The Composer's Life

Ionian is the mode most people already know — even if they don’t realize it yet. It’s the sound behind a huge amount of familiar music, and in this episode I start a mini-series looking at each mode and how it can be used when composing. Instead of treating it as theory on paper, I look at Ionian as something you can actually write with — how it behaves, how it feels under your fingers, and what h...

Composing for a client changes the way you think about music. Instead of writing purely for yourself, you’re responding to a brief, a story, or someone else’s creative vision — and learning how to balance your own instincts with external expectations. In this episode of The Composer’s Life , I talk about what shifts when you start writing music for other people, and how the process of composing be...

All composers have it- an endless supply of ideas and projects in their heads, starting everything but finishing very little of it. However, when working, more does not always mean more success.  How do you decide what's most important to work on, and what helps you see a project through? Join me in talking about how to figure out for yourself what you should say "no" and "yes&...

By the time you’ve written a musical idea and started developing it, the real challenge becomes knowing when to stop changing things — and when to let the music speak for itself. In this final part of the series, I continue working with the material from previous episodes and focus on how musical ideas settle into their final shape through repetition, contrast, and small adjustments. Sometimes com...

Once you’ve written a musical idea, the next question is always: what now? This episode continues from Part 1 and explores what happens after the first phrase is down on the page. We look at how small changes can create variation, how motifs begin to take shape, and how phrases naturally evolve. This is less about starting from scratch, and more about learning what to do once something already exi...

Music theory often gets treated like something separate from composing — as if you learn it first, and then apply it later. But in reality, most composers use theory in a much more fluid way, often without even thinking about it consciously. In this episode of The Composer’s Life , I talk about how music theory actually shows up in the composing process, and how it can support ideas rather than re...

Networking is one of those things nobody really teaches you as a composer — but it often ends up being the thing that leads to actual work. Today I talk about what networking looks like in practice and how composers tend to find opportunities in the real world. It’s less about “selling yourself” and more about being part of a community where work naturally comes through people you know and trust....

This episode is a conversation with video game composer and sound designer Virginia Leo , whose work also includes adaptive & interactive media, VR, and film. We talk about how she approaches writing music for games and what it’s like working as a media composer in a fast-moving industry. She's a graduate from dBs Sound & Music Institute in Bristol with a Bachelor's Honours Degre...

Starting to compose music can feel like you need to “know what you’re doing” before you actually begin. But in reality, most composers don’t start with a perfect plan — they start with a sound, a feeling, or even just messing around until something sticks. In this episode, I talk about what it actually looks like to begin composing from scratch, and why the hardest part is often just getting start...

Transcribing music by ear is one of those skills that feels impossible until it suddenly isn’t. In this episode of The Composer’s Life , I talk through how I approach ear transcription — not as a perfect process, but as something you get better at through repetition, patience, and breaking things down into smaller parts. When you start listening more closely, you begin to hear patterns instead of...

Composition in our time isn't just sitting down to write notes on a piece of staff paper. We live in an age where technology can be used to enhance sound, hear what our music will sound like without live players, or use it to put our music to different forms of media. Here's a list of resources I mention in the episode: ProTools, Cubase, Logic Pro, Ableton Live, Digital Performer, Cakewa...

Some days composing feels exciting and full of ideas. Other days it can feel like nothing is working and you’re getting nowhere. In this episode of The Composer’s Life, I talk about that part of the creative process that every composer goes through at some point — the moments where you feel like giving up. This is a short reflection on persistence in music composition, especially when you’re still...

From developing creative workflow habits to honing your music theory and composition techniques, explore what actually matters in real composing careers — not just musical talent. You’ll hear practical advice on strengthening your craft, managing creative challenges, and building confidence as a music creator. Whether you're just beginning, aspiring to work as a media composer , or seeking re...

Whether you’re a beginner or an emerging composer, this episode offers real composers insights into how the creative process works in practice—not just theory. Learn how composers approach the creative workflow, from generating initial ideas through to structure, development, and refinement. This episode shares practical music composition tips and music composition advice for anyone interested in...

Get an overview of what to expect from the show, including conversations about music composition, music theory, creative workflow, and real-life insights into working as a professional composer. Whether you’re interested in film music, learning how to compose, or understanding what composers actually do, this episode sets the foundation for everything that follows. If you'd like to learn more...