Score: The Podcast S4E10 | James Newton Howard says be great at making a demo

Kenny and Robert begin the show discussing recent scores they've been checking out including Jordan Peele's take on 'Candyman' by composer Robert Aiki Aubrey Lowe and 'The White Lotus' by composer Cristobal Tapia de Veer.

Then, 9x Oscar-nominated composer and friend of the show James Newton Howard (News of the World, Jungle Cruise, Raya and the Last Dragon, Fantastic Beasts series, Batman Begins, The Dark Knight, King Kong, The Hunger Games series, The Sixth Sense, Signs) joins the show sharing why he dropped out of USC after three months on a music scholarship, revealing a question he once asked that immediately got him fired from an early film scoring gig, discussing how he connected with Metallica to collaborate for Jungle Cruise and why that may not be the last time they work together, and defining the most important skill a film composer should master.

This episode is presented by Spitfire Audio

Timecodes
0:00 Intro
16:10 James Newton Howard interview

Hosts: Robert Kraft & Kenny Holmes
Executive Producer: Matt Schrader
Coordinator: Carol Kuswanto
© 2021 Epicleff Media

[october-he]

One of my favorite composers.
I had the pleasure to visit two concerts with him back in 2017. That was really a dream come true. I will never forget.

[YoshisVGM]

James is truly a maestro. He’s been my favorite film composer for years. Thank you for this interview, I enjoyed watching it!

[iceomistar]

I can't wait for his next Fantastic Beasts score

[kennybarnes]

It's amazing how these great composers still have creative insecurities. James Newton Howard is good to hear. He doesn't hide the fact that he's human. That is very encouraging. Love his film and pop music works.

[jwelch]

James Newton Howard won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Main Title Theme Music - Gideon's Crossing. James Newton Howard attended the University of Southern California, studying at the School of Music as a piano performance major, but dropped out after 6 weeks because "He wanted to do other things than practicing the piano. After Howard left college, he joined a short-lived rock band called Mama Lion. The band was led by Neil Merryweather (bass, backing vocals) and featured lead singer Lynn Carey, Coffi Hall on drums, and Rick Gaxiola on guitar. Mama Lion recorded two full-length albums. Members of Mama Lion also formed the band Heavy Cruiser with Merryweather now on lead vocals, recording two albums whose genre was closer to hard rock, but also displayed psychedelic and progressive influences. He then worked for a couple of years as a session musician with artists including Diana Ross, Ringo Starr, and Harry Nilsson. In the early 70s, he described himself as being "dirt poor", until his big break in 1975 when his manager got him an audition with Elton John. He joined John's band and toured with them as keyboardist during the late 70s and early 80s. He was part of the band that played Central Park, New York, on September 13, 1980.

[BaraMatahariPagi]

Please do an interview with Bruce Broughton

[polkmusic]

Great episode. JNH is one of my favorite composers.

[cinematicamusic]

I didn't know that James Newton knew David Foster!, Im a very big fan of both, great musicians.

[mythdusterds]

I am looking forward to hearing this interview. He is one of my favorite composers today. Especially since hearing his Disney scores for Dinosaur from 2000, Atlantis the Lost Empire in 2001, Treasure planet in 2002, & Hildalgo in 2004.

[ned]

Absolute legend. The Village is such an underrated movie and score! The whole project is gorgeous. And James shared so much wisdom that i could relate to. Great episode!

[mythdusterds]

I watched Water for Elephants after listening to the previous interview with James Newton Howard.

[mythdusterds]

This was cool to hear James Newton Howard was is working on a score for a Documentary on George Lucas.

[doogboh]

Perhaps the most underrated film scorer of all time. The spiritual heir to The Master, Jerry Goldsmith.

[ramonpooser]

Wonderful interview, good on the pitch young lady.

[theloopyquill]

Cant wait for the next fantastic beasts OST

[jediindyfan]

Wow. James is scoring a docuseries about George Lucas and ILM and the Willow series?!! Omg that’s gonna be amazing.

[nathanfitzgerald]

Mr. Newton-Howard is HIGHLY intelligent and reflective, much like his highly emotional, poignant musical crescendos. This older musical GENIUS is certainly no dummy. Remember, he's given so many Shyamalan movies such glossy, polished music climaxes. As well as many other giant, room-shaking epic scores like Dinosaur, King Kong and Waterworld.

[anthonypereiramusic]

Nobody does a transition like Robert Kraft

[mythdusterds]

I did not realize Willow would be a series not a film sequel.

[dafingaz]

The Rock sang on the Moana soundtrack. 🙂🙌🏾🙏🏾 Great interview as always!