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Matthijs Kieboom - Sirius Contest - The interview. Questions asked by members
27 Dec 2020
SST members had the opportunity to ask questions to Dutch composer Matthijs Kieboom. This interview was part of the Sirius Contest - The interview. Members could win prizes that are given away at the end of the interview.
01.
Member: Birhar
Is there a particular movie that when watching and listening to the score for the first time made you wish to become a film composer yourself? If so, which one is it?
Yes, I was always aware of music in films, but when I saw “Atlantis” (JNH) and “interview with the vampire” (E. Goldenthal) on the same day I knew what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. And to this day, these scores are still influencing me very much!
02.
Member: Krazyormus
If you were given the chance to revisit a score to expand on a theme in one or multiple tracks, which score would that be and why?
I recently did a shot animation called “The Cloudmaker”, a 7 minute animation film. I would love to take this music a bit further and expand on it because I’m happy with the themes and orchestration, its a shame the movie was just 7 minutes ;)
03.
Member: Krazyormus
How was your approach to creating music for movie "Kill Zombie" different than other movies such as "Foeksia De Miniheks" or television show "Wild"?
Every project has a different approach on artistic and practical level. For example, a film like “Wild” was already 3 years in the making, so I had a lot of time to think about what I would do musically.
I scored both “Foeksia” and “Kill Zombie” very early on in my career (Foeksia being the first ever film I did) So I was much more looking for the right way to approach big projects like that. What I try to ask myself and the director first is: “What should the role of music be in this film”, with that answer I will continue asking questions, what kind of instrumentation, who will get themes, what will the deeper connection with music and film be storywise, etc etc. The answers to those questions will create my musical approach!
04.
Member: Krazyormus
What did you enjoy most with your collaboration with Armin van Buuren?
Seeing how down to earth & relaxed this huge artist is. I got to use his musical material to create the score, so I got an in depth look into his workflow. Even though it's a completely different genre/workflow/etc it's always super interesting to study that.
05.
Member: Locutus76
What would you have become if you hadn't become a composer?
Probably a chef because I really enjoy cooking. Also there is a lot of the same brain activity and creativity going on. What kind of food are you making? Comfort food or very challenging flavours (Easy going music of more intelligent/challenging), what are my ingredients (Instrumentation), what flavours do I want to highlight in this dish (What Melodies/instruments do I want to highlight), whats the build up of the courses (how is my musical structure), etc etc.
06.
Member: Locutus76
Had you been given the change, what existing movie (anything from Gone with the Wind to Star Wars) would you have loved to work on and why?
What a beautiful question. I would love to score a movie like Indiana Jones. Big Adventures, mysterious subjects, humour, romance, action, etc.. All in one great exciting score, filled with beautiful melodies.
07.
Member: Locutus76
Is there a kind of character or setting you like to write music for the most? Like a bad guy, or a chase scene or anything?
I always enjoy composing intimate scenes, either in romance or sadness, but I always like the challenge of being presence musically, not too much and only audible at the right time in the right places, telling you just the right thing with the music.
08.
Member: Birhar
Who is your favourite film composer and why?
If I just need to pick one, I guess that would be Bernard Herrmann. I love how his music comes from an interesting concept always connecting with the film. Musically it's intelligent, it fits the film and is also very listenable apart from the film.
I love the way he orchestrated but he was also very upfront in using new and unconventional instruments.
09.
Member: Birhar
What music genre do you listen to in your leisure time?
That completely depends on the mood i’m in. Just to name a few: Sinatra, Elbow, Foo Fighters, Beatles, Bodycount, Bach, Glass.
I’m not listening to a lot of film scores (anymore) in my leisure time because I’m listening to this for my job, a lot of filmmakers will ask me to listen to scores for inspiration. So when I'm done working, I need something else ;)
10.
Member: Birhar
Which one of your own scores do you like the most?
I suffer from creative bipolarity, meaning that what I like today, I’ll probably hate tomorrow ;)
But a score like Wild is pretty close to me, for many reasons. But I hope my favorite score will be written soon ;)
11.
Member: Birhar
Which is your favourite film score by another composer?
Vertigo (Herrmann)
12.
Member: Birhar
Which one of your own scores did you struggle with the most in the making process and why?
There is one film that I had to rescore 3 times. I’m afraid this was a situation where the director and myself were both on a completely different creative frequency. It's a shame but I told him that he’d better find another composer and that I would withdraw from the project.
13.
Member: Finnster
Is there a certain genre of film that you have not composed for as of yet that you would like to do next?
I would love to do a really scary movie, like Midsommar. I would love to write a scary but very intelligent score.
14.
Member: Finnster
Is there a genre of film that is more difficult to write for than others?
Comedy is always very hard to do! A good joke doesn't need “comical” music, but often treating it seriously creates the biggest laughs. But humor depends so much on taste and a person's sense of humor. And when you want to emphasize a joke there are so many ways to score it, do you build up towards the punshline, to you start on the reaction of the audience when the laughter starts, etc etc.
15.
Member: Finnster
Do you find yourself favoring one instrument over another and have to balance out compositions from time to time?
I try to pick an instrument (or group) in every project where the focus will be on, but personally I love to write for Cello, and I love to write for Ney, a beautiful turkish flute (also included in Wild). But overall, I’m very comfortable to write for an orchestra.
16.
Member: Finnster
As a former musician, I understand failure when performing live can be both the greatest embarrassment and the greatest teacher. What is the biggest lesson you learned from a public performance?
It’s been a looooong time since I properly performed. I learned to always listen and focus on the rest of the band and let that influence my playing (I was a bass player). I’m a big believer of balance and trying to keep the complete overview of what's happening in the complete musical picture. So I was never too focused on my own playing and to play a more supportive role.
17.
Member: Bruiser
What do you like most about composing? And what's the hardest or least pleasant thing?
I love the opportunity of adding something to a great story. To add more “Adventure” or “Drama”, and because of that, to take people out of their reality for a short amount of time, and transport them to this dreamworld we're creating for everybody who is working on this movie. I like the fact that you have to be a teamplayer and yet your individuality is so important, without a director I’m nothing, without my musicians I’m nothing, we all need each other and we all need to think alike but create something unique.
There are a few hard things: there are always very tight deadlines, so within a couple of weeks you need to write so much music, as good as possible! So there is little sleep and a lot of fighting with time, therefore you always have the feeling of guilt that you didn't do what you could have done. So when you’re done you should always look at the bigger picture of what the circumstances where while composing.
The other thing is that it's a business, so I cannot always artistically achieve what I want because of the budget or time. When I have a small budget and I want to have a complete orchestra...that is a hard situation because I can hire a full orchestra, but then there is nothing left for me.
Also what is very hard is the fact that you lose your hobby. I used to always watch movies and listen to music, now I do this 20 hours a day, so for me in order to relax and empty my head, it's hard to watch a movie or listen to music because I will be analyzing all the time ;)
18.
Member: Jaapieboy
Do you find it harder to write music for movies/series that you don't like or genres that you totally not into?
It doesn't happen a lot, but yes, the projects that are closer to your heart are sometimes easier to compose. On the flip side, it’s very refreshing to do all those different genres, that's how you stay fresh and focused.
19.
Member: Jaapieboy
Do you find it harder or easier to make the soundtrack for children/youth movies than for adult movies? Or is there no difference?
I don't think there is a lot of difference. I try to see youth films as adult films but with a little less boundaries. Meaning that all the emotions can be a little bit more extravagant.
For sure I will not make things too scary or emotional, but I don't want to play down too much, that would be an insult to the little viewers.
20.
Member: Jaapieboy
Gaming is becoming more and more popular. Is making the soundtrack for a video game something that you would consider doing?
Because I’m not a gamer, I never really thought about it. If I would be asked, I would have to do a lot of gaming first, just to get into the right mindset ;)
21.
Member: Dragonel
Do you have any potential scores in mind that you are waiting to find the right film/series for?
I don't really have scores, but I do keep a small notebook with musical concepts, weird instruments I found, etc. Every now and then a project will come along where I can use one of those things. For example, I really love the Nyckelharpa, it's an amazing instrument. When I was asked to score a pirate movie it was a perfect match, I could finally use this fiddle-like instrument.
22.
Member: Dragonel
Ideally would you rather write music when there is nothing more than a script available, or after the whole film has been shot?
I am pretty happy with my workflow now. I compose themes and come up with musical concepts after reading the script and when the film has been shot, I will use this as my starting point. This way I have more time composing the themes etc, and when I really have to work under a tight deadline, I already have a lot of material, so I can use my time more effectively.
23.
Member: Dragonel
Is there a famous soundtrack that you would like to do a different score for and in what way would it differ?
Every now and then you stumble upon a movie where you have a feeling the music could have done more. It doesn't mean it's done badly, because it might be a producers or directors choice to do it like it is.
I would have loved to have a chance to rescore some of the “Stranger Things” episodes in a more orchestral way. Probably the whole series will lose its 80’s vibe, but I am very curious what that will do with the story.
24.
Member: Dragonel
Which soundtrack surprised you the most when you first heard it and why?
Planet of the Apes, the original Goldsmith score. It's such an intelligent and complex score that I couldn't imagine it working with the film. Then I saw it and it worked so well!!
25.
Member: elmer856
When creating a piece of music, one can fall in love with passages and themes that one creates. There are also times when your creative taste and direction are challenged by those with final say. Have you ever felt so strongly about what you have written that you defended your creation? How did that turn out and did that make you a better composer?
This is always an interesting thing. You never want to be a nagging composer because nobody wants to work with nagging people, so I’m picking my battles wisely. Often I will follow the director, because I am there to realize his creative vision. But if I have something that I feel strongly about, I will defend it and it all comes down on how good you can explain your idea verbally. Sometimes I will score a scene the way the director wants and how I think we need to do it, that's easier to discuss. But I have to say, the more films I do, the more people trust my vision.
And all these discussions make you a better composer / filmmaker.
26.
Member: Locutus76
Have you ever been completely stuck on writing a score? Like a total lack of inspiration or a writer's block?
Thankfully, not really. If it happens it happens before I see the movie. As soon as I see the film, the ideas start following. Sometimes the way a character walks, a set piece, etc, can give you inspiration.
27.
Member: Locutus76
If you were in a band, what kind of music would your band make?
Uffff, Sometimes I wish I could run around the stage (Iron Maiden style) but musically I love to do something like John Mayer: well crafted songs, great playing, relax vibe.
28.
Member: Locutus76
When will you be moving to Hollywood? Or do you rather stay in NL?
I don't think I will be moving to Hollywood. I believe that, especially after this pandemic, people will work much more remotely. And to be honest, I don't see myself as a Hollywood-style composer, I think I’m much more a European kind of composer. But to be honest. I just want to do beautiful films/series, and it doesn't matter where they are being made. Last year and upcoming year I will be doing a few UK productions, and that's very easy to do from Holland
29.
Member: Locutus76
Do you prefer really big budget movies or small productions?
They both have their charms. With a big budget, comes great responsibility ;)
With big productions, there are more people who need to give their opinion and feedback because there's a lot at stake. That can be exciting but sometimes hard (when everybody wants you to do something else). And with small productions I can take a bit more artistic freedom, that's always nice, also to be able to experiment a bit more.
30.
Member: Pez5069
As music is an emotional issue, have you ever tried to give a scene an opposed piece of music? For example the nice princess gets an evil witch part or a thrilling scene a relaxing one. And let this sink in?
Absolutely! I have to say that's often a decision you make together with a director. I will often refer to “Painting red roses red”, meaning that if we musically tell the same emotion, we have an overdose of the same emotion and that's sometimes too much.
It doesn't work in every scene but it can have refreshing and very original ideas.
31.
Member: Quicksilver
Do any of your themes ever get stuck in your head long after writing them? If so, which ones?
After working on a movie I will often wake up with the themes in my head, and I can tell you… that is so annoying, I rather have a good melody of someone else in my head.
When I was done with “Pirates down the street” I kept having the theme of “A pirate is a threat” in my head, extremely annoying!
32.
Member: Dragonel
What snack helps you compose best?
Lays sensations sweet chilli potato chips.
33.
Member: Dragonel
Pepsi or Coke? And more importantly, Why?
That's a tricky one ;) I like them both actually. Sometimes when I do my groceries I will buy Coke, but every now and then I will have enough and change to Pepsi.
But I have to say, I try to drink no soft drinks and stick with water, tea and coffee.
34.
Member: Dragonel
Would you rather be a flesh-eating zombie who can only eat composers and musicians or a ghost condemned to haunt the Hollywood Bowl for all eternity?
LOL a ghost, haunting the Hollywood Bowl, at least I would see some great concerts
35.
Member: Dragonel
What theme would you write for a large-boned (but not fat!) even-tempered, sparkly purple dragon with a bad sense of humor trying to be funny?
A very confident theme, strong in presence, big because of its grandness and pretty rhythmical because that way you can start and stop nicely to make space for the bad jokes ;)
36.
Member: Birhar
What was the first film score (record, music cassette, or CD) that you bought or that was given to you?
To be honest with you, I don't really know. When I started out listening to film scores, It was the beginning of Napster, so I downloaded a bunch of different stuff (Yes, I apologize for that!). I think the first CD I bought was Edward Scissorhands
37.
Member: Birhar
How old were you when you got your first film score (record, music cassette, or CD)?
I think 17.
38.
Member: Mathias
Matthijs Kieboom for what type of musical formation do you prefer to compose? And why?
I’m very comfortable with writing for orchestra, also a lot of band stuff. For me it's much easier than writing for synth’s. Although I love the sound, the technology is still one big grey area ;)
39.
Member: Mathias
Matthijs Kieboom for which instument do you prefer to compose? and why ?
I love the tone and timbre of a cello, its so versatile and you can give it so many musical roles.
40.
Member: Mathias
Matthijs Kieboom, If you must choose, for a new Film soundtrack composition, between Windband or Brassband. which one would you choose? ? And Why ?
owww that's interesting, for sure it depends on the story and music. I like brass very much because you can get so much from using mutes and sordino. On the other hand, I have a feeling that the winds have more difference in sounds in between the individual instruments. Thats a good question!
41
Member: danleich
Do you have a dog?
Unfortunately no, I am allergic to a lot of pets and I feel that if I have a pet, I need to be home a lot more and travel less so I can really be there.
42.
Member: Martino
How to have a career in film music industry and to be a father at once? What is your recipe for good work/life balance?
Thats a good question. It's hard to find a balance and it's something to always be checking. I am sure this is different for every composer and father, but for me it works very well for a couple of reasons. Before I had kids, my work was everything for me, literally everything, so much that you cannot take a step back and look if you’re doing the right thing. Since I had kids, this changed, my first priority are my kids. So this created a natural buffer between me and my work. It doesn't mean that I care less about work, but for example when I run against a scene that is hard, a melody that doesn't work, or a crazy wish from a director.....I can let it sink in, be with my kids, cook for them, etc… come back and have a fresh new way to encounter these challenges. Its like taking a step back in order to make 2 steps forward. Also, I have a feeling that the door in my head that gives me access to my emotions, opened up much wider when I got kids, play me a beautiful piece of music and I’m crying ;)
Another thing is you need to be much more strict about priorities. For 50% of the time I am a single dad, so when I have the kids, I work when they are at school or when they are in bed, I don't compose when they are at home with me, that's too hard to focus for me. So that limits me in my time and therefore I only want to spend time on the things that really matter to me.
43.
Member: DieTeeFee
What's the deal with this vinyl trend? Do people actually hear a difference in the Music or do they just like to hear the occasional imperfection on the vinyl disk?
I think a lot of people think they hear the difference.. The biggest difference there is, is that people listen more actively to music, you're physically putting a record on the player, often you’ll sit down in a comfortable chair and listen more actively and therefore it sounds nicer. Yes there are audible differences, often only noticeable when you have the right equipment, but it's more the act and charme of putting on vinyl (and I love it)
44.
Member: DieTeeFee
If you could only compose for one instrument for the rest of your life, which one would it be and why?
That sounds like a nightmare, because eventually every instrument will get tiresome in the ears I’m afraid. I guess it would be Piano so at least you can play chords and melody at the same time.
Member: SiriusCreations
The final questions are to ask you to mention what were the most original, interesting and funniest questions (Q1 - Q44) to determine who will get the prizes:
Limited Edition of Hemelrijken on vinyl, signed by you and 3 months VIP membership, for the most original question
3 months VIP membership: For the most interesting question
1 SST Mug from our SSTore: for our the funniest question
45.
Who gets the limited edition of Hemelrijken on vinyl, signed by you and 3 months VIP membership, for the most original question?
Q17, I like the fact that there is also a question about the downside, because there is!
46.
Who gets the 3 months VIP membership for the most interesting question?
Q42, because it's an interesting subject, also if you take out the kids part, how to keep balance in your life. I can honestly say that I have the best job in the world, but it’s not easy because of the time pressure and pressure that is placed upon a composer. So it’s all about balance and in my case, it took/takes me a lot of searching and a lot of talking (also with processionals) to find it.
47.
Who gets the SST Mug from our SSTore: for our the funniest question?
Q35, I almost got into the mood to actually write a theme for the purple dragon!
48.
Thank you Matthijs for taking the time answering the questions. Maybe you want to say something to the members of StreamingSoundTracks?
Thank you all so much for these great questions! I really enjoyed answering them. You guys are amazing and in a way, you give our work a new meaning and a new life. It is rewarding and extremely humbling to have people actually listening to the music, apart from the films.
So thank you all very much, I hope to see you all one day or another, and please take care of yourselves and others!
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