Sparks & Shadows
Dear fans and loyal blog readers, I have exciting news! I have founded Sparks & Shadows, a boutique new record label that will bring you my scores and original music. S&S will blast out of the gate with a slew of exciting releases this year, including “Defiance” (the video game score), “Defiance” (the television series album), my thematically-rich new music for “Da Vinci’s Demons” and my lyrically brooding score for the science fiction theatrical feature “Europa Report.”
Why am I starting my own label when I’ve partnered so successfully with La-La Land Records and others in the past? In order to tell you, I need to first step back in time a quarter century.
When I was a child, I had two passions: movies and music. I took piano lessons and loved the physical act of making music. I skipped introductory practice pieces and scales and moved almost immediately to Gershwin classics, Joplin rags, and the occasional Beethoven or Mozart. The more energy a piece could burn, the more I put into it. (more…)
Defiance: Video Game Soundtrack Album
This month brings us the long-awaited rollout of the groundbreaking multimedia science fiction epic “Defiance.” Developed from the beginning as both a SyFy television series and an immersive videogame from Trion Worlds, “Defiance” marks the first attempt to debut a franchise of this scale in two unique formats.
The game and the series take place in a future Earth, terraformed by invading alien races known as the Votan. Themes of exploration, racial tension and frontier life have been transplanted from the western genre and fit perfectly in this strange new vision of our world. The game and series share principal characters, visual effects, production design and story arcs. They also have one other important characteristic in common: the original score. (more…)
- Published in Albums, Blog, Defiance, Video Games
Battlestar Galactica: Blood & Chrome
Tonight, the “Battlestar Galactica” prequel film “Battlestar Galactica: Blood & Chrome” airs on SyFy. After premiering on Machinima’s YouTube channel last November, it will finally have a DVD/BluRay release on February 19th. Later this spring, my scores to both “BSG” prequels will be released by La-La Land Records, starting with a limited edition CD of “Blood & Chrome” in March and a comprehensive “Caprica” album in April (click here for details).
In tonight’s video blog, you’ll hear exclusive score clips, and get a look at my recording sessions for this long-awaited prequel film:
All of this has happened before…
When scoring “Battlestar Galactica: Blood & Chrome,” I found myself returning once more to the musical universe of pounding taikos, minimalist strings and ethereal vocals I created for “Battlestar Galactica.”
“A Very Eureka Christmas” Album & Holiday Goodies!
Looking for a way to get in the holiday spirit this year? Here’s some music to throw in your digital stockings! First up, a soundtrack album for fans who’ve been especially good this year…
I’m excited to partner with Back Lot Music for the digital release of “A Very Eureka Christmas.” This album contains my original scores to the two “Eureka” holiday specials, Season 4’s O Little Town and Season 5’s Do You See What I See?. “A Very Eureka Christmas” is currently available on iTunes, and will be available from other digital retailers, including Amazon, later this month. (more…)
Moon Breakers Soundtrack
I love spaceships.
There’s little that ignites my imagination more than the swashbuckling outer space dogfights of yesteryear. So, I was excited to write a bombastic, retro-infused soundtrack for “Moon Breakers” — a multi-player online combat game from Imba Entertainment / Uber Entertainment that is now available to play for free on Steam.
To celebrate the game’s launch on this popular platform, we are releasing my complete score on iTunes and Amazon mp3. You get 20 minutes of pulse-pounding space battle music for less than $4! Click the images below to download the “Moon Breakers” album from your favorite online retailer:
- Published in Albums, Blog, Moon Breakers, Video Games
Zom-B-Movie Soundtrack
I am proud (or should I be ashamed?) to announce that BuySoundtrax has just released my newest Zombie film score: Chillerama Presents… Zom-B-Movie. The CD is available now from the label’s website and the first hundred orders will receive copies autographed by myself, director Joe Lynch and Young Beautiful in a Hurry frontman Brendan McCreary. For those hoping to stuff their digital stockings this holiday, the album is now available on:
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Zom-B-Movie is the “wrap-around” segment of the larger anthology film “Chillerama,” which has been experienced in exclusive drive-in screenings around the world this fall and debuts on BluRay / DVD on November 29th. I sat down with director Joe Lynch for a blog-exclusive chat about the blood, sweat, tears and various other bodily fluids that went into the creation of Zom-B-Movie and its recklessly ambitious score. (Be warned, this video blog is probably not safe for work!)
- Published in Albums, Blog, Films, Interviews, zom-b-movie
“Prelude to War” For Accordion Orchestra
My first single as a solo accordionist is out today! Presenting…
“Prelude to War” For Accordion Orchestra:
- Published in Albums, Battlestar Galactica, Battlestar Galactica Albums, Blog, BSG Albums
“I Don’t Want to Die a Virgin” Music Video!
After focusing my entire life on writing music, I suddenly found myself in the proverbial director’s chair! My first music video, “I Don’t Want to Die a Virgin” for Young Beautiful in a Hurry, is now online for all to endure… I mean enjoy:
My video is featured in the end credits of the feature film Chillerama (I also scored the anthology film’s Zom-B-Movie segments). In fact, Chillerama is the reason I ended up directing it in the first place! The sordid saga of my sudden transition into music video director is chronicled below… (more…)
The Cape Soundtrack CD
On September 27th, La La Land Records will release a 2-CD limited edition soundtrack of my fully orchestral score for The Cape. The first 150 orders through the label’s website will be signed! The sale begins next Tuesday at 1pm Pacific Standard Time. The autographed copies will go fast, so check early in the day.
A digital release is scheduled for later in the year.
This album represents my most grandiose and lyrical orchestral writing yet. The story presented me with a rare opportunity to explore sweeping superhero music, in the style of my favorite scores when I was growing up. There are whispers of Elfman’s Batman and Williams’ Superman in here, yes, but my biggest influence by far was Shirley Walker’s scores for Batman: The Animated Series. In fact, this CD is dedicated to her memory. (more…)
Play For Japan
My original composition, “Maverick Regeneration,” is available today on iTunes as part of the “Play For Japan” benefit album for Japan Disaster Relief.
As I watched the images pouring in from Japan last March, the sheer destruction was nearly impossible to comprehend. Like so many others, I wanted desperately to offer some sort of help to the Japanese people. Composer Akira Yamaoka clearly felt the same when he produced the benefit album “Play for Japan.” (more…)