Deviate

Hollywood composer Rolfe Kent on the joys of throwing out quality work


Listen Later

“You should write down what you would like your future to look like, because otherwise you will be on autopilot.” – Rolfe Kent

In Episode 3 of Deviate, Rolf discusses music and the creative process with accomplished Hollywood film composer Rolfe Kent (@rolfekent), whose recent project, The Zen Effect, is available on iTunes.

To download a free track from The Zen Effect, visit Rolfe’s website.

Links:

Tools:

  • FS Binaural Microphone
  • The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles, by Steven Pressfield
  • The Artist’s Way Morning Pages Journal, by Julia Cameron
  • Ketogenic diet
  • Oblique Strategies, created by Brian Eno and Peter Schmidt
  • Pomodoro Technique (time management)
  • Melodica (instrument)
  • Mixtapes as a Lost Language: A Brief Cultural Primer
  • Rolfe’s film and TV scores discussed in the interview:

    • Dexter theme (television series)
    • Sideways (film)
    • Up in the Air (film)
    • The Hunting Party (film)
    • Mexico City (film)
    • Reign Over Me (film)
    • Mean Girls (film)
    • Wedding Crashers (film)
    • Legally Blonde (film)
    • Notable film music discussed:

      • James Bond theme (by Monty Norman)
      • Star Wars theme (by John Williams)
      • Mission Impossible theme (by Lalo Schifrin)
      • Blade Runner theme (by Vangelis)
      • The Good, the Bad and the Ugly main theme (by Ennio Morricone)
      • Lawrence of Arabia main theme (by Maurice Jarre)
      • Paris, Texas theme (by Ry Cooder)
      • Steven Soderbergh’s ‘Raiders of the Lost Ark’ remix (which uses music from The Social Network)
      • Notable people mentioned:

        • Alexander Payne (director)
        • Richard Shepard (director)
        • Jason Reitman (director)
        • Brian Eno (music producer)
        • Mike Binder (director)
        • Thomas Newman (composer)
        • Rick Rubin (music producer)
        • The tune “Hippie Christmas” from Rolfe’s song-shop, as heard in the episode, was written by Craig Richey
        • Show Notes:

          • Purpose of a movie score (11:45)
          • Career path and early influences (23:22)
          • Rolfe’s muscial style (27:18)
          • Collaborating with filmmakers (37:30)
          • Letting go of completed work (43:40)
          • Accidental versus intentional creativity (47:50)
          • On different instruments offering different opportunities to convey a message (50:32)
          • On inspiration (52:30)
          • Organization and focus techniques (54:20)
          • Creative process (59:25)
          • Mid-career creativity and “success management” (1:12:10)
          • Restrictions as a catalyst for creativity (122:19)
          • Immersive music theater (1:24:30)
          • Scoring one’s own life (129:40)
          • Musical structure and its function in everyday life (1:30:55)
          • Free download from Rolfe’s Kent’s Zen Effect.

            This episode was sponsored by the Paris Writing Workshop, an intensive one-month course in the artistic heart of Europe.

            The Deviate theme music comes from the title track of Cedar Van Tassel’s 2017 album Lumber.

            Note: We don’t host a “comments” section, but we’re happy to hear your questions and insights via email, at [email protected].

            ...more
            View all episodesView all episodes
            Download on the App Store

            DeviateBy Rolf Potts

            • 4.8
            • 4.8
            • 4.8
            • 4.8
            • 4.8

            4.8

            161 ratings


            More shows like Deviate

            View all
            The Gray Area with Sean Illing by Vox

            The Gray Area with Sean Illing

            10,726 Listeners

            Financial Independence Podcast by The Mad Fientist

            Financial Independence Podcast

            1,657 Listeners

            The Knowledge Project by Shane Parrish

            The Knowledge Project

            2,679 Listeners

            Travel with Rick Steves by Rick Steves

            Travel with Rick Steves

            165 Listeners

            Travel with Amateur Traveler Podcast by Chris Christensen

            Travel with Amateur Traveler Podcast

            1,085 Listeners

            Zero To Travel Podcast by Jason Moore

            Zero To Travel Podcast

            827 Listeners

            The GaryVee Audio Experience by Gary Vaynerchuk

            The GaryVee Audio Experience

            16,831 Listeners

            The Side Hustle Show by Nick Loper of Side Hustle Nation | YAP Media

            The Side Hustle Show

            1,589 Listeners

            Ideas by CBC

            Ideas

            376 Listeners

            The Daily by The New York Times

            The Daily

            112,236 Listeners

            Radio Atlantic by The Atlantic

            Radio Atlantic

            2,273 Listeners

            Choiceology with Katy Milkman by Charles Schwab

            Choiceology with Katy Milkman

            1,422 Listeners

            The Daily Stoic by Daily Stoic | Backyard Ventures

            The Daily Stoic

            4,886 Listeners

            Everything Everywhere Daily by Gary Arndt

            Everything Everywhere Daily

            2,158 Listeners

            All the Hacks: Money, Points & Life by Chris Hutchins

            All the Hacks: Money, Points & Life

            1,611 Listeners