Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Dan Radlauer. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Dan, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

To be asked to create the musical score for the latest show at the Griffith Observatory called “Signs Of Life” might just be the most meaningful and impactful work I’ve done. There are many reasons I feel this way.

First off, it is an amazing show about one of the great mysteries of the universe: Is there life on other planets? So the whole concept of the show asks a very basic human question: “Are we alone in the Universe?” Creating the music to ask that question and tell the story of our search for signs of life (literally) is quite a challenge and opportunity.

Then there is the location itself. An historic building and the most visited Planetarium in the world!! The show is presented with a “Live Narrator” five times a day, five days a week, so it will reach a lot of people…and hopefully is a fun experience and makes one think about “the big picture.”

And speaking of “The Big Picture”… it’s a BIG PICTURE. A huge dome with a state of the art audio system. In fact, when most theaters are “5:1” or “7:1” audio environments, the Griffith Planetarium is mixed in “28:1”. There are 29 audio sources in the dome. So the sound is also “BIG.” We spent long hours after the Planetarium had closed in the Dome mixing the show. That too was quite a treat.

Lastly, the team I worked with was one of the finest groups of talented and smart individuals I’ve ever had the pleasure to meet. Everyone knew that this was a lifetime opportunity, and we all collaborated with a great final product in mind. I’m very proud of the score and the whole show. The score even won the “Hollywood Music in Media” award for theme park attractions in 2021.

Dan, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I really don’t know why, but music seems to be very important to EVERYBODY. I often say that people have especially strong feelings about three things: Food, Family and Music. Yet, we can’t live without food, we really wouldn’t be who we are without family, but how does music fit into this trio? Somehow music is basic to the Human Condition.

I’ve been blessed with the opportunity and ability to live my life writing music, playing music and helping people improve their musical abilities through my volunteer music teaching. (I’m currently volunteer director of the Jazz Band at Pacific Palisades High School and mentor a number of young musicians.)

I started writing music in High School as a salve for my serial broken hearts. I soon realized I had both a talent and love for composing music.

I dug into the “architecture” of music, also known as “Music Theory.” Soon I was deconstructing all sorts of musical genres: Classical, Jazz, Rock, R&B, folk and country. I also became fascinated with music technology. I studied the recording studio, microphones, synthesizers, guitars of all kinds and eventually the computer as a music production tool.

I had some wonderful teachers and mentors and started composing music for TV and Radio commercials. This was my professional training ground. Commercials have a HUGE variety of music. So one day I’d be doing Heavy Metal, the next, sounding like Beethoven, and then swinging like Benny Goodman or pumping “Four on the Floor” like Dead Maus. I love it all!!

As a “composer for hire” my job is helping people tell their stories. Whether it’s a Pizza Commercial, a TV Series, an Action Movie, Theme Park attraction or powerful Documentary, the music is the subtext of almost any form of Media hosted entertainment.

I’ve also been able to “pay it forward” to aspiring young musicians. I have a knack for knowing what a young musician needs to move forward and find their voice through music. And while teaching them about music, I find I also help them learn about themselves and try to illuminate their path.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

Human beings are storytellers. We evolved and survived by communicating important knowledge and traditions through stories. Music is story telling, even instrumental music. So my mission is always to tell an entertaining and affective story with my music.

It’s also a way of connecting with people. I have traveled all around the world, and I always make connections through music. It has become an important part of my community and a way to have a positive influence on others, whether it’s to help someone tell their story, to simply entertain, or to share and teach aspiring musicians and composers.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

The pivots come as you grow and mature.

My first musical pivot was from sad song writer to creator of instrumental music people wanted to play. Things like band music for high schools and colleges, songs and choir compositions.

My next pivot was into commercials and learning to work in the production world of LA. Getting jobs, making connections, instilling confidence in clients and managing my time and productivity.

Then I pivoted to longer forms like TV and Films. (Though I continue to compose for advertising and enjoy it very much). Longer form musical situations need things like themes and motifs you can develop. You also need to know the whole story so you can work the story arc to be most effective.

I am now pivoting back a bit to music for music’s sake. I have a couple of performing groups (Acoustic Asylum) and some alter egos on Spotify. (Electric Asylum and Acoustic Dreams) I’m also working on a couple of long form Big Band Jazz projects that are just for the music and no visual medium.

So for me, the pivots come upon me as I grow as a person and musician. The business environments changes too. So I tend to go where the opportunities lead me.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.radmusic.net
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/acousticasylum/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100088335339910
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RsdFR5CIgAY

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