First compelled by the name “Super Hero Composer”, then listening to music that lived up to the title, I had to ask Marschawn Howard for an interview. He graciously accepted, and we ended up having a great conversation, from North Carolina to California, including topics like writing catchy, memorable music, second-guessing yourself, and the story behind his bold title.
Interviews
Interview with Carlos Eiene
There really are no words that adequately express just how wonderful the jazz covers of Carlos Eiene (insaneintherainmusic) are. Excellent aural ability, combined with unparalleled creativity and improvisation makes for the best covers of video game music I have ever listened to, by far. I had a fantastic and thought-provoking conversation with the incredibly eloquent musician, who shared many inspiring ideas, including becoming the best you can be, the beautifully reactive nature of jazz, and realizing that nothing is ever going to be perfect.
Interview with Rachel Peters
Immediately enraptured by the beautifully delicate yet luscious tracks of Rachel Peters, I contacted the artistic composer for an interview. From Southend-on-Sea to California, we had a great conversation, where we discussed a variety of topics, including the importance of collaboration, unintentionally overcomplicating things, and activities that keep the mind buzzing!
Interview with Steph Nguyen
The moment I first listened to the compositions of Steph Nguyen, I was immediately blown away by how complex and powerful they were. The recent Full Sail University graduate shows immense talent and promise in her field. I had the great opportunity to interview Steph, where we talked about realizing your potential, powering through last-minute panic, and admiring the emotional impact of RPGs.
Interview with Michelle Saddic
Intrigued by the gorgeous and heartfelt compositions of Michelle Saddic, I contacted the incredibly talented composer to ask for an interview. We ended up having a great conversation, where she shared her thoughts about life experiences as inspiration, her detailed compositional process, difficulties coming up with inspiration where there is none, and playing card games.
Interview with Kade Kalka
With an impressive collection of originals and VGM covers, Kade Kalka certainly showcases incredible, fresh talent. I had the pleasure of interviewing the young composer, where we talked about musical influences, compositional processes, recent challenges, and future projects.
Interview with Brandon Lau
With compositional influences in orchestral music and EDM, Brandon Lau has a solid grasp and mastery of both genres, among others. Check out my interview with the easy-going and amicable composer, where we had an interesting discussion, talking about discovering a composer’s power over an audience, unexpected mutual influential of seemingly contrasting musical genres, and musical inertia.
Interview with Sydney Kjerstad
A composer of an array of enchantingly diverse compositions, and host of SmartGamePiano, Sydney Kjerstad is truly a unique-minded talent. I had the opportunity to speak with the friendly and humble composer, where we talked about creating compositional maps, creating a supportive musical community, pushing yourself out of your comfort zone, and the joys of mixing different genres.
Interview with Mickey Wilson
When you listen to a piece of music, there are times when you can simply feel the immensity of the back story. This was certainly the case when I discovered and listened to Mickey Wilson‘s album “Press Start“—I just knew I had to contact him. Fortunately, the gregarious and friendly composer kindly gave me the opportunity to speak with him, where he shared an epic story about his unusual guitar lessons, troubling legal issues, and immense disappointment, yet through it all, he still holds a fierce determination, positive outlook, and strong spirit.
Interview with Deborah Lee Proaño
Composing with roots in folk pop and a recent delve into electronic and orchestral genres, Singapore-born and currently LA-based composer Deborah Lee Proaño has a wonderfully diverse palette. I had the opportunity to interview the inspiring musician, where we discussed feeling music for the first time, video games’ ability to connect people on a deep level, and the difficulty of technicalities and unfamiliarity inhibiting compositional enlightenment.
