Content Composer

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What does it really take to make a living writing music today? In this episode, composer Sean Doherty shares with co-host, James Woodhall, how his career started, beginning with one of the first pieces he wrote and heard performed. He walks us through how he actually writes now: how he starts a new piece, what a typical working day looks like, and why composing is so hard to plan out in advance. Sean explains how he unlocks a text and turns it into music. He also talks openly about why he keeps writing when success is never guaranteed, and picks a piece of his own that he wishes more people knew.

From there, the talk turns to the modern side of the job. Sean explains how short-form social media content became part of his career and why practical, singer-focused videos strike such a chord. He covers what kind of content actually works for composers, and which skills beyond writing music a composer needs in 2026. He also shares what performances and rehearsals have taught him and gives advice to aspiring composers. We finish with a round of rapid-fire questions, including Sean's pick for the best chord of Christmas. This is an honest, practical look at the craft and business of composing

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In this episode of the Content Composer podcast, Seán Doherty takes over as host and interviews fellow composer James Woodhall, using the same relaxed, question-led format as the week before. James starts with his first orchestral piece, which he wrote for his A-levels and which his youth orchestra performed. He conducted it himself. The two then swap stories about early notation software like Personal Composer and Sibelius. They also talk about how James balances playing piano with composing away from the keyboard, with a nod to Bernstein's habit of composing on the sofa. Seán agrees that "going for a lie down" is never wasted time.

The conversation then turns to James's choral music and his settings of living poets including Harry Baker, Caitlin O'Ryan and Donna Ashworth, among them a seven-minute "tongue twister" alphabet piece. His advice is to contact poets directly, and he mentions an upcoming book-launch performance. He champions his dramatic oratorio The Damascus Road and talks about how far his piece Darkness Descends has travelled around the world, They finish on networking as friendship, honest self-promotion, and the advice to write lots of music. A playful quickfire round about sharps, coffee and chocolate bars closes the episode.

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A new podcast from composers James Woodhall and Seán Doherty. Interviews with other composers talking about working as a composer and musician in today's world, discussion about finding an audience, the practicialites of making and writing music and a fun quick fire round.