|
Interview with Nick Murray ( 09.07.2008 - 20:00 GMT UTC )
1. Can you please introduce yourself in a few lines to the people that still haven't got the chance to know you by now ? Nick Murray: My name is Nick, I am 28 years old and I live in Los Angeles, California, just over the hill from Hollywood. I am a music producer and composer and love what I do.
2. I have been told that You work in the movies and video games industry where your music features in the blockbuster XBox 360 video game called "Prey" made by 2K Games, can you give us further information about this ?
Nick Murray: I am currently working in the movie industry yes. I first got involved in Film/Game music in 2006. I was living in Seattle at the time and a good friend of mine, Jeremy Soule, was the main composer for the xBox 360 game "Prey", by 2K Games. I was trying to get into the industry, so I did a little bit of music with him on this video game. I also produced the soundtrack to the game. This was a great opportunity to jump right into the business and I quickly realized the potential for working in the game and film music industry. It was a year later, in 2007, about a year ago, that I came to Los Angeles to start looking for jobs here. I met with a company called 'AudioMachine' and was really interested in what they were doing. They do music specifically for movie trailers and their resume is quickly growing even though the company is relatively new. Long story short, they hired me to work full time doing sound design and graphic design, as well as pro tools editing, and other things. In return, I am learning a ton about film music and have even recorded 1 cue of my own with a full orchestra and choir. And I am currently working on lots more music for them as well. Hopefully, you will see my music in some movie trailers around the world soon.
3. You did all this great work in the movies and video games industry, but how is that you began to produce electronic dance music, what made you change your style in to this way, being an active producer and remixer in today`s electronic music ?
Nick Murray: Well, EDM was really the reason I started writing music in the first place. In 1998 or so, I first heard The Crystal Method's album "Vegas" and I was blown away. I had never heard those sounds before (remember dance music is pretty much nonexistent in the states). I really wanted to learn more about it. But nothing happened until a couple years later, I was living in Thailand and ended up becoming friends with some rock stars over there. After hanging out with them, I realized that they are just normal guys, and if they can make a living doing music and are successful, then I can try too. When I got back into the states in 2002, I started taking music classes in college, specifically about electronic music. Two of the classes were even taught by Miller Pucket, the guy who made MAX/MSP and is a bit of an electronic music icon. So I learned a lot there. I initially bought Reason 2.0 and started messing around. I think I also had Fruity Loops and Acid too. Jump to 2006 again and I really wanted to start producing as a career. I started listening to trance music specifically because I knew it was popular in Europe. After listening quite a bit to some podcasts online (mostly Rotation Podcast with DJ Addison) I decided to start producing trance. I am really enjoying how this is turning out, working with lots of people in the industry, learning so much, and I really feel like I am starting to find my own sound. In early 2006, I ditched Reason and stuff for Logic, and haven't turned back since.
4. I know that Paul van Dyk was looking forward to find talented producers in order to remix his track with the well known ex former NU-NRG duo band, the Italian based Giuseppe Ottaviani for the "Far away" record. So how is that you are involved in this, can You please give us more information about this making us the first to know ? Thanks indeed.
Nick Murray: They actually had a remix contest on Beatportal.com. You could download the remix parts and anybody could remix by a certain deadline. I simply did just that and entered the contest. I think they announce the winners next week. So we will keep our fingers crossed. You can hear my remix on my MySpace player if you like. I slowed the song down to 130 BPM and made it more of a progressive house track.
5. Please tell us more about Your collaboration with the very well known Kirsty Hawkshaw and what is all about and if there will be another project in the future.
Nick Murray: I have been really lucky to get in with that whole crew actually. Kirsty is a great person and a wonderful songwriter and vocalist as we all know. I remixed Loverush, Love is No Possession, and Fine Day 2008 for her and we have talked quite a bit about doing a song together. No word on when that is happening right now though. We have both been swamped with other projects at the moment.
6. Please share with us further details about one of Your latest tracks, called "Illusion".
Nick Murray: "Illusion" actually came out late last summer or fall I believe, on Green Martian Records (a Bonzai sub-label). It's currently available on Beatport, Audiojelly, iTunes, etc. It was my first single I signed to a label so I was very excited about that release. I think since that song, I have really grown a lot and am really excited for my next stuff coming out soon.
7. What can You tell us about the collaboration with the Finish producer, remixer and Dj, Miika Kuisma ?
Nick Murray: Miika is a nice guy. I wrote a song about a month ago called "Lost". If anybody is reading this is a producer, you will know what I mean when I say that it was just one of those tracks where everything just worked out. I think I did it in 6-8 hours start to finish. But I think it is catchy and had a good vibe, and so it went down nicely. I approached Miika about remixing it, among other people, and he really liked what he heard. So he is working on a remix of the song right now and it will also be released on Bonzai. I am very excited to hear what he comes up with. We have also talked about me remixing for him and stuff too, so that will be fun.
8. Not long ago, You have made a remix of a track, where Jo Micali and Jjoy from Malta, both together also known as Fahrenheit were involved, please tell us further details about it.
Nick Murray: Yes, this was "Jjoy & Kirsty Hawkshaw - Love is No Possession (Nick Murray Remix)". This was a really good song, or is, I should say. Mark Loverush from the label Loverush Digital approached me with this song and was very excited about it. Once I heard the melody and the vocals, I knew I had to be involved! Doing remixes is kind of scary sometimes because you don't know what the producer, songwriter, and vocalist will think. They might think your mix is total crap, so after producing a remix, it is always a bit nerve-racking to hand it back over to see what they think. Luckily everyone was really excited about my remix for this song and the song went on to win "Song of the Year" in the country of Malta, where Jjoy and Jo Micali are from.
9. Can You share with us, who is the most well known artist that really gave his/her support at all this time, since You have started being an EDM producer and remixer ?
Nick Murray: Yeah, there are a couple people actually. First off would have to be DJ Addison, who has a Podcast on iTunes called "Rotation". I highly recommend subscribing to this weekly show. He is the first person who heard some of my early tunes and started playing them on his show right away. If I hear those songs now, I am pretty embarrassed by them actually, but he was very generous and really had faith in me as a producer. So that got me going, then I was hooked. Another person is Mark Loverush. He is half of the Loverush UK! duo and the label owner for Loverush Digital. He has hooked me up with most of my remix opportunities and really allowed me to grow, while promoting my music in the UK and all over. I just recently signed my newest song with his label. It is a collaboration with Tiff Lacey and will be coming out next month.
10. I have been told once that You haven`t tried to start being a Dj, but are You willing and looking forward to become one ? Since all producers and remixers becomes Djs nowadays, being a very important task while into EMI, as in electronic music industry.
Nick Murray: Well, like I said, I got into EDM only a couple years ago. I know most DJs started playing with turntables when they were toddlers... not to say that I can not start now, but I am really enjoying producing at the moment and feel that I can still grow with this for now. Since I am doing film music as well, it keeps me 110% busy. I will be doing some guest mixes on some radio shows and podcasts soon, but then back to the studio for me.
11. Being an active person in the film industry, that includes theatres and cinemas, and also being an active producer and remixer, are You looking forward into getting a Grammy and an Oscar in the future, what is Your goal, since I know a lot of artists become movie stars over the night, according to what I see nowadays ?
Nick Murray: Hahaha an Oscar for music wouldn't be bad, but acting... not my thing! I don't think anyone would want to see that. Honestly, the rewards I am looking for are not little statues, but the rewards are being able to build a long lasting career in the music industry, providing for my family, and creating music that moves people (with different genres of music). But if someone handed me a Grammy, I wouldn't refuse. Hahaha.
12. Is there any electronic dance music event that you would like to attend mostly, in Europe or in any other part of the world ? There must be one in so many I reckon
Nick Murray: I don't know... honestly, like I said, EDM is not that well known over here like it is in Europe. Maybe some big outdoor show would be better than some sweaty club or something.
13. What can you tell us about your future regarding electronic dance music scene, are there any upcoming projects that you wanna tell us about ?
Nick Murray: Yeah, I feel like I am really just starting. I think you will be hearing a lot more from me in the future. I am glad to do this interview now, but hopefully in a few years we can do one again and talk about all the hit records I have done. But for now, yes I have 4 new songs coming out soon. The first is "The Sweetest Sound" featuring Tiff Lacey, coming out on Loverush Digital in August. Then we have "Lost". This song is an instrumental trancer. It will be out on Bonzai (no release date yet). I just finished another instrumental track called "Reflection" and it is currently unsigned. And then most recently, I am currently working on another vocal track. This is with Marcie. This track will be really fun as well. We are currently in the demo/rough mix phase and working out the arrangement, etc. I should be doing some remixes in between or after these as well. So stay tuned and keep an eye on my MySpace page for news and release dates, etc.
14. Being the last question of this great exclusive interview, please drop a few lines to all TranceSound.net members, or anyone else, reading this interview, thanks a bunch Nick.
Nick Murray: I really appreciate the opportunity to be here and to be included among all the experienced veterans that you have interviewed already this year and in the past. I think it is cool that you are finding people that are up and coming, like me and mixing that in with the biggies. So thanks so much and I hope to come back some time! To all the TranceSound.net members, thanks for reading this so far! And please do check out my MySpace profile and buy my songs on iTunes or Beatport or I can't afford to make any more.
Interview made by Mihai Clipa aka Milu (TranceSound.net forum moderator)
Links:
Nick Murray @ MySpace
AudioMachine @ MySpace
|
|
|
|
|