MUSIC FOR ANIMATION: WORK IN PROGRESS

Some recent music composition for an experimental animation piece. The film is all about imagery that shifts, drifts, and dissolves. The visual presentation is somewhat lo-fi, yet expansive and abstract.

After watching and thinking about the animation, what seemed appropriate was to put together some conventional music— something jazzy and “vintage” made sense (made 100% with virtual instruments)— and then, as I often do, use the individual tracks as source material for audio collage. As ever, it’s like crafting a stained glass window, shattering it, and then reassembling the shards in some new configuration.

At this point I’ve “futzed” the sound of the music to make it resemble something coming out of an antique radio. Eventually I’ll probably add some vinyl pops to make it sound more like an old record player. I’ve already started scrambling the elements to pull a score together. It’s been a lot of fun so far.

= = = = =

HALLOWEEN PLAYLIST 2020

I love, love, love Halloween. My favorite holiday, by far! I don’t even care about trick of treat, costume parties, or any of that— I just really dig that for a certain interval every year, decorative depictions of monsters, the macabre, the paranormal, and what have you become socially acceptable fare. I keep some of my Hallween decorations up all year round, although it’s nice to bring some of them out fresh every October.

Anyway, this year I thought I’d put together a playlist of spooky music in accordance with the season… so if you to are a Halloween-ophile and would like 4.5 hours of music as a sountrack to this predilection (or, you know, just some songs to steal for your own playlist), then have at it! Although to be fair, if you require a high degree of wholesomeness in your entertainment, you might want to steer clear.

I highly recommend listening to it on shuffle— it’s not meant to be heard sequentially as is.

I’ve tried to lean on stuff people haven’t heard a million times, though I’ve included a few standards that I enjoy. There’s quite a bit of 50s and 60s novelty material, given the bottomless pit of it, and I enjoy the kitschiness of these tunes as much as I do the hokey vintage horror cinema they tend to reference. While I’ve hewed somewhat closely to songs about the explicitly imaginary/ paranormal (as opposed to songs that simply mention ghosts, witches, or monsters metaphorically), I’ve made a few exceptions for murder ballads, since these lend an appropriately haunting atmosphere.

Enjoy!

= = = = =

SOUND EDIT, FOLEY + MIX FOR SHORT FILM: "THESE IMPERFECT GIFTS"

I recently put the finishing touches on sound edit, Foley, and mix for Oxford Comma Films’ short film “These Imperfect Gifts”, directed by Vanessa M.H. Powers-- a glimpse into the lives of a couple dealing with the aftermath of a miscarriage. In the audio post process we felt our way through the alternating numbness, pain, and anger felt by the characters as they stumble toward a sense of reckoning. Powers and I agreed there was a need for focus on small, intimate sounds like the tap of fingers on cardboard, soft cloth friction, and creaking floorboards. We gave the film a sense of delicate dynamics that I hope allows for the interior spaces of the characters’ thoughts to resonate. Looking forward to seeing this head out on to the festival circuit!

More sound by Mike Hallenbeck for film

= = = = =