Unveil interviewed Blake Matthew who composed select portions of the score for She Has A Name. He spoke to us from post-production.
You have a very diverse musical background, what are some of your musical influences that have shaped who you are as an artist?
I grew up playing in bands as well as writing acoustic singer/songwriter music independently. I’ve been influenced from multiple artists and genres from Alice In Chains, DJ Shadow, Pantera, Elliott Smith, Igor Stravinsky, Ennio Morricone, the list is never ending. I am a fan of artists that really push emotions and creativity somewhere beyond the scope of what is normal. I got heavily involved in the electronic side of music and production in my early 20’s when I began to DJ, which has really shaped how I compose music now.
What drew you to work in composing and scoring music for film and television?
I was a student at Douglas College taking Music Technology and had a course which focused on film music and that is when I fell in love with the storytelling side of music and the relationship it has with the picture. That is also where I met Samuel Kim. We had a great mentor, Vince Mai, who really inspired us.
Actors and directors approach scene work using different techniques, how do you approach a scene and enter the world of the story in order to imagine its sounds?
I approach a scene with the subtle emotions and tones within the whole context of the film in mind. Often times, it’s easy to get too focused on one particular scene, but each scene has to combine to tell the story. Finding the right palette of sounds and learning how to manipulate emotions without hitting an emotion too hard is key to telling the story.
What are some of the challenges of composing music for a film?
Perspective and interpretation. Collaboration is very important, however, everyone has their own interpretation of how the music should be affecting emotions and sometimes it can be a challenge to line up the vision of the director with what you see or hear is the right fit. Communication is key. This is also one of the most fulfilling parts of scoring a film; working with the director and other crew members to combine elements that serve the picture. That is really what it comes down to.
How did you learn about She Has A Name and what compelled you to collaborate on the film?
I am fortunate enough to work with Samuel who had me on board scoring the film with him. I felt compelled to collaborate on She Has A Name because I recently travelled to Southeast Asia and my girlfriend is also from Thailand. I think the film focuses on a very overlooked issue and the message of the story ties into strong human connection and empathy for one another.
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Follow Blake on Facebook and Instagram. Make sure you also take a listen to him on Soundcloud.