Composer Quest: A Songwriting and Music Composition Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Quest 7: Compose Music for Your Valentine Jan 25, 2014

Show notes

The 7th Composer Quest Quest is here! As Valentine’s Day quickly approaches, I challenge you to write a piece of music for your valentine. The twist is, it must be for your valentine to perform, not you. So if that special someone plays an instrument or sings, this is the perfect opportunity to give him or her a unique gift. Don’t feel limited to writing for a romantic valentine, either; you could also choose a friend or family member.

Composer Career Conseling with ACF’s Craig Carnahan Jan 22, 2014

Show notes

Craig Carnahan has been a part of the American Composers Forum since it was small enough to fit in someone’s living room. In this episode of Composer Quest, he shares some advice on writing grants, getting performances of your music, and arranging copyrighted material. Craig explains how ACF’s Innova recording label works, and why it’s such a great opportunity for composers. We also get to hear a few of Craig’s original pieces.

Freelance Video Game Composing with Chris Kukla Jan 15, 2014

Show notes

Chris Kukla shares some practical advice about freelancing as a video game composer: where to find gigs, how to get paid, and how to work with your clients.

Lazerwülf on Charity Songwriting Jan 08, 2014

Show notes

The infamous trio Lazerwülf joined me for a Composer Quest interview about their new charity single to raise money for children in Africa. We also unearthed some deep cuts from the Lazerwülf catalogue.

Merry Questmas! Dec 20, 2013

Show notes

Santa visits the Composer Quest studios to kick off this special Christmas episode. You’ll get to hear music from the past three quests. First, we travel out to rural Minnesota for KMS Elementary’s heartwarming performance of our collaborative Christmas musical Elfluenza. Ms. Hamann’s 1st-3rd graders also give us composers some advice. Next, I reveal which orchestral carol arrangements were chosen and performed by the Amadeus Chamber Symphony. Finally, we get to experience Mr. Wilson’s epic journey to find a fortune cookie in Taiwan for the fortune cookie songwriting quest.

Schizophrenic Synthpop Storytelling with Felix Frost Dec 11, 2013

Show notes

Experimental songwriter Ben Simon (aka Felix Frost) caught my ear when I was judging the SpinTunes songwriting contest. His album Phineas Flux has a really shiny pop sound, but it almost never repeats the same phrase twice (in fancy composer language, that’s called “through-composed”). We talk about his elaborate plot-driven songs about cowboys and pirates in this episode of Composer Quest.

How to Compose Earworms and Fetal Music with Dr. Vicky Williamson Dec 04, 2013

Show notes

Music Psychologist Victoria Williamson is an expert on earworms – songs that stick in our heads. In this episode of Composer Quest, she reveals her findings on what makes a melody sticky. Vicky also answers my other pressing music psychology questions: Why do babies have an innate sense of rhythm? Why did Clive Wearing, a severe amnesiac, retain his ability to perform music? When did humans start playing instruments? Also in this episode, you’ll get to hear the sound of the world’s oldest instrument, and a never-before-released Charlie song. Enjoy!

Songwriting Tricks with Dylan McFarling Nov 27, 2013

Show notes

Guitarist Dylan McFarling is obsessed with studying the work of other songwriters and composers, all the way back to Bach and his ingenious Musical Offering. In this episode of Composer Quest, Dylan shares his songwriting tips and explains how string quartets have inspired the way he orchestrates guitar and voice in his songs. Also in this episode, you’ll hear some beautiful, previously unrecorded songs that Dylan performed live in the Composer Quest studio.

Philosophies of Music Composition with Richard Russell Nov 20, 2013

Show notes

Composer Richard Russell is a philosopher at heart. In his mission to become a better composer, he went back to school to study the big questions surrounding aesthetics, music, and beauty. He has also dug into both existential and practical composing topics in his podcast Creativity and Composition (one of my favorites). I’m pleased to bring you this Composer Quest podcast interview with Richard, in which we discuss everything from feminist musicology to Plato to getting performance royalties from ASCAP.

Video Game Composition with Michael Chadwick Nov 13, 2013

Show notes

After nerding out about video game soundtracks for 20+ years, Michael Chadwick finally started composing his own, a few of which are for games that don’t actually exist. In this episode of Composer Quest, we chat about Michael’s score for his made-up RPG Ebben Flow, his chiptune album Average Town, and his soundtracks he composes for his everyday activities (eating a muffin, doing the dishes, etc.).