In the world of music, it pays off a great deal to be good at many things. This is certainly the case with multi-talented Bri Ray, who composes, sings, and does voice acting. I spoke with the kind and easy-going composer, where she talked about faith as a main influence, the magic of video games, the importance of following through with projects, and creating things from the heart.
Interviews
Interview with Misty Crowd
I was initially intrigued by Misty Crowd‘s beautifully captivating vocals and quite interesting musical arrangements, then completely blown away by the depth of the composer’s insights and the fascinatingly unique lens in which she views the world. Poetry, internal movies, meditation, the role of the composer as a musical filter, and intentionally challenging herself in many different ways… Misty’s philosophical ideas are incredibly refreshing and inspiring.
Interview with Leila Wilson
With an impressive array of tracks showcasing a variety of styles and catchy tunes, Leila Wilson‘s soundcloud page completely blew me away. I reached out to the incredible composer, admittedly resigning myself to the fact that she may be too cool to respond. To my delight, however, she got back to me, excited to be interviewed! I had a wonderful conversation with Leila, where she shared her thoughts on gaining a fresh perspective and inspiration from new places, tough experiences with trial and error, the importance of having mentors, and writing the story and music for Elancia Chronicles, her magnificent passion project.
Interview with Brendan Hogan
A multi-talented creative genius, Brendan Hogan has extensive knowledge and experience in the realms of both composition and sound design. I was absolutely floored by his company Impossible Acoustic’s 2016 Demo Reel, and their work on the stunning Native American platformer game “Never Alone“. In our interview, Brendan shared how he got into sound design, the brilliant story behind his team’s work on Never Alone, his breakdown of the idea of music as a universal language, and the idea of transparent music.
Interview with Tiantian Liu
As the composer of many independent animated films, Tiantian Liu writes music that is both charming and captivating. I immensely enjoyed the diversity of tracks from her website, and decided to reach out to ask for an interview. We had a wonderful conversation, from Beijing to California, where she shared her ideas about composition and cooking, the importance of communication, and plans for her new studio.
Interview with Ahmed Elian
I admit that I am not usually much of a fan of rock music. I don’t necessarily dislike it—it’s just that that particular instrumental combination doesn’t usually do it for me. But Ahmed Elian‘s progressive rock music was somehow different. I was drawn in and enthralled by his intricately arranged and gorgeously developed progressive rock tracks. Lucky for me, he eagerly accepted my interview request! We had an incredibly fun and thought-provoking conversation, from Cairo to California, where the humble and good-natured composer talked about inspirational games (particularly Undertale), odd time signatures, and compositional option anxiety.
Interview with Emmanuel Lagumbay
Impressed by the grandiose, and gloriously epic orchestrations and compositions of Emmanuel Lagumbay, I feel very fortunate to have had the opportunity to speak with the talented, ambitious composer. He shared his thoughts about the comical story behind his very first composition, drawing inspiration from MMOs, and working with The Summoner’s Orchestra.
Interview with Wesley Gillebaard
With a splendid collection of wonderfully titled and beautifully arranged pieces, Wesley Gillebaard‘s portfolio on soundcloud is indeed some delicious ear candy! I had an incredibly thought-provoking conversation with the composer/developer, where he shared his ideas about many fascinating topics, including hearing a melody in his dreams, excessively repetitive music, fashion subcultures and their corresponding soundtracks, and using art as a means to give back to the world.
Interview with Billye Sands
Billye Sands‘s exquisite ear for music and exceptional eye for photography completely drew me in, with her delectable assortment of VGM tracks, and a pleasantly peculiar playlist of original songs. The kind-hearted composer and I had a great discussion, from Georgia to California, where she shared her thoughts about cartoons as inspiration, spontaneous and free-spirited composition, vertical orchestration, and the importance of taking your time for the little things.
Interview with Julie Buchanan
Fascinated by a captivating array of electronic and acoustic tracks, I immediately fell in love with Julie Buchanan‘s music. The innovative, friendly, and eloquent composer took some time to have a conversation with me, where she shared her thoughts about last-minute audition music, inspiration from stories and narrative, the importance of implementation, and creating her own instruments.
Whimsically Theoretical 