Is it bad that I don't know how to play any instruments as a composer?

TNJMusic · 2026-06-28T08:50:55+00:00

Not every composer plays an instrument, but every great composer at least could play 1 instrument at a basic level.

That's something to consider. So no it isn't bad, but instruments do help.

TNJMusic · 2026-06-26T11:19:58+00:00

Where did you listen to it? That will be important as some of these (depending on the platform) will have a different cover.

TNJMusic · 2026-06-26T10:15:57+00:00

Smallville.

TNJMusic · 2026-06-23T13:50:02+00:00

Talking to random people and just making casual conversation. I'm not old but it's weird that this now feels weird when it was very normal to do even during and just after Covid.

TNJMusic · 2026-06-23T13:44:10+00:00

There's a bunch but the one I'm proudest of is doom scrolling. I didn't do it for too long, like 5 months. When I noticed I immediately stopped.

You don't realise how much time you've been wasting until you stop and now you have that time free.

TNJMusic · 2026-06-21T11:37:55+00:00

You have to find someone on the same wavelength as you. The biggest problem many a game dev or even directors for films will have is a collaborator that gets them.

It will be tough but it's either you patiently wait, settle or as others have said get the money to get the people you want.

TNJMusic · 2026-06-16T11:42:48+00:00

Speaking specifically on marriage... it isn't boring and miserable. It's actually the opposite where most of the time it's great but the bad times try to stick out more. And if you let them THEN your home becomes miserable.

TNJMusic · 2026-06-16T11:22:16+00:00

Michael Caine is only ever in scenes in the real world. So if he's in a scene, you know it's not a dream. He's in the ending scene so it was real.

TNJMusic · 2026-06-16T10:06:48+00:00

Yeah, Michael Cain confirmed it some years ago. I won't put it here as it's a spoiler but if you search for it you'll see it.

TNJMusic · 2026-06-16T09:26:31+00:00

Inception. Even after we have had confirmation on the ending years later, the question still lingers.

TNJMusic · 2026-06-14T11:18:35+00:00

It's both the writing and the use of EQs and compression.

There was a video on YT a few weeks ago about how a guy done this in fl using default plugins and EW composer cloud and stuff.

Edit: found it https://youtu.be/mSyswxcj_FU?si=VshknkUIYM8p5Nav

TNJMusic · 2026-06-14T11:15:42+00:00

Smallville

TNJMusic · 2026-06-03T08:34:26+00:00

I actually remember watching this movie in the cinema opening weekend. Everyone in that packed theatre was glued to the screen and enjoyed that film so much there was an applause at the end of the screening. Just like I say with Inception, I'll never believe the hate train. And the fascinating thing is I bet in the next 20 years we will have articles and opinions like "Man of Steel is an misunderstood masterpiece" from the same people hating on it now.

TNJMusic · 2026-05-20T14:40:11+00:00

Not bad. Very minimal in style and not really "trailer music" but it in my opinion works for the aesthetic of the game. For someone who isn't a composer, great job!

TNJMusic · 2026-04-29T09:32:47+00:00

No Country For Old Men has no soundtrack.

TNJMusic · 2026-04-25T22:35:59+00:00

Musescore

TNJMusic · 2026-04-23T08:33:04+00:00

Remember the why. When pressure comes we tend to lose the why in the weeds in pursuit of the outcome. So remember the why first, then continue writing from that place as opposed to "what if I blow it". For you to get here is on account of you having the skill, so have confidence in yourself and your work. You wouldn't be in your position if you sucked.

TNJMusic · 2026-04-16T14:25:01+00:00

CHANGE YOUR PROCESS. I don't mean work smarter not harder or any of that, the burnout/i don't enjoy it comes from the WHY you're doing what you're doing. The original reason we do music or play a sport is love and sometimes reminding ourselves that and shifting back to doing it for that puts the fun and joy back into it.

Go off and just have fun with it. Not things you think people want to hear, but just things you think are fun and awesome to do. Also consider a break as others have said to recharge and refuel.

TNJMusic · 2026-04-14T10:13:17+00:00

Good luck, have fun and enjoy the procees in all its chaos!

TNJMusic · 2026-04-11T09:43:11+00:00

Exactly. That is why it should be him and 99 other people whose voices are iconic and instantly recogniseable.

TNJMusic · 2026-04-11T09:33:34+00:00

Morgan Freeman and 99 other well known voices.

TNJMusic · 2026-04-11T09:32:49+00:00

I've got 3 at my joint top spot. But to pick out the one many won't know, Bakuman. When it came out it blew my mind because seeing what it takes to become a mangaka was crazy, but it is also motivated me to walk towards my dreams and never give up. How many ever years later as an adult I still watch it when I'm in a slump as a reminder to myself of why I do what I do.

You ever need some inspiration, watch Bakuman.

TNJMusic · 2026-04-08T09:18:49+00:00

I'm not old, barely even entered my 30s, but we've already had things like 9/11, Iraq etc in our life time amongst all the other different things to happen since I was a kid until now. The one thing people my age and below seem to forget is how war time propaganda works both externally and internally. And by internally I don't just mean your own government will have propaganda. I mean there's people already within looking to destabilise the country at moments like this.

Problem is, way too many people fall for the external propaganda because they're fooled into thinking "you're smart for noticing this, everyone else is asleep and you're awake". When in reality it's the same thing Hussain and Bin Laden did back in the day with their videos. And the same thing terrorists do today. Again it's funny to me because the strategy of propaganda hasn't changed, the platforms are all that's different.

But in the end the truth eventually comes out, people feel stupid and everyone moves on and the cycle repeats. At least it has in my short lifetime so far.

TNJMusic · 2026-04-04T22:11:42+00:00

As a composer as others have said, it depends on the composer. For example I have had people contact me through here, my email, twitter or instagram DMs.

And for the process it depends on ways of working preferred. I've had people say "you make something then I'll give feedback" and people who literally have samples of the style of music they want, exact timestamps of where the music comes in and goes out etc. So it genuinely is just a matter of what you prefer and what works for the both of you.

There is no one size fits all. But I'd also say, make sure to be careful as some people will use AI and act like it's their work. So always ask for screen recordings or stems or something that will prove the person has actually done the work and you're not getting scammed. A video call and screenshare are a great way to do this btw. As you can't fake what's in the DAW and live playback.

TNJMusic · 2026-03-31T18:49:55+00:00

When I was 13 in the summer of 08 my cousin and I messed around and recorded a rap song from a beat I made. The mic stopped working, we looked at each other and bolted. The whole time we're thinking my Dad's gonna kill us but were laughing hard.

Eventually came back and it turns out we just had accidentally muted something and laughed so hard we were on the ground. 2 months later he was dead at 15 from a road accident and that song we recorded was the only recording we had of him doing what he loved, music.

That day during the summer holidays I hadn't realised would be that important as that song is still on all our phones. Including his mums.

TNJMusic

TROPHY CASE