Composer Quest: A Songwriting and Music Composition Podcast
166 episodes - English - Latest episode: over 7 years ago - ★★★★★ - 59 ratingsJoin the quest! Learn how composers and songwriters create music in this podcast hosted by Minneapolis composer Charlie McCarron. Whether you’re a music composition grad or simply an occasional noodler on a guitar, each guest has a new perspective for you on the creative process of composing and songwriting, along with some concrete ideas to apply to your own music.
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Episodes
Music from the Director’s Chair with Jason P. Schumacher
May 06, 2015 02:00 - 1 hour - 68.7 MBJason P. Schumacher has made a name for himself as a filmmaker in the Twin Cities, but he’s also had songwriting in the background of his life since high school. In this episode of Composer Quest, we talk about Jason’s first official EP, Dumpster Baby, which is kind of a retrospective of his melodies and guitar riffs from his earliest songwriting days. Jason also shares some great advice on freelancing, and we talk about some of our favorite film scores.
Arranging Pop Songs with Producer Andy Thompson
April 29, 2015 02:00 - 1 hour - 84.2 MBAndy Thompson is the guy who’s made Jeremy Messersmith’s albums sound incredibly good. He has also collaborated with Dan Wilson of Semisonic, Belle and Sebastian, and he even added some instrumental parts to Taylor Swift’s record Red, which earned him a Grammy nomination. In this episode of Composer Quest, Andy shares his ideas on arranging strings, mixing pop music, and making generative music.
Patchwork Scriabin Results
April 26, 2015 13:00 - 17 minutes - 15.7 MB100 years after the death of Alexander Scriabin, his music lives on in a form he would never have expected. A week ago, I announced the Patchwork Scriabin quest along with UniqueSound, and 49 people contributed to our Scriabin sound quilt by recording a measure of his Prelude in A minor, Op. 11 No. 2. I’m excited to present our final mashup, with 68 uniquely-produced measures. You’ll hear trombones, bells, accordions, chiptune synths, wine glasses, dog growls, dance beats, and much more.
Song Exploder’s Hrishikesh Hirway on Songwriting
April 22, 2015 17:00 - 1 hour - 58.5 MBHrishikesh Hirway removes as much of himself as possible from his interviews with musicians in Song Exploder. In today’s episode of Composer Quest, we get to hear from this mysterious podcaster about his own songwriting process. He also shares what he’s learned from all the talented songwriter guests on Song Exploder.
Quest 15: MNKINO Film Score Fest
April 19, 2015 17:30 - 12 minutes - 11.6 MBFilm Score Fest is back in 2015! MNKINO and Composer Quest will be pairing up filmmakers and composers to create new short films, and the Composer Quest orchestra will perform the scores live at the screening on August 13th (7pm, Landmark Center in St. Paul, MN).
Quest 14: Patchwork Scriabin with UniqueSound
April 15, 2015 01:00 - 8 minutes - 7.88 MBIn honor of the 100th anniversary of Alexander Scriabin’s death, Composer Quest and UniqueSound are teaming up to bring you a collaborative music production quest. We’ll be creating an “audio quilt” based on Scriabin’s Prelude in A minor, Op. 11 No. 2. Your goal is to record one measure from the score using whatever instruments or synthesizers you want (sign-up form below). I’ll unveil our stitched-together masterpiece on the Composer Quest podcast on April 27th.
Brain Music with Roger Dumas
April 15, 2015 00:30 - 1 hour - 64.9 MBRoger Dumas was a synthesizer whiz kid back in the 70s. He wrote manuals for early Moog synthesizers, and he helped out Prince, Janet Jackson, and even John Lennon. He’s also the guy behind the catchy synths in the disco hit “Funkytown.” Now Roger has a new passion: studying the brain’s response to music. He’s done some pretty amazing work, including re-creating a melody out of the pure data from brain sensors. In this season premiere episode of Composer Quest, I talk with Roger about his res...
Merry Podmas: 7 Composition Podcasts
December 09, 2014 21:00 - 42 minutes - 38.8 MBWelcome to this special Christmas episode of Composer Quest! Since I’ll be taking a break from interviews (until I find a few more patrons…wink wink), I thought I’d share a few of my favorite music composition and music production podcasts. If you’ve been listening to Composer Quest, you’ve heard from many of these podcast hosts before.
N64 Composer Grant Kirkhope Talks Banjo Kazooie, GoldenEye, Perfect Dark
December 03, 2014 16:00 - 1 hour - 55.8 MBIt was an honor interviewing legendary composer Grant Kirkhope about his time at Rare, where he worked on some of the most popular video game soundtracks of all time. In this episode of Composer Quest, Grant talks about composing within the very small limits of the Nintendo 64 cartridge, and he shares some stories behind the soundtracks to Banjo Kazooie, Banjo Tooie, GoldenEye 007, and Perfect Dark. We also talk about Grant’s more recent orchestral work for Kingdoms of Amalur and Civilization...
Chiptune Composing with Ben Burnes
November 26, 2014 16:00 - 56 minutes - 51.8 MBIn today’s episode of Composer Quest, I talk with fellow Minnesotan Ben Burnes, who has been writing chiptune music for games (12 games in 12 weeks, as a matter of fact). He just released them in his album Three Red Hearts, and in our talk he shares some tips on creating video game music. We also talk about creativity and the business of indie game composing.
Quest 13: Arias on Tap, the Sequel
November 25, 2014 16:00 - 9 minutes - 8.4 MBFor the next Composer Quest quest, we’re partnering up with Opera on Tap Twin Cities again to premiere new arias and art songs. You can write for up to 4 voices accompanied by electronic piano. Optional additional instruments are Bb clarinet, bassoon, and euphonium. Send your new composition to [email protected] and [email protected] on or before December 28 at 11:59pm central time.
Scoring and Re-scoring Films with Alex Ruger
November 19, 2014 16:00 - 57 minutes - 53 MBBy day, he works for living legends Danny Elfman and Inon Zur. By night, he composes film scores himself and “re-scores” classic films like 2001: A Space Odyssey, Inception, and Saving Private Ryan. In this episode of Composer Quest, Alex Ruger talks about his personal challenge to add score to scenes that, admittedly, should not have music. We also discuss his vegetable-based sample library, Lord of the Rings music theory, and how he got the gig with his longtime hero, Danny Elfman.
Chopin, Hendrix, and Pianist Paul Cantrell
November 12, 2014 18:00 - 1 hour - 64.4 MBWhat do Chopin and Jimi Hendrix have in common? What do “Graceland” and “Yesterday” have in common? How do mp3s work? What is the purpose of music? These are just a few of the random topics Paul Cantrell and I talk about in today’s episode of Composer Quest. He has a ton of golden nuggets for composers, and you’ll get to hear him live at the piano, explaining the composing styles of Chopin, Brahms, and Paul Cantrell himself. Make sure to check out Paul’s piece The Broken Mirror of Memory at ...
Geriatric Songwriters and Music Therapy with Angela Johnson
November 05, 2014 23:00 - 1 hour - 55.9 MBIt isn’t every day you hear about a CD release party at a nursing home. Music therapist Angela Johnson worked with some older folks to create a CD of songs that include everything from sage advice to dog barks. In this episode of Composer Quest, Angela gives us the lowdown on being a music therapist, and she shares what it’s like dealing with death on a regular basis. She also plays some of her beautiful songs live.
Composing with Knobs and Patch Cables, Featuring Mike Olson
October 29, 2014 23:00 - 59 minutes - 54.4 MBMike Olson schooled me in the ways of old-fashioned analog electronic composing, where you only have dials and cords to create music with. In this episode of Composer Quest, Mike shares how his creative process works when he’s at his Moog modular synthesizer. We also talk about how to sound-treat your home studio, and what makes music go from merely “perfect” to “hair-raisingly transcendent.”
Quest 12: Suzuki Flute Choir
October 24, 2014 10:00 - 21 minutes - 19.8 MBFor the 12th Composer Quest quest, I challenge you to write a piece of music for flute choir, with parts that can be performed by beginner, intermediate, and advanced students. We’ll be collaborating with the Minnesota Suzuki Flute Teachers Association, who have some fun concerts lined up to premiere these Composer Quest submissions. For the inside scoop on this challenge, take a listen to my talk with two of our collaborating teachers (and exceptional flutists), Bethany Gonella and Andrea My...
Episode 100: Mitchell Johnson Returns
October 22, 2014 23:00 - 1 hour - 58 MBFor this special 100th episode of Composer Quest, I thought I’d invite back my songwriter guest from the very first episode: Mitchell Adam Johnson. If you heard that episode, you know Mitchell has a knack for bringing music theory into his pop songwriting. We talk about chord progressions, “bizarro” tritones, Motown bass lines, and deep questions like “What’s the purpose of music?” Mitchell is releasing his first ever solo EP, Half Moon Lane, in just a few weeks, and this is a sneak preview o...
Superfan Dan Wheeler’s Top 10 Composer Quest Memories
October 08, 2014 15:00 - 1 hour - 56.8 MBI’ve been putting out more Composer Quest episodes over the past year and a half than most people can keep up with. So I was taken aback when I heard that Dan Wheeler had listened to all 90+ episodes TWICE (and some three times)! In this 99th Composer Quest episode, Dan shares his top ten moments from the podcast and talks about how they influenced his composing style.
Melody and Modulation with Composer Coach Jon Brantingham
October 01, 2014 16:00 - 59 minutes - 54.6 MBAfter his time as a helicopter pilot in the army, Jon Brantingham returned to his love of music theory and composing. He’s been inspiring people with his practical approach to learning composition, which he’s been sharing in his blog and podcast, Art of Composing. In this episode of Composer Quest, Jon and I talk about what makes a good melody, how to modulate using “pivot chords,” and how to channel Beethoven without outright copying him. We also chat about what he’s been learning in his UCL...
Quest 11: Halloween Reeds
October 01, 2014 12:00 - 7 minutes - 7.07 MBI’m excited to announce our 11th Composer Quest Quest, brought to you by our woodwind friends, the Twin Cities Trio! You may remember them from such quests as Quest #1, in which my podcast listeners and I arranged some fun music for oboe, clarinet, and bassoon. Now, the trio is back to inspire you to write and/or arrange music for them on the theme of Halloween. You can either find an existing spooky song (Thriller, the Addams Family theme, etc.) or write one yourself. Send your oboe, clarine...
Fargo Composer Jeff Russo on TV Scoring
September 24, 2014 21:00 - 42 minutes - 39.1 MBWhen Jeff Russo’s band Tonic hit it big in the 90s, he was just beginning to get interested in film and television scoring. Now his IMDb page is chock full of major TV credits, including composing for CBS’s Hostages, 50 Cent’s Power, USA’s Necessary Roughness, Showtime’s Weeds, etc. His most creatively fulfilling work, though, has been on the FX show Fargo, for which he just got an Emmy nomination. I’m excited to bring you my interview with Jeff, which marks the start of Composer Quest: Seaso...
Losing Control of Your Music
August 20, 2014 23:00 - 55 minutes - 50.6 MBIn the last summer Composer Quest episode, we got to hear from two entertainment lawyers about how to get your music into films and TV, without getting screwed by a bad contract. In this episode, we hear the story of someone who DID get screwed by the music industry, jazz musician Jimmy Norman. He had to keep gigging at age 74 just to scrape by, even though he had worked with the likes of Jimi Hendrix and Bob Marley, and co-wrote the Rolling Stones hit “Time Is on My Side.” Jason DeBose, prod...
Quest 10: Autumn Strings
August 17, 2014 01:00 - 9 minutes - 9.14 MBFor the 10th Composer Quest quest, I challenge you to write a string quartet inspired by autumn. You have until September 1st to send me your composition ([email protected]), and the best string quartets will be performed at the Underground Music Cafe on September 21st at 6pm. In this quest announcement episode, I pull out my dusty violin and give a few tips on writing for strings.
How Music Licensing Deals are Made in Film and TV
July 23, 2014 13:00 - 1 hour - 57.3 MBIf you’re a songwriter or composer, you may have been approached by a filmmaker who wants to use your music in his or her film. After the initial burst of excitement, a few practical questions should be going through your head: What should I charge? Who will own the music? Will I be able to collect royalties? Should I ask for a chunk of the film’s profits? Should I write the contract myself or hire a lawyer? These are just a few of the topics covered in this special summ...
Film Scoring 101 with Adam Conrad
June 17, 2014 20:00 - 49 minutes - 45.3 MBIn this special summer episode of Composer Quest, composer Adam Conrad shares a ton of great insights about how music works in film. He also explains why he transitioned from using MIDI mockups to writing everything by hand, for real musicians.
A Concept Album for Every Season with Chris Koza
May 28, 2014 13:00 - 51 minutes - 47.5 MBFor the Season 2 finale episode of Composer Quest, I interviewed Chris Koza, who had the crazy idea to create four concept albums in one year, following the change in seasons. These Rogue Valley albums turned out to be a huge artistic success. One song even ended up in Ben Stiller’s personal collection, and subsequently The Secret Life of Walter Mitty. Chris shares some songwriting tips and tricks, and we dig into the concepts behind his concept albums, like how he wrote a song for each of th...
Composing Tips from Triple Major Alex Cooke
May 21, 2014 11:00 - 32 minutes - 30.2 MBAlex Cooke majored in Math, Psychology, and Theater, but he eventually came back to his first true passion – music. He’s an interesting guy, and in this Composer Quest interview, we talk about everything from composing in odd time signatures to the most common Red Hot Chili Peppers chord progression. He also shares a bunch of practical advice on making your pieces both playable and artistically cohesive.
Rock and Docs with Composer Silas Hite
May 14, 2014 13:00 - 36 minutes - 33 MBI guarantee you’ve heard music by Silas Hite before. If you didn’t play Sims 2 or see Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, then you at least heard Silas’s score for the ubiquitous Mac vs. PC ads. Silas is proof that freelance composing is a viable career. In this episode of Composer Quest, we talk about his percussion-driven scores for the documentaries The Record Breaker (a Vimeo Top 10 film of 2013), The Invention of Dr. Nakamats, and Stories from the Evacuation. Silas also shares his creativ...
Dame Evelyn Glennie on Percussion and Dynamics
May 07, 2014 02:00 - 41 minutes - 38 MBEvelyn Glennie lost her hearing by the age of 12, but that didn’t stop her from becoming a percussion virtuoso, a three-time Grammy winner, and a Dame Commander of the British Empire. In this Composer Quest interview, she shares some really interesting ideas about dynamics and writing for percussion. We also talk about her collaborations with Björk, composer John Corigliano, and guitarist and improviser Fred Frith.
Behind the Curtain of Composing Wizard Tyler Tholl
April 30, 2014 15:00 - 40 minutes - 36.8 MBMy talented friend Tyler Tholl evaded coming on the Composer Quest podcast for over a year, but finally my pestering paid off. I was really excited to visit Tyler in his studio and see the man behind the curtain at work. His new Maple and Beech EP Flashes and Floaters (made with drummer Pete James Johnson from episode 15) sounds amazing, and in this episode we get a thorough dissection of the composition and music production techniques Tyler used. We also talk about Tyler’s producing for the ...
Animation Composing with Paul Fraser
April 23, 2014 21:00 - 28 minutes - 26.4 MBPaul Fraser went into the CalArts composition program with the mindset that he would spend half his time making weird music, and half his time composing for animations. He’s since worked with some amazing animators, including the creators of Adventure Time. In this episode of Composer Quest, Paul shares his creative process in composing and sound designing animations. We also talk about some of his creative personal projects, like his “Weekly Splice,” where he gathers one sound every day and ...
Adrienne Albert, Composer and Stravinsky’s Favorite Alto
April 16, 2014 17:00 - 29 minutes - 27.1 MBAs a singer with a very pure tone, Adrienne Albert has been recruited to work with many talented composers over the years, including Leonard Bernstein, Philip Glass, and Igor Stravinsky. In this episode of Composer Quest, we talk about Adrienne’s own composing process. She shares some stories behind her music, including how she used woodwind players to represent a chorus of animals in her Alaska-inspired "Animalogy."
Quest 9: Film Scoring for Live Orchestra
April 14, 2014 16:00 - 15 minutes - 14.4 MBThe MNKINO filmmaking group and the Composer Quest podcast are teaming up to bring you a fun challenge for the summer. Filmmakers will make short films, composers will write scores for them, and the Composer Quest Orchestra will perform these scores live along with the films. Sign up at composerquest.com/quest9
Music Theory for the Bored with Justin Merritt
April 09, 2014 03:00 - 41 minutes - 37.6 MBIn order to be more productive, composer Justin Merritt once tried polyphasic sleeping, meaning he slept only a couple hours per day. After countless hours of busyness, he finally came to the revelation that he just needed to feel bored to become inspired. In this episode of Composer Quest, Justin and I talk about how Buddhist philosophies have influenced his life as a composer, and he shares some great composition advice he gives to his students at St. Olaf. Justin also explains how he inven...
FEZ’s Composer Disasterpeace on Creative Music Theory for Games
April 02, 2014 03:00 - 40 minutes - 37.5 MBI’m excited to bring you this Composer Quest podcast episode with talented video game composer Rich Vreeland (aka Disasterpeace). We talk about his snowflake-catching game January, and how he infused his code with music theory to make some beautiful generative music. Rich also explains his composing techniques for the indie games FEZ and The Floor is Jelly.
Quest 8: May the Four-Hand Piano Be with You
April 02, 2014 02:00 - 12 minutes - 11.5 MBIn honor of Star Wars Day (May the 4th be with you), our eighth Composer Quest quest will involve the number four. Your challenge, should you choose to accept it, is to write a piano piece for four hands (two pianists at one piano). You’re also encouraged to work the number four into your piece in other ways, like the harmony, rhythm, or form. The best pieces will be performed by Susan Hsu and Franco Holder here in Minnesota on May 4th (6pm, Underground Music Cafe).
Polka Expert Joey Johnson
March 26, 2014 17:00 - 29 minutes - 27.2 MBWhen he was just 14, Joey Johnson started touring with America’s Polka King, Frankie Yankovic. Joey has carried on the tradition with his own polka band, and in this episode of Composer Quest, he shares everything he knows about accordions and polka. Joey’s original tunes have been featured in a number of commercials and TV, and we talk about the pros and cons of being published in a production music library.
Minimalist Mandola Songwriting with Nathan Eliot
March 19, 2014 00:00 - 32 minutes - 29.4 MBWe get a sneak preview of Nathan Eliot’s first solo album, Universe in Me. Nate talks about singing super high as a countertenor, and bringing his mandola into a special ed classroom. The album Universe in Me (coming out soon) was written by Nathan Eliot and produced by Andy Thompson. It also features drummer Alex Young, cellist Dan Lawonn, and bassist Andrew Foreman.
Eggs, Bacon, and Composer Wisdom from Rick Sowash
March 12, 2014 23:00 - 40 minutes - 37.5 MB“Outsider” composer Rick Sowash has 14 beautiful chamber music albums to his name, all self-published and fan-supported. After graduating from a prestigious music school that he hated so much he refuses to name, he vowed to stay independent of any academic or commercial organization. In this episode of Composer Quest, Rick shares his entire strategy for making it as an independent composer, which he’s been perfecting for many years. We also get to hear how Rick converted orange juice, French ...
Starting a Composer/Producer Career with Tom Snively
March 05, 2014 16:00 - 35 minutes - 32.1 MBFellow composition podcaster Tom Snively has been producing new tracks weekly and picking them apart on his show Making My Own Music. However, his inner composer was dormant for many years as he worked as a computer programmer, then as a financial planner. In this episode of Composer Quest, I talk with Tom about his new venture to make a career out of composing and producing. He’s been experimenting with writing video game scores, jazz saxophone tunes, new age music, and a spoken word track b...
The Art of Banjo Songwriting with Ellen Stanley
February 26, 2014 22:00 - 36 minutes - 33.8 MBEllen Stanley (aka Mother Banjo) brought her banjo over to the Composer Quest studio to share some songs and stories. We talk about everything from her Walden-inspired song to her unusual connection to Paul McCartney. In addition to her banjo-playing career, Ellen is the executive director of the Minnesota Music Coalition, and for eight years she worked as a publicist for Red House Records. So she also shares some advice on networking, getting airplay, etc.
Tax Tips for Musicians
February 26, 2014 21:00 - 1 hour - 59.6 MBIf some episodes of Composer Quest are like delicious deserts, then this one is like eating your vegetables. Just in time for tax season, we have a special episode on tax tips for musicians and other creative professionals. Attorney and CPA Brad Begley shared lots of tax advice at an event hosted by the Minnesota Music Coalition and Music Mafia Minnesota. It’s especially helpful for freelancers and people with a growing creative business.
Sound Scientist Seth Horowitz on Dolphins, Aliens, and Aural Therapy
February 19, 2014 17:00 - 37 minutes - 34.6 MBAfter a failed dolphin keyboard experiment, Seth Horowitz decided to change roles from dolphin trainer to biopsychologist, neuroscientist, aural therapist, and author. In this Composer Quest episode, Seth shares his knowledge of how echolocation works, and how he used his knowledge of bats to sound design an alien race for a sci-fi show by the producers of The Walking Dead and Heroes. We also talk about his aural therapy recordings engineered to induce sleep, nausea, pain relief, etc.
Composer Infotainment with Mr. Wilson
February 12, 2014 22:00 - 38 minutes - 35.5 MBIf you heard the Questmas episode, you’ll remember Josh Wilson’s thrilling adventure to find a fortune cookie in Taiwan. I’ve gotten a kick out of his quirky YouTube series Mr. Wilson Presents, which is a great example of how classical composing can be fun and approachable. Of course, this “infotainment” is not without Josh’s flair for music theory terminology. In this Composer Quest episode, Josh teaches me a thing or two about how to structure a symphony like Haydn, how to write upside-down...
Honest Songwriting with Laura Marie
February 05, 2014 13:00 - 30 minutes - 27.8 MBLaura Marie believes one of the keys to great songwriting is overcoming self-consciousness and writing with brutal honesty about your own life. In this episode of Composer Quest, we talk about the benefits of forcing yourself to write consistently, and Laura shares songs and stories from her song-a-week project.
Songwriting Theory with Pat Pattison
January 29, 2014 18:00 - 29 minutes - 27.2 MBAt Berklee College of Music, Pat Pattison created the world’s first songwriting major. He has taught a host of talented songwriters, including Grammy winners John Mayer and Gillian Welch. I was introduced to Pat through his free online Songwriting course (check coursera.org), and his method of “preserving the natural shape of the language” has really helped me analyze my own lyric writing. In this episode of Composer Quest, I ask Pat about his theory that our language can be interpreted like ...
Quest 7: Compose Music for Your Valentine
January 25, 2014 16:00 - 12 minutes - 11.5 MBThe 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
January 22, 2014 17:00 - 37 minutes - 34.1 MBCraig 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
January 15, 2014 13:00 - 30 minutes - 27.5 MBChris 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
January 08, 2014 01:00 - 27 minutes - 24.8 MBThe 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.