If I Had ONE Piece Of Advice...
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- Опубликовано: 6 фев 2025
- In this video I discuss the single most important piece of advice I could offer for any aspiring, ascending or struggling media composer. With 10 top tips of how to achieve it alongside ten musical examples. If there was one piece of advice you could give, what would it be? And do you recognise the music, let me know in the comments down below 10-1 what shows these tracks are from.
I love the sentiment, and so wish more people realised this. Unfortunately, my experience has been the opposite when I tried to get my foot in the door. Directors/developers preferred the sounds/music that emulated their favourite existing works, and trying to do anything remotely different never got anywhere. Perhaps that's more how the indie sector works, or maybe I'm just bitter.
I still think composers should take note! This is a great video.
I think this is a very good point. I kind of touched on this (albeit maybe a little too politely) at the end was that we did something highly original to get the Alien Isolation job, the end result was strong but not world changing (I suspect had it been we would have won that BAFTA). We’re all slaves to temp and have to work to hire to pay the bills. But if we don’t develop our own voice and work hard at that there is little to draw on when we move up the ladder and start working with people with greater vision, sense of adventure and a real desire to do something new. My experience is directors want to push the boundaries but are often shackled by the studio or the commissioning broadcaster, by test audiences and by fear. But remember the director will hire you the producer will pay you, so your art should be adventurous your craft reliable. Thanks for your comment.
@@TheCrowHillCo Well put. We're all just trying to make something great, after all.
I'm in sales and I have been for over 20 years. I was an actor for 15 years. I started my own video production company and I went out of business after a year. I was an awkward and shy teenager that couldn't mumble 8 simple words to a girl like, "Do you want to go out this weekend?" I've heard every, "NO!" in the book and I learned a lesson that Christian is trying to drive home.
Example:
When I pitch for a sale with just facts and features about my product I'm successful about 27% of time. When I pitch a sale with zero facts and features and personal examples of how "I" use my products I'm successful 88% of time. Why? It's because most people are motivated by experience and emotion. They need to picture themselves using the products, experiencing them. It's no different with abstract products like music, art, film and writing etc. Write to your emotions. Write to your experience. Write to your life and death. I promise you whatever you create "will" be different and your dream job will seek you out.
Lastly:
Don't cloud success with fame. Don't mistake one job or another as a career and do not I repeat do not compare your mentors or influence to yourself. -(They serve a purpose and it's not a measurement of talent, but rather the emotions that arise from the creative process you BOTH share.)
Probably my most "horror" experience was composing music for a documentary about a historic palatial cinema that had been demolished in our city. It was essentially about the corruption behind how it was eventually destroyed and all the back-door dealing that went on to get a heritage listed building knocked down. The director had place-marked all the scenes where he wanted music with the score from Titanic; his office was covered with Titanic memorabilia. Needless to say he wanted this ridiculous sweeping score over most of the film and it sounded ludicrous out of the context of a romantic drama. No matter how many alternate ideas I presented - delicate piano during the demolition scenes, darker subdued tones during scenes which exposed corruption during interviews, and larger more enthusiastically grand themes during the 3D fly-throughs of the original building - he would say something like "that's great, but there's this part in Titanic...". I eventually gave up and wished him luck - that was 7 years ago - to this day he hasn't finished the documentary; apparently, everyone he comes across is too difficult to work with...
I think the explanation is this: when you're a nobody, you need to be able to produce something expectable, to speak in a familiar voice. When you're a somebody, you will have the luxury and even necessity of stepping outside the bounds to truly express your own voice. In the mean time, you need to develop it and be ready to use it to a greater or lesser degree: you never know when the opportunity to really speak in your voice will present itself. In the beginning, you will likely need to be able to speak in a familiar voice to make decision makers comfortable. They won't necessarily know when a special voice is in front of them because they're not expecting to encounter one.
I just turned 66 today and finally rallied the courage to build a small studio at home to do something I have dreamed of all my life. Thank you so much for taking the time and effort to put together a set of "priceless" tutorials. I have often used the excuse of being too old to start something new and exciting but many people have countered with the Kentucky Fried Chicken empire story, built by Harland Sanders, starting at age 65.
Go for it! 👍
Age in this game is just a number. If you can let your imagination fly, you can become 2 years old or 102 years, whatever you want. However, do not think ever that you are 66 because music and creativity don't care how old you are. Look at what God can do and he was very "old" when he made earth!
excellent same here well I am a bit younger but setup studio and working on some projects as I cannot afford to pay royalties to use music in my soundtrack project.
Your mom is AWESOME in Sherlock! I literally sat up straight in my chair when you mentioned she was your mother. Also, find your own voice is a must in any creative endeavor, from writing to painting, so you're definitely right about that.
This is the best video you've made Christian and the timing couldn't be better.
My thoughts exactly
I seriously love these videos more than any tutorial or product review. This is what it's all about.
Thanks so much for this video - the courage to be oneself is a constant struggle but so worth it
Back to listen to this … again….and ..,,again.
Grateful to the evesdropping algorithms that routed your videos into my stream,,,
Great piece this
"it all sounds the fucking same" you don't know how good hearing that made me feel. I severely needed that.
This was excellent. Laughed so many time. Felt empowerment to continue with my voice in my sector. Thank you.
There's a simple truth in what you say Christian. The less concerned I find myself with how others are doing it, the more I end up doing it myself.
Positive vibrations from overcast and chilly Ireland! ☘️☮️🤘🏽🤠👍🏽☮️☘️
Good guidance geezer 🧐
Brilliant
I love the video Christian and I don't mean this as any sort of disrespect but listening to you describe these composers (i.e. Hans Zimmer) reminds me of "American Psycho" when Christian Bale reflects on the careers of Genesis and Phil Collins - I absolutely love it! You're brilliant.
I found myself in your video, I’m not educated, maybe not lucky enough... but not giving up at all!! thank you for such a lovable video, Christian!! Long live Spitfire audio!!
well, if you're "not educated" you can always try to be. Explore, study, learn, ask questions etc. That's never a limitation, that's just a line in your check box
Cheers
@@pedrosilvaproductions that’s what I do, thank you, Pedro!
Don't chase the image. Chase the feeling.
I dabble in composition as a hobby, production as a necessity, and songwriting as a passion. That being said, this advice is applicable to all of those things and more. It's applicable to any creative or business endeavor, as well as life in general. Well done!
Well said- Find your favourite artists influences
You're a motivation master ! You show me the way. Thank you. 👍
Another great one. Tons of good advice in this video. Thanks, Christian!
Enjoyed that 👏
For the note takers...
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1. Do it your way (you are good enough - your way is the right way)
2. Be adventurous (and explorational, even when not required)
3. Restrict your options (play mainly with one new instrument)
4. Collaborate with extraordinary people (build a family of musicians)
5. Enrich your heritage (don’t listen to the other professionals for inspiration)
6. Embrace your heritage (it’s your artistic DNA)
7. Lean into your limitations (be insanely simplistic - give room for other film parts)
8. Lean into your USP (be one with the instrument)
9. Don’t copy other people (copy and combine three composers)
10. Don’t rely on other peoples sound (use them wrong)
thank you for this :-)
Inside No. 9 is one of the best things British TV has produced in a very long time. Great work on the music, it's always a great part of each episode.
Damit Henderson, you always fuck me up with these videos..
thank you.
such an incredible video
God bless you, sir. Highly underrated channel but only the serious musicians will find you. The career musicians.
Thanks for the having the dogs in the peripherals most of time, so appreciated.
I think most of the great sound tracks really do have that "this doesnt sound like anything else?" aspect. Take the Good Bad and Ugly. That weird as hell singing, Cowboy yodelling. What else sounds like that? Or Zimmers interstellar score with that giant pipe organ mixed weird. Neil Youngs stoned guitar noodling on the Dead man sound track. Bear McCrearys over the top percussion based Battlestar scores. The massive almost overwhelming synth pads on Bladerunner. All of these where just unique and the whole reason you remember them is because your brain heard them and thought "Wow, this sounds different!". It paints new colours in your minds eye.
Ennio Moricone was a rare once in century genius. Same with John Williams of Star Wars fame.
Thank you, Christian for the deeply considered pep talk. I so much want one day to climb Arthur’s Seat with you and the dogs and just talk a bunch of crap about nothing in the driving rain.
Great channel, great videos and great advice, thanks Christian
I don't make soundtracks, but this gets me pumped to create.
You killed it on Alien Isolation man! I loved every screaming heart wrenching second of gameplay on that game Christian!
This is an incredible video. I've been pondering this topic very recently, more or less. I agree with the over-arcing notion you present in this video. I would like to add something, to help manage expectations, which is that the culmination of these things takes a very long time. For example, the idea of simplicity and minimalism in creation (not just music) is often heralded with high regards, but is very difficult to execute to the degree demonstrated in this video. It takes a master to be masterful. Al Hirshfeld had the ability to capture an immediately and unmistakably recognizable likeness in a character with just a few curved strokes of a pen, and that style took him years to hone and master. The goal is to become not just great, but outstanding, and that's typically a journey more than it is a goal.
Thanks for the wise advise and inspiration.
Great video as always!! 👏👏👏
Great video. It has lots of good insights with facts to back then up. Thanks.
Thank yoiu! Useful and inspiring.
Mark my words, this video is gonna blow up!
Just like the subject matter, this video has *PASSION* .
Excellent advise. Thank you
Probably the best thing I've ever seen you do, Christian. Very candid. By the way, YEAH, Solaris! Recognized it right away and whole-heartedly agree.
If I could give this 10 thumbs up I would. Well done!
I love your channel mate, really great wealth of information
Man this was a perfect self-reflection/looking forward video. Appreciate you taking the time hit that advice question at every angle, and I really know it was from the bottom of your heart because of the content ID claims here loool.
This is such brilliant advice. I'm not a composer but I still got great value from watching this. many thanks
Bless Your Heart, Christian! Besides being great (LCO, BH, etc)...the Reason I only purchase Spitfire is because of your Passion!!! I remember the great LCO party in LA a few years ago. What a fantastic showcase for your company. I am lucky to have a great friend with a $13 million Stradivarius violin...but I still use Spitfire! Cheers!!!
I absolutely loved this piece. Everybody can be exactly like everybody else. Only you can be you. So you might as well try to sell the one USP that no-one can match. Not always easy to do in the world of "commercial art" because it's a high risk strategy. But it's a wonderful thing to aim for. And if you're only doing creative work to pay the mortgage, you should probably be finding a better paying job.
Christian, you're great. Thanks again, from Buenos Aires.
What a great video. Well well done.
Maravilloso!!! Gracias Christian!!!
Great advice, thanks.
I would say Awesome video, but you already know that! I can only say Thank you for the advice! I'm getting ready to spread my wings this year and I really needed to hear this!! Thanks!
Awesome, tks, Christian ☕❤️
Great video Christian with some really good tips, thanks take care
There was a lot of wisdom in this video and I thank you for it. Finding "my voice" remains my biggest challenge but I continue to work on it.
Your advice was so useful I printed it out and stuck it on my wall.
I have been struggling with this all my music life - to 'please' others to like my music.
I realized that I had to let go of this and just produce music that is "my way".
Here is the list of the 10 points you made - so that others can also print out and put on their wall.
10. don't rely on other people's sound. if u do - use them wrong!
9. don't copy other people. but if u do make sure they're brilliant and unexpected.
8. Lean into your USP (uniqueness).
7. Lean into your Limitations. Your style is defined by your limitations.
6. Embrace your heritage.
5. Enrich your Heritage
4. Collaborate with extraordinary people.
3. Restrict your options.
2. Be Adventurous. Experiment and go on adventures.
1. Do it your way.
Thank you very much, i Greatly appreciate you taking the time and sharing such valuable information !
i am curious what is this piece by Dario Marianelli ? thanks
love this....more please!
You Sir, are a gift to us all..
Inspiration for the nation !! Big up x
thank you for a really inspirational vlog. I have just worked on a film, i am sfx and assistant director qualified as well as a composer. I stepped in for a colleague last year did a little bit of acting for rehearsals. Last time i acted was seven years old and i was one of the shepherds. This year due to covid i get a call to come as background for a film, so said yes to help out. As soon as I am on set i get four walk on parts, I asked my friend why me, there are others here who have been doing this for years. His answer was you can act hit the marks and you are unique and different. This was my chorus line moment. He spotted something in me which was needed for those scenes,
Christian, I've just discovered your channel thanks to Andrew Huaung and let me tell you that this video truly is a blessing. I'm considering revolutioning my whole career to build a musical one. All these words in this video just resonate so much in me. Thanks for sharing such a good content.
I've already commented part way through. Just finished and damn, thank you for such a wonderful unicorn of a RUclips video! Brilliant, insightful and thought provoking!
Una Stubbs is your mum! Mind blown! Also thanks for this great video, really helpful and plenty to contemplate for my 2021 schedule.
Christian. I was having a conversation today about all of the things you've mentioned in this video - the frustration is so real! I'm at a stage where everything sounds like monotone soup, lost confidence, and dare I say it the whole "why the shit am I even trying". Madly, like nearly everything that has happened on my musical journey so far, I saw this video exactly when I needed to. Thank you for your work, your insights and your humour, all of which I find invaluable and heartwarming in equal measure.
Very good video! Thank you 👍👍
One of the best videos on self-improvement I have watched in a long time :) In My humble opinion ;)
Lovely video Christian. Great memories of your dad in Fawlty Towers and your mum in Til Death us Do Part and Worzel Gummidge. Thank you.
Many thanks Chris this is really inspiring !
Great video! I really enjoyed hearing the score examples.
Both you and your company are soooooo awesome! Thanks for being you and for your company's products! A loyal fan!
This is the pep talk I didn't realize I needed. Thanks Christian !
Thanks. A great pick me up. Great respect thanks for spitfire to awesome much love to the team too
Christian, your mother Rocks! She is a great actor! Thank you for all the encouragement!
You are so inspiring....thank you Christian !
Brilliant! Spot on and so clearly articulated. You have a gift of speech. One of my favorite videos of yours to date. Thank you Christian. PS, I purchased your BBC library because of your videos. They sucked me into Spitfire in general and then I was introduced to the library from there and couldn't get it off my mind for many months. Pulled the trigger and I'm a happy camper. Thank you and an early happy 2021! Alex J. - USA
Felt like I really needed this. Thanks Christian, you're a legend!
Thank you, Christian
This is such an incredibly useful video.
Soooooooooo many new scores and new artists to discover for me now!!!!!!, Dario Marianelli's score just caught my eye instantly!. Thanks Christian Sir.
I just start to find a way to score my animation. Thank you so much for the advice!
Christian, me and my friends watch your channel all the time. We believe that you show some philosophical aspect of regular musician life. We appreciate all you do. Cheers from several Russian towns: Moscow, Novosibirsk and Magadan
Love to you all and thanks for reaching out. C x
loved the story about your mum! Liked the video and it's only a 3rd of the way through...
Fantastic video, thank you for this Christian!
Amazing piece of content, thank you so much to sharing this knowledge
Your channel is an enrichment for composers world. Your videos are always so helpful for me. Thank you for your work.
Thank you... and happy diwali #abettermusicianeveryday
A couple days late but great video. Great new inspirations for me.
Gustavo Santaolalla has and will forever be my biggest motivation and inspiration to making music. After hearing his soundtrack in The Last of Us back in 2013, i was honestly awed by every single song of his. The emotion he's able to express in his song with unique and different instruments as well as traditional instruments is absolutely incredible. Gustavo as well as Hans Zimmer is the people that made me start getting interested in making my own music in the first place, and i've released 3-4 scores so far. Hans Zimmer is definitely a high second place to the people that give me inspiration and dedication to making music. Their scores are vastly different, but they both produce their scores in such a unique way that you'll be able to tell by just listening to the score that it's made by them. I've been learning how to make movie scores since the beginning of summer last year and i know i have lots to learn, eventhough i like to take inspiration from them both, i still try my hardest at sounding unique to myself and not fall into the hole of "generic" scores.
Ronroco is truly a stunning work and stands of one the most beautful albums i have heard
Solaris!! Yes! What a piece of work; wore Spotify out with that one. The Social Network is another one. 21 Grams; an affecting film that's so enhanced by the music.
This is a stormin' video, Christian. Thanks so much for sharing...goosebumps aplenty with some of those score samples and the insights too, especially about the result of getting the Hobgoblin instrument that you couldn't play, so did something else with it...love that!
I seriously love these! Never one to candy coat, you tell it like it is, but in a funny yet passionate way.
You are seriously the best Christian. thank you for all of these great videos!
usually advice is useless and unrealistic. Motivational videos are usualy irritating at best.
But this advice is actually useful,practical and inspiriting.
Thank you for this, It well appreciated.
Just brilliant Christian. Very very wise words indeed. Been following you a while now and your videos are an inspiration. Superb
Tom B
You are a really interesting person. I follow you constantly with insufficient English. I believe in your sincerity. I think this is one of the most important things. To be sincere.
This video will be the only video I have saved as a shortcut to the desktop.
Thank you.
Christian, Love all of this. My thoughts exactly. Where we live in a world of too much density in scores, although I like it sometimes in moments, I find myself just keeping it simple. I always have to tell the session players who sometime try to hard to play too many notes to just think less is more-:). I come from the background of being a trumpet session player and jazz player, and working in orchestras in LA, so I know how it all is supposed to sound. I love the John Powell thinking and when I went to NYC and working around the US in writing for everybody idioms that they wanted on a turn of a dime, it was a great training ground for film music for me. I also arranged and wrote original music for Contemporary Dance Theater, jazz, etc. Everything you can think of. BTW, I did the Flugelhorn you liked in the Systems pc. In between a busy schedule of other work for example. Was happy to contribute! Cheers!
Enjoyed this video for it's narrative and message, as I do most all of your videos. Thank you! Also...I have enjoyed watching your talented Mom, Una Stubbs, as Mrs. Hudson in the brilliant Sherlock series (which my wife and I are watching for the 3rd and some episodes 4th time through...). Mrs. Hudson's character is expanded in this series, which is great, and she is very whimsical and plays it so wonderfully. Kudos!! - Thanks for your excellent videos, messages, and your work with Spitfire, Christian! I'll be watching, tuning in for your advice, and composing...!
Very inspiring!!!!! Its the third time I watch this!
Well said Christian. If only most people took this approach, but they don't. They are much too busy massaging their own ego's. ❤
THANK YOU ! From the bottom of my heart. Your videos are so valuable. I am getting more confident in myself and in my own voice. Peace and inspiration wishes for you and your team! :)
Good advice Christian! I have a few things that I try to do to keep me 'in the game'...some you've mentioned already. It is difficult to reduce my advice to one thing above all else, but as you asked us, I will try... It relates to aiming for success whilst enjoying your chosen profession, but without obsessing on the achievement...
"Whilst your goal may be to climb to the peak of the mountain, you should stop every now and then to admire the view. Don't wait until you reach a plateau and don't wait until you reach the peak either...you will miss all of the enjoyment that is to be had whilst you are climbing"
I hope that somebody finds this useful...
beautifully written!
@@klemenspichler400 Thank-you 🙂