If you make modern rap music, how do you write without ripping off anyone else? It's just about having a distinct voice in your songs.
— Ludwig Goransson
Every now and then, as a composer and producer, it's important to write music for yourself.
Needless to say, when I work on a film, it's mostly just me alone in my room just waiting to present the music to the director - and either he likes it or not.
I think I'm a pretty good listener.
In western classical music with an orchestra, you focus the orchestra on melodies and harmony. In African music, the biggest focus is on rhythms and counter-rhythms - the complexity of rhythms.
The through line of the way I like to work, what makes me different, and what I like to do for every project - although they are completely different from each other - is I like to do a lot of research and create a unique landscape and unique soundscape for each movie.
Growing up, I was listening to a lot of Metallica, a lot of instrumental guitar music because I started out as a guitar player.
Any time I get a chance to work with artists that make me inspired and learn new stuff about music - every chance I get, I'll take.
No matter where you're born or what country you're from, you connect with 'This is America.' It speaks to people; it connects right to your soul. It calls out injustice, celebrates life, and reunites us all at the same time.
I'd say for a film composer, 'Star Wars' is kind of like the holy grail of film music. It's probably the best film music ever written.
I really want to get better at conducting.
If you're a film composer, you have the music tell the story of the character.
When I'm by myself - composing or writing film scores - it's very lonely. I'm just sitting by myself in the studio.
Any time you have the chance to celebrate something with your closest best friends, it's very special.
One of the first things I want do when I start writing music for a film is to create its own sound world, its own music world.
I think, for me, a way to really come up with new ideas and come up with new ways of writing music is to create a unique sound palette or soundscape for all the films I'm working on.
Needless to say, I like to create a unique sound for each project I do.
