Dust off your boots and grab your hat - in this episode, we’re heading behind the scenes of our Cowboy Songs production music album!

Inspired by the charm of The Three Amigos and City Slickers, we set out to write cowboy songs that feel authentically traditional but cinematic enough for use in Film & TV.

We walk through the full process, from songwriting and orchestration to the logistics of recording across two continents, with rhythm sections in Chicago at Transient Sound Studios, and orchestral sessions at Abbey Road Studios in London. 

Along the way we talk about the challenge of finding the right sound, and the even bigger challenge of tracking down rootin’-tootin’ yodelers and world-class Americana musicians to bring it all to life! Easy, right?!

#filmmusic #cowboysongs #cowboymusic #productionmusic #composer #composers #abbeyroad #wildwest #tvmusic #filmcomposer #songwriting #librarymusic #tvcomposer 

During a recent recording session in Nashville, we were reminded just how small the music world really is! 

In an industry that can often feel remote, and at times pretty lonely, community matters more than ever. 
From village choirs to Facebook groups and organisations like the Society of Composers and Lyricists (SCL), there are endless ways to connect with like-minded musicians/composers, find collaborators, and build lasting relationships.

The truth is, the best networking rarely feels like networking. We talk about how real opportunities come from simply showing up, contributing to a community, and letting connections grow over time.

#musiccommunities #musicindustry #networking #musicnetworking #composernetworking

In the first half of this sit-down, we’re joined by musical polymath Jay Weigel, a Grammy-winning composer, producer, conductor, arranger, orchestrater, and contractor with a career spanning over 40 years!

We start back at the beginning with New Orleans Catholic school bands, early gigs with unlimited beer taps on the wall, Jay’s teenage transformation into the world of prog rock and the ultimate spiral into a world of classical giants like Stravinsky and Rimsky-Korsakov, fuelled by under-the-desk vinyl deals!

Along the way we talk about musical lineage, aural teaching traditions tracing back to Beethoven, and what it really means to switch ‘musical languages’ across genres.

Plus, a refreshing reminder that even Beethoven wrote bad music, so it’s not the end of the world if you do too! 

Chapters:

00:51 Jay’s early musical background

5:07 Jay’s transition into classical music

12:28 Switching ‘musical languages’ across genres and Beethoven’s musical lineage

17:08 Making bad music 

21:44 Teaching maths and music

Part 2 out now!

#musicindustry #composer #producer #grammywinningcomposer #musicproducer #conductor #musicpodcast #beethoven #classicalmusic

Missed the first half of our conversation? Check out Part 1 first!

We’re back for Part 2 with Grammy-winning composer and producer Jay Weigel, and this time we’re tackling the missing piece in film school education: the often-neglected collaboration between directors and composers!

We explore the struggles of communication, learning to speak the shared language of film music, and the key to long-lasting working relationships in the film industry.

Along the way we look at the evolution of music tech over the years, from composing on a Commodore 64 to using modern DAWs;

If you’ve ever felt the struggle of communicating between filmmakers and composers, stick around!

Chapters:
1:33 The missing piece in filmmakers education
5:15 Communication between directors and film composers
10:28 The evolution of music tech
16:52 The difference between recording in different cities

#filmmaker #composer #director #composerdirectorrelationship #musictech #filmmusic #filmcomposer #composers #filmindustry #musicindustry #cubase 

After having such a blast creating our NOLA vinyl last year, we couldn’t resist spinning up another one… this time with a festive twist!

In this episode, we delve into over a decade of Christmas Big Band production music. Join us on a trip down memory lane as we revisit the process behind these albums, share stories from recording sessions and make tough decisions as we narrow it all down to just two sides of a vinyl.

Which tracks will make the cut? Which ones get left in the snow? And just how many versions of ‘Jingle Bells’ is too many versions of ‘Jingle Bells’…? (Spoiler, three and a half might be pushing it)

#christmasmusic #bigband #productionmusic #composer #vinyl #doublevinyl #composing #filmcomposer #tvcomposer #filmmusic #tvmusic 

Part 2 of our Classical Favourites deep dive is here, and this time we’re taking you inside the recording and editing process!

Imagine spending 4 days in the legendary Studio One at Abbey Road, squeezing in 36 hours of recording sessions witg a 65-piece orchestra and choir. No pressure, right? 

In Part 1 we talked about the concept, choosing the repertoire, and recomposing famous classical music into editor-friendly versions for TV and Film. 

In Part 2 we move onto the recording stage. Working in one of the most famous rooms in the world, navigating union rules around how much music you can record in a day, and the nerdy world of editing, mixing, versioning and plugins.

We also share some slightly ridiculous stories that happened along the way, including the time we decided to record a cannon shooting for the 1812 Overture. You can’t say we composers don’t commit to our art!

Whether you’re a film composer, classical music enthusiast, or curious about the world of production music, this one’s for you!

#composer #classicalmusic #productionmusic #abbeyroad #recordingsession #orchestra #filmmusic #productionmusic #composing #audionetwork #syncmusic #librarymusic #classicalcomposer #filmcomposer #funnycomposingstories #abbeyroadstudioone 

Part 1 of our deep dive into the Classical Collection is here - and yes, we may have upset a few ghosts along the way…

In this episode, we unpack the crazy task of reimagining 181 classical favourites for media use with Audio Network! 🎻
From navigating the complexities of public domain to reshaping the world’s most recognisable melodies into editor-friendly production music, we talk about what it takes to make iconic classical pieces work for a modern audience.

We talk through the whole process from selecting the repertoire, to adding new lyrics and writing entirely new sections, all while wondering just how far can we push Beethoven and Vivaldi before they start turning in they graves.

Plus, hear the unforgettable story of Day 1 at Abbey Road Studios, recording Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5, when after just two bars, the entire orchestra collapsed in laughter!

(And keep your eyes peeled for Part 2 coming soon!)

Watch the video version of this episode on our YouTube, Two Composers Two Continents.

Don't forget to leave a review and follow us Instagram @2composers2continents for sneak peaks of new episodes!

#classicalmusic #productionmusic #syncmusic #composer #filmmusic #librarymusic #audionetwork #classicalcomposer #filmcomposer #abbeyroad #recordingsession

In this episode we welcome the multifaceted Debi Derryberry!

Debi Derryberry is one of Hollywood's most sought-after voice-over actors, best knowing for voicing characters such as Jimmy Neutron, Draculuara in Monster High and the Aliens in Toy Story. Debi's talents also extend far beyond the booth into the music industry, where she is an award-winning children's music singer-songwriter, and country musician in the trio Honey Pig.

From starting out in community theatre to being a stunt double riding a whale in Free Willy and voicing some of the world's most beloved characters, Debi shares the journey of her remarkable career with us.

We talk about the art of improvising and why your audition comes down to the first 10 seconds, why she avoids loud restaurants to protect her voice, and the surprising way in which studying Pre-Med at UCLA helped her prepare for the role of Jimmy Neutron...

Whether you're an aspiring voice actor, looking for a portfolio career in the music industry or just a fan of the characters that defined your childhood, this episode is for you!

Check out Debi's YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAM6ZbvWAFQNRchmhO1GvXg 

Or visit her website here: https://debiderryberry.com 

Chapters:
0:00 Intro
2:34 What came first, music or acting?
6:08 The move to voice acting
8:25 What does an audition look like?
11:32 Improv
14:08 How voice acting works
17:44 Country trio ‘Honey Pig’
21:32 Writing children’s music
29:48 Voice-Over 101
33:48 Protecting your instrument
36:03 Picking sustainable voices
38:00 Acting lessons
39:45 Debi’s characters!
42:30 Wrap up

#composer #musicindustry #musicpodcast #voiceoverartist #voiceactor

We’re back in New Orleans for round three, recording two more albums of production music for Audio Network. 🎺

In a rare miracle, we started the writing process together in the same place (instead of on different continents!), recording voice memos whilst walking Jeff’s dogs round the block!

We then head to Esplanade Studios to bring the tracks to life, we talk about how the music evolved once our incredible musicians got their hands on it, moments of doubt, moments of trust…and how a mysterious washboard hanging on the wall turned out to be the key to marketing!

#productionmusic #composer #musicindustry #composingprocess #filmmusic

In this episode we welcome our first guest, Chad Birmingham, a two-time Golden Reel award-winning Music Editor! (Song Sung Blue, Materialists, The Penguin, Past Lives, Emily in Paris)

Chad joins us to break down what a music editor actually does, his journey into the music industry, and what composers need to know when working with music editors. We dig into the love-hate relationships with temp tracks, and where AI might (or might not!) fit into the future of film scoring.

If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to leave us a review!
Follow us on Instagram @2composers2continents for sneak peeks of future episodes...

#podcast #musicpodcast #composerpodcast #musiceditor #filmcomposer #productionmusic #librarymusic #filmmusicpodcast #musicindustrypodcast #filmmusic #musicindustry