We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Nate Williams a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Nate, appreciate you joining 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?
Like many skills, I think learning to effectively write music for visual media requires constant iteration. You just have to do it a lot, and it starts to seep into you. I began to understand this idea as I practiced the cello regularly in high school, and I realized that I needed to approach writing and producing music with the same dedication. There’s really no shortcut around the time that needs to be spent to develop a high-level skill. Going to school put me in an incredible environment to iterate on my craft and hone my skills with an amazing support system. It put me in the same room as people who excelled in many areas who I could learn from. I also had plenty of opportunities to develop clear communication skills, which are essential as you collaborate with film directors, game developers, and other members of your team.
One of the early obstacles I faced was the idea that I needed all the industry’s cutting-edge tools—the latest sample libraries, a decked-out computer, a pair of high-end studio monitors—to create quality music. Good gear can certainly help, but all of those things cost a lot of money. Eventually, I realized that instead, I could master the gear I did have, develop razor-sharp skills, and invest my money wisely and conservatively. By shifting my mindset, I learned I could move past most of the barriers I thought would hold me back.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
I’m a composer for visual media, including film, television, advertisement, and video games. I’m a storyteller, crafting tailor-made original music that deepens a project’s narrative and emotional impact. In addition to composition, I provide orchestration, copy work, conducting, cello recording, and technical assistance services. As a cellist, I specialize in string and orchestral writing. I’m a lifelong EDM enthusiast, which fuels my love for synth sound design. I often fuse the worlds of traditional orchestration and modern music to meet each project’s unique needs.
Recently, I had the opportunity to write the music for <i>Frankie,</i> an animation film showcasing soon at the Coronado Island Film Festival, and I wrote the music for <i>Solar Showdown,</i> a video game which won an excellence award at the 2023 Rookies Awards. I’ve also had the privilege to conduct recording sessions in Chicago and at East West Studios in Los Angeles, and to record cello at numerous recording sessions.
I’m currently completing an MFA in Music Composition for the Screen at Columbia College Chicago.
Is there mission driving your creative journey?
I believe the most powerful force for change is individuals choosing to exercise kindness in their own spheres of influence. For me, one of the most meaningful ways to contribute to this is by providing personal and meaningful emotional experiences for people I may never meet. Music has the unique ability to translate powerful emotions to others, regardless of culture, distance, demographics, and beliefs. Combined with visual mediums, there is real potential to create life-changing messages that resonate with individuals on a personal level. Media composers produce the music that is heard by the masses on a daily basis, essentially creating the soundtrack not only to media, but to people’s lives. Music carries tremendous weight in storytelling, and its effects resonate throughout people’s lives as they create their own stories. This music has the potential to reach wide audiences and emotionally impact individuals in deep, positive ways.
At the climax of Pixar’s animation film <i>Inside Out</i>, Sadness takes over and Riley returns to her parents after running away. The soundtrack here is one of my favorite sonic representations of bittersweetness and the cathartic process of allowing yourself to experience sadness, thereby enhancing your joy. Like many other, I have personally experienced those emotions, so the moment strongly impacted me. As a composer, I strive to capture emotions people will identify with and remember during their lives. By articulating and drawing attention to emotions through music, I believe we can make life richer.
Have you ever had to pivot?
I can briefly share two stories that changed my outlook approach to the future. The first is when partway through my undergraduate degree in Cello Performance, I realized I was not heading towards a career I truly wanted. I realized that while I wanted to stay within the music industry, I wasn’t interested in becoming a lifelong performer in a symphony orchestra. At first it felt wrong for me to “abandon” what I’d worked so hard towards for many years of my life, but I realized I could still hold on to the musical aspects of my life while expanding into new areas that felt more fulfilling. With some encouragement from my family and friends, I decided to adjust my trajectory to its current path and I am so glad I did. I hope that at future junctures, I can summon the same courage. The second is when my wife and I welcomed our son into the world. My priorities quickly shifted. I am living the career I dreamed about as a kid, but that is dwarfed in comparison to the life I dream of with my family. Nothing is more important to me than spending meaningful time with them. Living a creative life requires focused time and dedication, and while it is incredibly rewarding, it becomes even more valuable when balanced with a full personal life. Keeping my priorities in order enhances both.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.natevwilliams.com
- Instagram: @natevwi11
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nathaniel.williams.718
- Other: Music Reel: https://play.reelcrafter.com/-wvJbMftT_OwJ-Civ4Xz6g