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There are a number of artists and producers that I look up to and gain inspiration from. While they may not precisely be my contemporaries at this moment in my career, their work is highly influential in my creative process. I am always blown away by composer Hildur Gu\u00f0nad\u00f3ttir\u2019s work. Her use of non-traditional instruments and sound design is so visceral. It\u2019s also inspiring to see a woman winning Oscars and continuing to innovate in this male-dominated field.<\/p>\n
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“Getting out of the way of the art, believing in everything and \u201cletting the path find you\u201d [is] what a good creative director should be striving for.”<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n As a producer and \u2018creative director\u2019 in his own right, I constantly look to Rick Rubin and the way he produces and directs artists. His method of getting out of the way of the art, believing in everything and \u201cletting the path find you\u201d is incredibly inspiring. I think that\u2019s what a good creative director should be striving for.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n As the music director and keyboardist of Chicago Soul Spectacular I am very inspired by Durand Jones and the Indications. Their music captures authentic 60\u2019s and 70\u2019s soul and still sounds modern. They bring so much energy and passion to their live shows.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n My favorite thing in the world right now is the score from\u00a0White Lotus\u00a0by Cristobal Tapia de Veer. It sounds like nothing else out there. His use of human voice, flutes and percussion in animalistic ways heightens the intensity of the show, while still being able to support the more comedic moments. He\u2019s brilliant.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I\u2019m a huge fan of Nike\u2019s\u00a0You Can\u2019t Stop Us\u00a0series, especially\u00a0Victory Swim. The sound design was extremely powerful and minimal music complimented it perfectly adding intensity without getting in the way of the story.\u00a0 I loved the Alexa One spot featuring Michael B. Jordan [Alexa’s Body]. Comedy and music supervision (Bruno Major\u2019s\u00a0The Most Beautiful Thing)\u00a0 are VERY on point and so well done.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I’m really proud of the Facebook\u00a0Kazoo<\/em>\u00a0job we did. It was a collaboration between our composer (Zac Colwell) and sound designer (Drew Fischer). Their sound design and music worked so well together and built such joyous energy. Also, almost everyone on staff had their hands on it (we all played kazoo!), so it was a true team effort.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n I love that I get to collaborate with, (and learn from) artists, creatives and musicians that I admire, both inside and outside my company. We have some of the best composers and producers in the world on staff with us, and we get to hire and elevate the work of the talented artists in our network, both in Chicago and internationally.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n There are many paths to get to this position, but all of them include creating and performing the type of music and art that you like to make, and is authentic to you. You want to be hired or \u2018discovered\u2019\u00a0 for your true talents and passions, not by trying to make things you think people want to hear.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n “You want to be hired or \u2018discovered\u2019\u00a0 for your true talents and passions, not by trying to make things you think people want to hear.”<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n I got my first music directing job at Second City by opening for a band at a dive bar in Chicago. Someone in the headlining band worked at Second City and got me an interview. Through the relationships I made there, I got connected to some folks in Chicago advertising, and just continued to work and meet more people in my field.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n I’m going to cheat and say two.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/demo.techsystintel.com\/press_kitchen_dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/gettyimages-869216472.jpg\")
Please share 3-4 pieces of work that you think best embodies excellence in your profession, and explain why.<\/h3>\n
What do you like most about the work that you do?<\/h3>\n
What is the process for becoming a Creative Director?<\/h3>\n
What is one thing all Creative Directors need?<\/h3>\n
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