Two Composers, Two Continents

In this episode, we break down our Audio Network album ‘Off Grid’, a sound-design project built on manipulating percussion and household objects into brooding drones and pulsing instruments!  We walk through the whole process, from album concept and working with world-renowned percussionist Paul Clarvis, to recording kalimbas and hitting ballpoint pens! We discuss how our initial pitch evolved int...

Four composers, one big question: what is art? In this episode, we’re joined by friends and award-winning composers Carlos Villalobos and Jeannie Tanner to try tackle that!  Amidst the rapid rise of AI technologies, we debate the core elements of art from human intent to audience response and interpretation. We explore Tim Minchin’s take on ‘content vs intent’, discuss the growing concern of AI ar...

In this episode we sit down with the brilliant Andrew Sunnucks. Co-founder of Audio Network, a prolific orchestral producer and a farmer, Andrew has built a career on integrity, real musicians, and having a good time!  From Andrew’s first job as a singing rabbit to working in commercials and eventually co-founding production music catalogue Audio Network, we trace his journey over the years. As on...

This week we're thrilled to welcome multi-talented engineer and musician Stefano Civetta, with an impressive career spanning from playing the organ at the Vatican to engineering for some of the biggest films including Avengers: End Game and Solo: A Star Wars Story. We begin with Stef’s musical roots from growing up in a small Alpine village surrounded by music, his summer gig playing organ at...

In this episode, we’re honoured to welcome 80s pop icon Nik Kershaw, whose four-decade career spans chart-topping hits like “Wouldn’t It Be Good” and the massive number-one single “The One And Only” which he wrote for Chesney Hawkes. We explore Nik’s upbringing in a musically rich family, channeling teenage angst into dramatic lyrics, and journeying through prog-fusion and jazz bands before launch...

We’re taking you behind the scenes of our recent trip to Nashville, where we recorded an album of sizzling soul grooves designed for use in Film & TV.    This time, we’re skipping the writing process to focus on the recording sessions at the iconic Sound Emporium Studios, complete with it’s rich musical history and quirky tiki-bar studio charm!      From a horn section with lips of steel to th...

Are you new to composing for sync, but overwhelmed by the jargon? In this episode, we sit down with Emmy-winning composer and sync expert Brad Hatfield to cut through the confusion. Brad teaches Songwriting for Film & TV and Music Supervision at Berklee, drawing from decades of experience in the industry. From understanding contracts and ownership to knowing what to expect once your track is s...

On today’s episode, we’re joined by Italian composer, sound designer, and Sonora Cinematic founder Alessandro Mastroianni!  Alessandro shares how his career evolved from composing for Film & TV (including writing for Hans Zimmer’s Bleeding Fingers!) to diving into custom sound design and virtual instrument creation.  He takes us inside a recent recording session, where he captured impulse resp...

In this episode we are joined by incredible trumpeter and vocalist Mark Braud.  From growing up in a family of eight trumpeters to playing with music icons such as Harry Connick Jr., Dr. John and Foo Fighters, Mark is a true embodiment of the New Orleans spirit. We explore Mark’s musical roots, exploring how his family’s legacy shaped his sound, his early days playing in school bands, and his leap...

Check out part 1 of our conversation first, where we explore Mark Braud’s musical roots, jazz improvisation and his family legacy. In part 2, we dive into Mark’s journey as a songwriter and composer, from singing songs as a child to writing Bebop-inspired music for school bands and crafting music across many genres for TV shows like NCIS: New Orleans. Mark shares how these experiences led him to f...

In this episode, we’re joined by brilliant and versatile composer, sound designer and producer Max Brodie!  Max walks us through his early musical journey from playing in thrash metal bands as a teen and recording bands with borrowed gear, to carving out his own unique sound and writing for production music libraries.  We also take a closer look at one of Max’s impressive recent ventures, scoring...

Tight Deadlines = Better Music? Max Brodie on Composing, Studio Workflow & Tom Ronsenthal This is Part 2 of our conversation with composer and sound designer, Max Brodie. If you missed Part 1, check that out first!  We pick up with a nerdy dive into technology, computer specs, and studio equipment - Jeff’s in his element!  We chat about Max’s composing process, from the initial panic to the cl...

In this episode, we’re joined by the talented Brad Hatfield - Emmy-winning composer, producer, pianist, educator, and longtime friend!  We share how our paths first crossed, from a rich history of co-writing with Jeff to the online classrooms of Berklee where he taught David, cementing a lasting impact on both our careers. With some tips and lessons along the way, Brad walks us through his fascina...

This is Part 2 of our conversation with Emmy-winning composer, producer, pianist, educator, and longtime friend Brad Hatfield. If you missed Part 1, check it out first! (Writing Jingles to Winning Emmy Awards with Composer Brad Hatfield) We pick up with the topic of Music Supervision, discussing Brad’s course at Berklee, the role of a music supervisor, and what makes a good one!  We also talk abou...

In this episode we’re sitting down with Mark and James from Present Day Production (PDP), the brilliant minds behind MUM - the modular upgradable monitor. We talk through their wild journey from Mark’s early days repairing Hammond organs to the moment a young James rocked up to Mark’s studio for a band rehearsal and basically never left! Together they spent years running an all-in-one studio servi...

Grab your popcorn - we’re taking you behind the scenes of scoring our first ever feature film, Super Size Me 2. Tune in for a story of fun, frustration, and a whole lot of chickens!  We talk about how this project came about and the quirky brief that landed right in the middle of David’s wedding back in 2016. The ultimate way to get our feet wet by jumping straight into the deep end of the feature...

Dust off your boots and grab your hat - in this episode, we’re heading behind the scenes of our Cowboy Songs production music album! Inspired by the charm of The Three Amigos and City Slickers, we set out to write cowboy songs that feel authentically traditional but cinematic enough for use in Film & TV. We walk through the full process, from songwriting and orchestration to the logistics of r...

During a recent recording session in Nashville, we were reminded just how small the music world really is!  In an industry that can often feel remote, and at times pretty lonely, community matters more than ever.  From village choirs to Facebook groups and organisations like the Society of Composers and Lyricists (SCL), there are endless ways to connect with like-minded musicians/composers, find c...

In the first half of this sit-down, we’re joined by musical polymath Jay Weigel, a Grammy-winning composer, producer, conductor, arranger, orchestrater, and contractor with a career spanning over 40 years! We start back at the beginning with New Orleans Catholic school bands, early gigs with unlimited beer taps on the wall, Jay’s teenage transformation into the world of prog rock and the ultimate...

Missed the first half of our conversation? Check out Part 1 first! We’re back for Part 2 with Grammy-winning composer and producer Jay Weigel, and this time we’re tackling the missing piece in film school education: the often-neglected collaboration between directors and composers! We explore the struggles of communication, learning to speak the shared language of film music, and the key to long-l...

After having such a blast creating our NOLA vinyl last year, we couldn’t resist spinning up another one… this time with a festive twist! In this episode, we delve into over a decade of Christmas Big Band production music. Join us on a trip down memory lane as we revisit the process behind these albums, share stories from recording sessions and make tough decisions as we narrow it all down to just...

Part 2 of our Classical Favourites deep dive is here, and this time we’re taking you inside the recording and editing process! Imagine spending 4 days in the legendary Studio One at Abbey Road, squeezing in 36 hours of recording sessions witg a 65-piece orchestra and choir. No pressure, right?  In Part 1 we talked about the concept, choosing the repertoire, and recomposing famous classical music i...

Part 1 of our deep dive into the Classical Collection is here - and yes, we may have upset a few ghosts along the way… In this episode, we unpack the crazy task of reimagining 181 classical favourites for media use with Audio Network! 🎻 From navigating the complexities of public domain to reshaping the world’s most recognisable melodies into editor-friendly production music, we talk about what it...

In this episode we welcome the multifaceted Debi Derryberry! Debi Derryberry is one of Hollywood's most sought-after voice-over actors, best knowing for voicing characters such as Jimmy Neutron, Draculuara in Monster High and the Aliens in Toy Story. Debi's talents also extend far beyond the booth into the music industry, where she is an award-winning children's music singer-songwri...

We’re back in New Orleans for round three, recording two more albums of production music for Audio Network. 🎺 In a rare miracle, we started the writing process together in the same place (instead of on different continents!), recording voice memos whilst walking Jeff’s dogs round the block! We then head to Esplanade Studios to bring the tracks to life, we talk about how the music evolved once our...