Sync Music Matters Podcast

Interview with Ben Salisbury – How do composers create film and TV scores that feel like they are an integral part of the world on screen?

That’s one of the questions I explore in this interview with Ben Salisbury, the 2 x Ivor Novello Award-winning and Emmy-nominated composer behind scores for Ex Machina, Devs, Annihilation, Civil War and Under Salt Marsh.

Often collaborating with Geoff Barrow, Ben Salisbury has become one of the most influential composers working in film and television today. His scores beautifully blur the line between music, atmosphere and sound design, creating worlds that feel immersive and unsettling

In this episode of Sync Music Matters, Ben explains his approach to scoring for picture, including how he developed the music for Under Salt Marsh and why he wanted the score to feel as though it was emerging directly from the landscape itself.

• How Ben Salisbury got started as a film and television composer
• Advice for aspiring composers looking to break into the film and TV industry
• The creative process behind scoring Under Salt Marsh
• How composers can use sound, texture, and atmosphere to support storytelling
• The importance of collaboration in screen music
• Working with Geoff Barrow and Suvi-Eeva Äikäs
• The surprising origin of the Under Salt Marsh title music

Listen to the full episode of Sync Music Matters to hear Ben Salisbury’s advice on breaking into film composition, collaborating creatively and writing scores that feel inseparable from the picture.

Ben Salibury’s Website

How do you score a mind slowly unravelling? In the latest episode of Sync Music Matters, I interview Chris Roe the Ivor-nominated composer, to unpack his haunting score for The Lady – the ITVX and BritBox drama based on the shocking true story of Jane Andrews, former dresser to Sarah Ferguson who murdered her boyfriend.

Chris breaks down how the music evolves alongside Jane’s psychological collapse. What begins as glossy, fairy-tale elegance gradually becomes unstable, distorted and emotionally raw.

We talk about:

• Using vintage synths like the Juno-6 to give the score a 90s feel
• Transforming royal, bell-like textures into something brittle and unsettling
• Collaborating with award-winning Irish composer Niamh Ní Mheara on breathy vocal textures that reflect Jane’s rising panic
• The difference between scoring for TV and scoring for film

Plus, in the new Cue & A segment, we break down one of Chris’s cues piece by piece so you can hear exactly how these ideas translate to screen.

If you’re interested in TV scoring, psychological storytelling through music or modern screen composition techniques, this interview with Chris Roe is packed with insight.

Chris Roe Website

In the latest episode of Sync Music Matters, I speak with music supervisor Paulina Marquez about her work on Season 2 of The Night Manager for Amazon Prime Video, starring Tom Hiddleston and Olivia Colman.

With more than 20 years of experience across film and television, Marquez explains how music supervision is less about deep musical knowledge and more about emotion, storytelling, and narrative impact.

A key creative decision for the new season was building much of the show’s musical identity around Colombian artists, helping give the series a distinctive sonic world. We also discuss the subtle power of diegetic music in shaping atmosphere, and why supervisors should avoid temping tracks they won’t be able to clear later.

Marquez encourages bold choices when it comes to sync, arguing that unexpected music can often create the most memorable moments on screen.

Originally from Mexico and now based in Barcelona, Marquez began her career at MCO Audio Design Studios and now works across international productions for platforms including Netflix, Amazon and Apple. Her credits include Elite, The Burning Body, and Hurricane Season, and she maintains a long-standing collaboration with director Manolo Caro.

We also talk about her early musical influences from Led Zeppelin to Jarvis Cocker. Plus we end up debating a surprisingly divisive topic: which way toilet paper should hang.

🎧 Listen to the full episode of Sync Music Matters to hear Paulina’s insights on music supervision, sync licensing, and building a musical identity for television.

Paulinas Website: https://www.paulinasmusic.com/

Ruth Barrett – Scoring The Girlfriend. In this episode of Sync Music Matters, I interview Emmy Award nominated composer Ruth Barrett to explore the infinite possibilities of musical collaboration and the art of shaping sound for story. We go under the skin of her incredible score for Amazon’s The Girlfriend and The Terminal List: Dark Wolf

Ruth shares how working with other musicians and writers opens unexpected creative doors. From discovering unique textures to pushing the boundaries of sound design. We dive into the power of experimentation, and how bold sonic choices can elevate emotion on screen.

A standout moment in our conversation is Ruth’s approach to character themes — distilling an entire personality or journey down to a single word, then building a musical language around it.

Ruth’s music spans feature films and high-end television, blending lyrical themes and classical influences with modern textures. Her credits include The Old Guard 2, City of Tiny Lights, Harry Brown, and series such as Amazon’s The Girlfriend and The Terminal List: Dark Wolf.

This episode is a deep dive into collaboration, creativity, and the evolving language of music for screen.

Ruth Barrett on Instagram

In this episode of Sync Music Matters I’m joined by editor and producer Chad Galster who is best known for his long-standing collaboration with filmmaker Taylor Sheridan. Chad has worked on every season of Yellowstone along with its prequels 1883 and 1923, and the 2023 series Lioness, starring Zoë Saldaña.

Chad shares his unconventional journey into the entertainment industry including the bold decision to turn his back on a career in medicine and start over in film and television. We talk about his early days editing reality TV and the audition that led him to Yellowstone, and how that opportunity became career-defining.

A central theme of the conversation is creative freedom and the trust required between director, editor, and composer to facilitate the taking of creative risks. Chad offers insight into how that trust enables experimentation, irreverence and originality in storytelling, especially in an industry often hesitant to break from established formulas.

We also dive into his collaborations with composers Brian Tyler (Yellowstone) and Andrew Lockington (Landman and Lioness), and explore how the edit and the music shapes tone, pacing and emotional impact. The episode wraps with a look at the Yellowstone soundtrack and its role in elevating artists like Ryan Bingham, helping define the show’s unmistakable sonic identity.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in the intersection of editing, music and fearless creative decision-making in modern television.

Chad Galster on Instagram

In this episode of Sync Music Matters, I’m joined by composer and music producer Simon Franglen for a fascinating conversation spanning pop production and film score.

Simon reflects on his early career writing jingles and programming the Synclavier for Trevor Horn, an experience that placed him at the intersection of music and emerging technology. That foundation led to high-level session gigs working on music for artists including Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, and Celine Dion – culminating in his role producing “My Heart Will Go On” for Titanic.

His transition into film scoring began with Dances With Wolves, working alongside John Barry and then Alan Sylvestri and James Horner. Experience that shaped his approach to melody and storytelling. We discuss how those lessons continue to inform his work today.

The conversation then turns to Simon’s latest project, Avatar: Fire and Ash, where he recorded new themes and created original musical instruments to help define the film’s sonic world. With a piano in the room, Simon plays excerpts from the score, offering rare insight into his creative process.

Simon talks about the film’s songs including “Dream as One” by Miley Cyrus and “The Future and The Past” sung by Zoë Saldaña and how they support the narrative.

We also explore the decline of strong thematic composition in modern cinema and why Hollywood has shifted away from it.

Finally, Simon offers his perspective on AI and the music industry, addressing both the risks and the enduring importance of human creativity.

Listen to the Avatar: Fire and Ash Score on Spotify

In the latest episode of Sync Music Matters, I sit down with composer Nathan Klein to dive deep into his gripping score for the Sky series Atomic – a project defined by chaos, grit, and raw emotional power. From experimenting with industrial synths to navigating the psychological pressures of pitching, this conversation is a fascinating insight for anyone interested in film scoring and TV music composition.

Nathan shares the creative journey behind developing the sonic identity of Atomic. The series demanded a score that felt chaotic and like it was part of a naughties buddy movie. To capture this, he leaned into Gritty industrial synths and Aggressive, textural string performances

The Trap of Second-Guessing: Why Composers Must Trust Their Voice

One of the most valuable themes in this episode is the danger of second-guessing what directors want during the pitching process. Nathan talks candidly about trying to predict expectations instead of following his instincts

He highlights that directors often respond most strongly to ideas that feel authentic and bold.

Creativity Under Pressure: Overcoming Mental Blocks

We also dig into how pressure can stifle creativity—something every composer, producer, and artist knows too well. Nathan shares how deadlines, self-doubt, and the fast pace of TV work can shrink your creative space if you let them.

The conversation expands beyond Atomic into Nathan’s work on BBC series Ludwig and Film Club, directed by, written by, and starring Amy Lou Wood. These projects required a totally different musical touch offering an intimate contrast to the intensity of Atomic.

Whether you’re an emerging composer, a seasoned scorer, or someone fascinated by the craft behind film and TV music, this episode offers:

• Practical insights into the composing and pitching process
• Honest discussion about the psychological side of creative work
• A behind-the-scenes look at two major projects from one of the industry’s rising composers

Nathan Klein Website

Nathan Klein Instagram

I recently sat down to interview Mac Quayle the Emmy-winning composer, known for his iconic work on Mr. Robot and most recently Monster: The Ed Gein Story. Our conversation traced his journey from club DJ to composer of some of television’s most unsettling soundscapes.

From Dance Floors to Film Scores

Before Hollywood, Mac was shaping late-night dance floors as a DJ and remixer in New York. But with the advent of streaming and the death of music sales Mac decided to change lanes.

That pivot led him to collaborate with legendary composer Cliff Martinez, and Mac moved from commercial music to cinematic storytelling

Scoring Monster

With Monster, Mac wasn’t interested in jump scares or obvious horror tropes. Instead, he built a score rooted in psychological dread – leaning into quiet tension and emotional unease – the kind that lingers long after the scene ends. The result is a sonic world that feels intimate, unsettling and hauntingly human.

We dived deep into his creative toolkit of modular synths, processed textures, and unconventional string techniques – exploring the tactile noises that make strings feel alive, anxious and close to the skin.

Mac Quayle Website

Mac Quayle Instagram

Sync Music Matters

In this episode of Sync Music Matters, I chat with composer Oli Julian, the man behind the gloriously mischievous scoring of The Twits for Netflix

Known for his work on Sex Education and Catastrophe, Oli brings his signature blend of fun, rhythm and emotional punch to Roald Dahl’s anarchic world with a soundtrack he describes as “kleptomaniacal”

The new film, featuring the voices of Margo Martindale and Johnny Vegas as the grotesquely dysfunctional Mr and Mrs Twit, is anything but conventional and neither is its score. Oli takes us behind the scenes of a sonic palette that includes Bulgarian choirs and what he calls “flatulent” baltic brass, giving the film an irreverent and delightfully chaotic tone.

He tells the story of how, during one of his early meetings, he found himself playing the musical saw over Zoom – a moment he jokes might have sealed the deal.

But beneath the playfulness, there’s a deep sense of craft and authenticity to Oli’s work. We talk about how his first dalliance with making music came in the from of a humble four-track recording of Wonderwall by Oasis.

As a drummer, Oli admits he’s “rhythmically led,” and it shows — the propulsive energy of his cues often drives the emotional core of a scene. For him, groove and feel aren’t just musical ideas, they’re emotional anchors.

During our chat, a familiar theme emerges – one shared by so many composers: the importance of authenticity and being confident in what you create.

The Twits might be a story about the world’s most horrible couple, but under Oli Julian’s mischievous baton, it’s also a celebration of the beautifully bizarre – proof that even the strangest sounds can make perfect sense when they come from an honest place.

Oli Julian Website

Oli Julian Instagram

(00:00:00) Introduction

(00:03:00) Interview with Oli Julian – What was your path into music?

(00:13:35) Creating a Unique Sound?

(00:15:20) Under The Skin: Scoring The Twits

(00:26:38) Working with David Byrne

(00:28:30) Winning an RTS award (Drama vs Comedy)

(00:34:05) Renegade Nell

(00:40:46) Getting a Taste

(00:49:41) Quickfire Questions

Jeff Russo – Scoring Alien: Earth. On Sync Music Matters this week, I sit down with Emmy-winning composer Jeff Russo the creative force behind some of television’s most memorable music. From the darkly playful Fargo score to his latest work on Alien Earth (now streaming on Disney+), Jeff has a gift for crafting soundscapes that challenge, surprise, and deepen the stories they accompany.

We talk about scoring Alien: Earth and following in the footsteps of Jerry Goldsmith and James Horner. Jeff also reflects on his early career as a producer and songwriter, working alongside Wendy Melvoin and Lisa Coleman from Prince’s band The Revolution, and his friendship with Lenny Kravitz.

Our conversation also dug into his long-standing creative partnership with Noah Hawley. Their first project together, The Unusuals, marked the start of a collaboration that has carried through to Fargo and now Alien Earth. Jeff spoke about the trust and shared vision that comes from years of working together.

And then there are the instruments. The Bassdesmaphone or the Aztec Death Whistle, the unconventional tools tools which spark creativity

This episode is full of insights and inspiration

Jeff Russo is an Emmy Award-winning and Grammy-nominated composer, songwriter, guitarist, vocalist and music producer.

Jeff has scored a plethora of movies and TV series and received an Emmy in 2017 for his work on Fargo and was nominated a further four times.

Recent film credits include The Last Rodeo; Star Trek: Section 31 whilst resent series include FX’s Alien: Earth and Netflix’ Untamed

Jeff is also a founding member, lead guitarist and co-songwriter of two-time Grammy nominated, multi-platinum selling rock band,Tonic

Jeff Russo on Instagram

Jeff Russo Website