes of wall-to-wall music and very quick turnarounds, Max shares the challenges of working to animatics, reusing themes, navigating constantly changing music genres and adapting synchronised music to shifting timings.

Part 2 is out now where we continue our conversation!

You can check out more of Max’s work here: https://www.maxbrodie.co.uk

Don’t forget to follow, rate our show, and leave us a comment!

#composer #animation #animationmusic #sounddesigner #animationcomposer

Tight Deadlines = Better Music? Max Brodie on Composing, Studio Workflow & Tom Ronsenthal

This is Part 2 of our conversation with composer and sound designer, Max Brodie. If you missed Part 1, check that out first!

We pick up with a nerdy dive into technology, computer specs, and studio equipment - Jeff’s in his element!

We chat about Max’s composing process, from the initial panic to the clarity of a spotting session, and tight deadlines which force him to let go of perfection. He shares tips including use templates, keeping recording gear and mics ready to go, and using ensemble patches to sketch ideas quickly.

We also explore how time constraints can be an advantage, shaping a distinct sound for a project, and how one composer famous wrote a Coca-Cola ad track in an airport on the way to their meeting!

Finally, Max tells us about his collaboration with singer-songwriter Tom Rosenthal, from their first meeting in Max’s back-garden shed-turned-studio to writing and producing albums together that gained viral TikTok traction.

You can check out more of Max’s work here: https://www.maxbrodie.co.uk

Don’t forget to follow, rate our show, and leave us a comment!

#composer #composertips #tomrosenthal #animationcomposer #studioworkflow

In this episode, we’re joined by the talented Brad Hatfield - Emmy-winning composer, producer, pianist, educator, and longtime friend!

We share how our paths first crossed, from a rich history of co-writing with Jeff to the online classrooms of Berklee where he taught David, cementing a lasting impact on both our careers.

With some tips and lessons along the way, Brad walks us through his fascinating musical journey that spans touring the globe with jazz bands, writing jingles in Boston, and teaching Songwriting for Film & TV and Music Supervision at Berklee.

We zoom in on music education, exploring how Brad navigates classrooms of varying student abilities, how technology shapes and sometimes limits our craft, and a funny look at how teaching has evolved since the 1970’s, back when sub-par work left the classroom as a paper airplane out of the window…

Part 2 of this conversation is out now, talking all things music supervision and collaboration! (What Makes A Good Music Supervisor and Why You Shouldn't Write Music With Your Friends)

#composer #musicindustry #filmcomposer #tvcomposer #filmmusic

This is Part 2 of our conversation with Emmy-winning composer, producer, pianist, educator, and longtime friend Brad Hatfield. If you missed Part 1, check it out first! (Writing Jingles to Winning Emmy Awards with Composer Brad Hatfield)

We pick up with the topic of Music Supervision, discussing Brad’s course at Berklee, the role of a music supervisor, and what makes a good one!

We also talk about why you should collaborate in the music industry, (but not with your friends!) and Brad’s longest collaboration - with his wife, Gaye Hatfield!

Keep your eyes peeled for another episode with Brad coming soon, where we talk all things sync licensing!

#composer #collaboration #musicsupervisor #musicsupervision #musicindustry #filmcomposer #syncmusic #filmmusic #berklee #musiccollaboration

In this episode we’re sitting down with Mark and James from Present Day Production (PDP), the brilliant minds behind MUM - the modular upgradable monitor.

We talk through their wild journey from Mark’s early days repairing Hammond organs to the moment a young James rocked up to Mark’s studio for a band rehearsal and basically never left!

Together they spent years running an all-in-one studio service before a COVID-induced reset led them to launching their YouTube channel, racking up millions of views with their notoriously unhinged videos featuring more horses and paragliders than you’d expect…

Now, they’re entering a brand new chapter at School Farm Estate; workshop setups, exciting collaborations, and a sneaky first look at Studiology, their upcoming online venture packing 35 years of music industry wisdom into one place!

Check out PDP here - https://www.presentdayproduction.com

#composer #composers #studiomonitors #musicproduction #studio #production #recordingstudio #hammondorgan #filmcomposer #tvcomposer

Grab your popcorn - we’re taking you behind the scenes of scoring our first ever feature film, Super Size Me 2. Tune in for a story of fun, frustration, and a whole lot of chickens!

We talk about how this project came about and the quirky brief that landed right in the middle of David’s wedding back in 2016. The ultimate way to get our feet wet by jumping straight into the deep end of the feature film world!

We break down the whole process from navigating shifting styles from cue to cue, combing in-the-box production with live elements, our year-long writing process alongside collaborator Tim Garland, dealing with constantly shifting picture-locks and composing last-minute emergency cues!

Plus, the emotional rollercoaster of the film’s release…From the absolute high of premiering at the Toronto Film Festival, complete with a red carpet, a massive party, and a major distribution deal - only to watch it vanish overnight as the film was shelved!

But the story doesn’t end there/ Two years later, the movie finally found a home on streaming platforms, inspiring us to write a brand-new, hilarious country-comedy end credits song, ‘Nothing But Chickens’!

#composer #filmcomposer #filmmusic #featurefilm #filmscore #soundtrack #songwriting #composers #supersizeme

Dust off your boots and grab your hat - in this episode, we’re heading behind the scenes of our Cowboy Songs production music album!

Inspired by the charm of The Three Amigos and City Slickers, we set out to write cowboy songs that feel authentically traditional but cinematic enough for use in Film & TV.

We walk through the full process, from songwriting and orchestration to the logistics of recording across two continents, with rhythm sections in Chicago at Transient Sound Studios, and orchestral sessions at Abbey Road Studios in London.

Along the way we talk about the challenge of finding the right sound, and the even bigger challenge of tracking down rootin’-tootin’ yodelers and world-class Americana musicians to bring it all to life! Easy, right?!

#filmmusic #cowboysongs #cowboymusic #productionmusic #composer #composers #abbeyroad #wildwest #tvmusic #filmcomposer #songwriting #librarymusic #tvcomposer

During a recent recording session in Nashville, we were reminded just how small the music world really is!

In an industry that can often feel remote, and at times pretty lonely, community matters more than ever.
From village choirs to Facebook groups and organisations like the Society of Composers and Lyricists (SCL), there are endless ways to connect with like-minded musicians/composers, find collaborators, and build lasting relationships.

The truth is, the best networking rarely feels like networking. We talk about how real opportunities come from simply showing up, contributing to a community, and letting connections grow over time.

#musiccommunities #musicindustry #networking #musicnetworking #composernetworking