Composer Quest: A Songwriting and Music Composition Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Season One Finale: Dmitri Tymoczko on Music Composition May 15, 2013

Show notes

Composer and Princeton professor Dmitri Tymoczko shares some excellent composing advice in this season finale episode of Composer Quest. Dmitri says that working on music theory as a composer is like lifting weights as a football player – it helps improve your intuitive composing. We also ponder the morality of exposing babies to only atonal music for experimental reasons.

Quest 2: Conversation May 14, 2013

Show notes

Your composing quest, should you choose to accept it: co-write and co-record an original piece of music with a random Composer Quest listener, based on the theme “Conversation.” Your finished track will be part of the first ever Composer Quest album, a free-to-download online release. In this special Quest 2 announcement episode, I talk with musical comedy duo The Boffo Yux Dudes about how they record songs together exclusively over the internet.

Torley on Creativity, Asperger’s, and Music Production May 08, 2013

Show notes

A truly unique figure in the electronic music world, Torley describes himself as a “time-traveling, universe-crossing, autistic, cyberpunk monk.” I was drawn in by the (over 800!) videos on Torley’s YouTube page, many of which are thoughtful talks by Torley on music composition, creativity, and his life experiences. In Composer Quest episode 38, Torley talks with me about Asperger’s syndrome, his hearing disorder called hyperacusis, his job in the online world Second Life, and of course, his advice on making otherworldly sounds.

Follow Your Dreams! With Candy Bilyk May 04, 2013

Show notes

Theater, film, and video game composer Candy Bilyk shares the best piece of advice she ever heard from Katy Perry: “Follow your dreams!” Candy was happy to share her own (actually practical) advice on composing and the music business. In Composer Quest Episode 37, we talk about everything from “synthestration” to grant writing to her opera about a fairy-eating carp.

North Korean Cannibal Songwriting with Joe Graves May 01, 2013

Show notes

My cousin Joe Graves’ songwriting skills somehow flew under the radar in my family, until he finally performed some of his songs this past Christmas. In Composer Quest Episode 36, Joe plays and talks about the music he wrote for his band Goodnight Gorillas. He was inspired to make dark music by his older brothers Matt and Nate (Ep. 4), but he’s been developing his own singing and songwriting style. Joe shares some of his lyrical inspiration, including a story about a famine in North Korea that forced some people to dig up dead bodies for food.

Movie Score Trivia with Director Elliot Diviney Apr 27, 2013

Show notes

Minnesota filmmaker Elliot Diviney taught himself to compose film scores to lighten the budget in his money-sucking filmmaking habit. In episode 35 of Composer Quest, Elliot and I talk about his newest political satire musical Problem Solving the Republic, inspired by South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone. We also talk about some famous movie scores.

Physical Songwriting with Jenny Katz Apr 24, 2013

Show notes

For wordsmith Jenny Katz, writing lyrics feels like rolling marbles around in her chest. I can’t say I’ve ever had such a physical reaction to words, so it was fascinating talking with Jenny in Composer Quest Ep. 34 about how she approaches songwriting. For her, even the meaning of a song is subservient to the sound of words that feel physically right to her. Jenny also shares stories behind her new Kickstarter-funded album Galaxies.

Reddit Sensation Cameron Scott Boster on Folk Songwriting Apr 20, 2013

Show notes

Folk singer/songwriter Cameron Scott Boster posted his 24-song album on Reddit a few weeks ago and got a huge response from listeners. In Composer Quest episode 33, Cameron shares some of the stories behind his songs, and cracks me up in the process. He’s heading off to law school in Virginia, so music is going to have to be a side project for him. After hearing his incredible live performances, I think you’ll probably be with me in wishing that he continues on his songwriting path.

Robot Drummers and Patrick Flanagan of Jazari Apr 17, 2013

Show notes

Cyborg percussion ensemble Jazari was created by "token human" Patrick Flanagan. He made a kind of robot drum circle that beats on acoustic bongos, cowbells, a djembe, and more. In episode 32 of Composer Quest, Patrick talks with me about his robot band, his day job creating musical iPhone apps, and his reasons for leaving the academic composing world to create dance music.

Songwriting Genesis with Emot’s Matt Leavitt Apr 13, 2013

Show notes

In episode 31 of Composer Quest, songwriter Matt Leavitt of the indie band Emot talks with me about his belief that the very first time you work on a song is often where the best ideas come from, and anything after that is just trying to recreate this spark of initial inspiration. We also get to hear Matt play a couple new tunes live from Emot’s upcoming album, which they’ve been working on with producer Brian Moen (of Peter Wolfcrier and Laarks).

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Composer Quest: A Songwriting and Music Composition Podcast

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected