We recently connected with Michael Drew and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Michael thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?

I began learning the craft of film composing by simply watching movies and trying to listen to each piece of music as the story went along. I tried to listen for when a cue (musical moment) would start, and why the composer or director might have made this decision. I also listened to how other composers used themes to help guide the narrative along, and I loved how they were able to make a theme speak so many different emotions. After scoring a few films, I realised I need to fill a lot of gaps I had in my skillset, so I studied music at University in Australia and then completed my Masters in Film Scoring in Europe.

Not everyone needs to go to school for this, many successful composers today did not, but personally I found it was exactly what helped me get to where I am today. Without meeting the mentors, other students and guest composers along the way, I wouldn’t have been able to grow my skillset so quickly.

Michael , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

For almost as long as I can remember, I loved stories, and I loved music. I used to sit down and watch as many movies as I could get my hands on because I was obsessed with the adventures, thrills, frights and emotions each story would take me on. My parents would tell me stories of how I would watch a film, then walk around the house humming entire themes from memory. It did however, take me some time before I recognised that my love for music and film would combine. I spent many years playing in bands and trying to make that my creative outlet and career, but it was my professor at university who suggested the idea of composing music for film. It was a lightbulb moment for me, and I soon realised how much was sitting right in front of me the whole time. Having watched so many films and listened to so many of the great composers, I had a ‘feeling’ of how a film’s score should sound, what would enhance the story being told. This led to me scoring my first short film in 2015, and luckily for myself and the wonderful team, it went on to be shown at Cannes Film Festival. From there, I kept working as hard as I could, scoring as much as I could and building towards a dream of composing in LA.

After some time in Australia, I felt I needed to leave and spread my wings overseas, which led me to undertaking my Masters at the Film Scoring Academy of Europe in Bulgaria. It was there that I met one of the biggest mentors Dr. Andy Hill. Thanks to his teachings and deep knowledge and love for the craft, I was learning from one of the best and translating my love for the craft, into the craft. I found a new love, which was working with and conducting orchestras. Being on the podium, working with live musicians playing my music was unlike anything else I’d ever experienced and I became obsessed. Alongside Dr. Hill was a whole team of incredible people who are now close friends, and with their support, I found myself moving to Los Angeles.

Since being in LA I’ve had the opportunity to work with orchestras here, and I always try to find ways to include real players on my scores, rather than settle for the computer generated sound that many audiences/film makers have become accustomed to. The heart and beauty a real player can bring to the music, will always be the best option and worth the budget.

I’ve always tried my hardest to find the heart of any story I’m brought on to score. I don’t want to just craft music that covers the basics, but music that helps drive the intent of what the film maker is going for. Rather than just writing chase music, look deeper into why is the character being chased? What is their emotional state during this chase? This is the sort of approach the greatest film composers of the past and present take, and I hope to one day be considered among them.

Recently I completed the feature film score for the horror film “The Matriarch”. Not only were we able to get orchestral themes into the film, but I was able to go a little nuts on the creative side of things. For example, taking an Australian bird audio, manipulating it on the computer then processing it through a guitar amp to create a truly horrific and terrifying sound! The film and soundtrack are set to premier in 2024.

The most beautiful thing about music and film music is that you are forever learning, and it is a truly humbling thing. There is so much you can be improving on that you are always on a journey of discovery! There’s also a power in cinema and storytelling. There are so many movies that leave you different after you’ve watched them. They can teach us lessons, guide us through difficult times, make us more empathetic and bring us all closer together as people. I’m lucky enough to have collaborated with many incredible creatives and been a part of some truly great storytelling in cinema.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

The ‘why’ in my creative career, is to tell stories that are a part of something. Growing up I loved that watching movies was a safe place for me, but also one that taught me a lot of powerful messages. It led me to chase imagination, to dream, to believe in people and hope for a bright future. It seems that a lot of the world feels lost and disconnected from one another, from their inner child, but it’s our curiosity and our inner drive for creativity that can help. Great cinema has the power to bring stories and characters to life in ways that help us to love, laugh, grow and to feel. If I have a chance to contribute to that with music, then it’s something I’ll fight for.

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

Contact Info:

• Website: https://musicbymichaeldrew.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/musicbymichaeldrew/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MichaelDrewNH
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-drew-5ab16213b/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiRZkkldp0fisi-WJGQSKdg

Image Credits
DONTEVA Fernando Guerra Jr. Ruben Russo