Music is the means in which a film transcends just being a story and may become a part of our soul. The scenes from the original Superman are fond memories, yet they will never make my heart swell as much as that timeless orchestral theme song composed by the legendary John Williams. Everyone I have ever met has a favorite movie soundtrack which inspires and fills them with nostalgia. My two favorites soundtracks would have to be from Pirate Radio and The Departed. Needless to say, music in movies is important.
A great scene in a movie can make people fall in love with a new song which they may have previously overlooked. Those closing credits dance breaks are introducing classic songs to young audiences and subtly giving them a taste of music from past generations. There are hundreds of film makers that started or launched their careers because they were shooting music videos. The movie industry and the music industry are a symbiotic business and they can both help each other immensely.
I always think it's funny when I talk to film maker friends of mine that just never seem to know what to do about the music for their production. Has it ever occurred to you to seek out an indie musician that is just as eager to get their work out there? There are a ridiculous amount of talented musicians in the city of LA and it's a shame more people don't get to experience their music. There are dozens of local bands on my Ipod but I'm only going to share with you my top five favorites. If you're a film maker and you're reading this blog, you might want to think about reaching out to these fine folks the next time you have a project. But even if you don't reach out to these musicians, make an effort to get out there and see some live music. You may very well find that composer you're looking for or maybe even that perfect song for your end credits.
Note: I am not a music critic. I'm just a guy who loves music.
The Mots Nouveaux
http://
I have to start out with my besties (yes, I said besties), The Mots Nouveaux. This dynamic duo is made up of Emma Fitzpatrick and Aaron Beaumont. I'm happy to say that I have been following this band from the very beginning, all the way back when they were arguing over the name (Which I love, though I admittedly didn't know how to pronounce early on). Emma Fitzpatrick is a bad ass amongst bad asses. We met when I cast her as the lead of my thriller series Emily back in 2009. This girl is a vocal powerhouse with the ability to play in all levels of emotional nuances. She is a deeply talented actress as well which shows in her dynamic musical performances.
The other half of the duo is Aaron Beaumont who also happens to be the other half of my duo for the musical, Behind Closed Doors: A 2nd Class Cabaret. I feel in love with Aaron as a composer when I listened to his first album Nothing's Forever (Not Even Goodbye) . The music and lyrics are hauntingly good and have helped me through more rough patches then I care to describe. Go buy this album. Every person I have ever shared these songs with made me cookies out of gratitude.
What makes the Mots Nouveaux your new favorite band? Well, let me ask you something. Do you like amazing rock music that mixes old school jazz with fun, witty lyrics that makes you want to get up to dance, sing, maybe even take your pants off?! No body says "No" to that question. These guys are the real deal. They make music for music lovers. The lyrics are phenomenal, the songs are lively and varied, and they know how to bring the house down as performers. Their first album is coming out soon but you should definitely check out some of their singles Gimme Gimme, Crazy in Love, and Good at Being Bad .
Shannon Curtis
http://shannoncurtis.net/
Aaron Beaumont introduced me to Shannon's music and I was lucky enough to see her live at the Bootleg Theater. Up on stage was just Shannon, and a piano. Every song had the audience wrapped in mesmerized silence. The only sound the audience made was the eruption of applause in-between each song. She is the only performer that I have ever downloaded a song right there at the concert. (That song is Lay Me Down on her album Why Don't You Stay) I started looking into Shannon's music and found out that she had a bunch of albums already out. I couldn't believe it was possible to have an artist that has produced this much spectacular material and yet I hadn't heard of her before. Shannon has a literal gold mine of music that could be used for films. Her songs echo from the heart and tell beautiful stories. From what I have seen she is pretty much always on tour. Right now she is out promoting her new album Cinemascope which just came out this past month.
Will Hutchinson
Will is one of the sweetest and most endearing people you will ever meet, and his music captures it all. Will was just another friend of a friend that very politely handed me a CD of his music one night when we were at a show. I went home, not really expecting much and threw it on to my ITunes. The first thing that came out of my speakers was this fantastic voice which I had never heard anything like before. I don't even really know how to describe it. He has this sound that captures what it is like to be in love. That kind of love you only get your very first time before you get all jaded from having your heart broken. The songs are folksy, catchy, and full of beautiful imagery. Both of his albums instantly won me over on the first listen and have gotten better every time I play them. Check out Will's two albums Arrive and Goldfish Diaries and then call him to write some music for your film.
JT Spangler
http://jtspangler.com/
I met JT back in early 2010 when he performed with Aaron and Emma at their first live show. You will remember your first time seeing JT Spangler perform because your brain won't really understand what is happening. JT is this tall, scruffy white guy that has a voice like Aretha Franklin. I remember standing there for the longest time trying to figure out who the hell was singing. I just couldn't believe it. I know this may be blasphemy in some circles but he has a voice that is on par with Stevie Wonder. It has that rhythm, that sweet timber, that sensual coarseness that turns love songs into making love songs. This year is a huge year because JT just came out with his first full length album What's a Little Heartbreak . Gentlemen, I recommend you purchase this album and play it in the background on your next date. You'll thank me. Ladies, try not to fall in love with JT too much.
Honey Honey
http://honeyhoneyband.com/
I hate country music.
The only exception I will make is for HoneyHoney. Now they aren't exactly full on country. HoneyHoney is a mix of bluegrass, country, rock, and folk music masterfully blended together by the talented Suzanne Santo & Ben Jaffe. This band is FUN! I had to capitalize it so you understand exactly what kind of fun I am talking about. Imagine the grit of Johnny Cash performed with a woman's voice which is then mixed with the modern bluesy rock of The Black Keys. Both of their albums First Rodeo and Billy Jack are spectacular. Unfortunately for indie film makers, these guys are blowing up fast. Their song Thin Line was just featured on the CBS's show Vegas. Plus they have been playing huge festivals like Coachella where they actually played on the same stage as the Black Keys. If only I had gotten this article out to you guys sooner. But, any of these bands can instantly become unavailable for you to use in your film and it can happen overnight. You should get out there and reach out to these bands before it's too late.
I hope you all enjoyed this article and took some time to check out the amazing music from these bands. If you want to get amazing music for your film it's pretty easy. You just have to start seeing some shows and supporting other artists in other mediums. You can help support other film makers by checking out our IndieHouse Rentals campaign page. Enjoy the tunes!
