Interview with Philip Anderson
If you’re following the Sanguine Facebook page, then you may know that we’re in the process of creating a new video – and what a process it has been. As the final touch on this lengthy endeavor, we hired a composer to score the piece. Being the overly-zealous, research nerds that we are – we couldn’t help but pick his brain a little bit and find out what it is that makes him tick.
Check out the interview with Philip below, and make sure to check out more of his work on his site.
– Can you give us a little history on your time as a composer?
I’ve been writing music since I was in High School but wasn’t serious about it until sophomore year of college when I decided to major in music production. I spent the remaining years in school composing music for the cinema students as well as interning for HUM Music & Sound Design where I got experience writing music for advertising. Once I graduated, I moved here to LA and have been slowly making my way into music since. Currently I compose trailer music for a music production house in here in LA and freelance other projects such as this one.
– When did you first realize you had a passion for music?
I’ve been involved in music since I was in 5th grade when I took up drumming and participated in my elementary school’s band program. Since then I’ve always enjoyed music but really developed my passion for composing when I got to college and started working with cinema students to score their films.
– What’s your day-to-day like? Do you spend a lot of time scoring videos or do you do more performances?
As of now, most of my time is spent composing trailer music. Although I am also working on an EP with a songwriting friend of mine. I rarely do performances, although a few months ago I played a small show in Santa Monica with a few friends of mine just for fun.
– What is the creative process like when your scoring a video like the one you did for Sanguine?
I first focus on the video itself and what the message is. I then listen to the temp music provided or read the notes provided to understand what direction the director or producer would like for the music. After that, I just start playing on the keyboard or guitar and develop a theme/melody and harmonies that reinforce the message of the video. Once I have the basic score written out, I go back and fully orchestrate the piece and tweak the sounds to my liking. Lastly, I mix the piece and then send it off to the client.
– Last questions – if you could score a movie for one director who would it be and why?
Neill Blomkamp (District 9, Elysium). I love his style, very raw and gritty. I also heard from speaking with a composer who worked with him that he is a big fan of drums/percussion in the music for his films which fits perfectly into my style/experience as my primary instrument is drums and I always try to incorporate intricate rhythms and percussion sounds into my music.
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Stay tuned tuned for the video premiere and more looks inside Sanguine.
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