Up next is Solo Deep, Music, Runner

 

1: How long has Solo Deep been your life and how many hours do you put into a day?

Solo Deep is the one man evolution of the one and only Indie band I was a part of, called ‘Karma Destination’ of which we gigged and made music together from 2000 to around 2004/2005. Initially I answered an ad for a guitarist for an Indie band in Northwich with influences such as Stone Roses, Oasis, Ride etc etc from the lead singer at the time (who thought he was Richard Ashcroft) but he clearly wasn’t!.

I responded to which they replied “come for an audition and learn a particular track by the Stone Roses”, I can’t remember what it was but my first reaction was S*#T!. I could only play Bad Moon Rising by CCWR & Burning Love by Elvis. Fortunately the singer bombed out and the other guitarist got in touch. I told him that really I created my own guitar based instrumentals, at that time I did on a four track tape recorder. I posted the demo of about 6 to 10 tracks and he was like F*#k Yeah. The rest as they say is history and the music and time we spent together was immense.

We never went out to get a record deal, we just got together and made music, no style, didn’t try to act or dress cool, just got p*ssed and blew the rest of the bands off the stage, as one reviewer commented in London. After 2005 I didn’t really do anything music wise till about 2012 when i picked up a guitar again and started recording instrumental tracks for the fun of it. I felt I had a talent for melody and riffs and with a small cheap amount of virtual instruments I began experimenting.

2: How and when did film scoring come into your life?

I think I stumbled upon film scoring by accident, as I said, I just made guitar based instrumentals for myself, but over a 12 month period managed to compile a selection of tracks that had something about them. I’ve always loved films but never initially thought one day I will make music for one.

If I was to pinpoint it, I would say my very first encounter was on a website called Stage 32, where I met a guy called Chris Delao who I am still friends with today and although nothing really happened, the networking process began from there.

My very first audition was for an Indie film called ‘One Last Crazy F*#king Night’ which has yet not come to the screen but who knows. I had one instrumental track picked for it and that’s where the hunger began! Endless nights trawling the internet highway searching endlessly for the opportunity to go boom. I didn’t want to be just a composer or a producer or a bog standard entrepreneur.

I’m a geek at heart and Superman was my hero as a child and this wasn’t about me, this was about the music and how I could sell it without my ugly posing peewee mush in the frame – how can I stand apart from the educated professionals in my field? I always had a logo which stemmed from the Karma Destination days and I kept it, it was mine to use and I wanted to have something timeless and marketable.

3: What was the score that inspired you the most? (me: The Crow)

I’m not from the film score group of musically educated toffs, I’m an indie musician, so to answer this I would say I have always wanted to create a song like U2’s ‘One’. It is the one track I can listen to over and over. It’s simple but unbelievably effective lyrically. Some might disagree, but this is my interview and I dont care! ;P.

Since scoring films, Brian Tyler and Danny Elfman are my main influences and the one film score track that I would say hits me most is ‘The Gael’ Last Of The Mohican Theme by Dougie Maclean. In essence it portrays the music I make without me initially or consciously realising it. Its a progressive build up of the same riff. On its own it might be pointless, but put it to the right visual and both the music and scene compliment each other without trying to be too over complicated.

4: How much are you looking forward to working with Renaldo Kell on Bush Knife: The Rise?

Renaldo is going to be a huge part of the new wave of filmmakers. He is one that will put Indie Filmmaking on the map, along with the likes of Lee Asquith Coe and a few more I could mention. Renaldo will elevate South African film making but not just because he’s great at what he does and wants to give others an opportunity, but because he works his butt off and will sacrifice what he needs to make the best film he can. I’ve been a friend for a while and we’ve spoke on various occasions about Bush Knife and other films but it boils down to connecting with people in the right way. They believe in you and you believe in them. Social media is such a powerful tool. When you use it in the right way it can connect you with people that are all in the same creative pool as yourself and when you all come together BOOM it starts and there’s no stopping it. There’s an Indie Tsunami coming and it’s gonna be big!

5: What are you like when you get close to a deadline?

I can be a grumpy ignorant bastard (so my wife might say) BUT in my defence I do take on way more than I can handle, but I do handle it and I always deliver on time! Having a wife, three children and a full time job, plus scoring films trailer etc. can take its toll, but you adapt to cope on little or no sleep or I suppose you don’t do it. Yes we all do it, but we love what we do and that’s why we do it!