Lakeshore Records Podcast

Kris Bowers and the Music of Origin

This week’s episode of The Lakeshore Records Podcast: On Cue features an interview with our previous host, Alon Levitan, and composer Kris Bowers, discussing the score for the film Origin. This never-released episode explores trauma, race and Kris’s investigative process in composing this beautiful, haunting score.

Pinar Toprak, Simon Landry and Alex Rivière on the Music of Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora

Today’s episode features the musical team behind the video game Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora. Our host, Arielle Paul, is joined by Emmy-nominated composer Pinar Toprak, music supervisor at Ubisoft Simon Landry and Alex Rivière, audio director at Massive Entertainment, to discuss this epic score. We’ll learn about the intricate process of scoring a video game, from writing suites to sonically echoing the thrill of riding a banshee, plus how Pinar manifested this project into a dream opportunity. 

Michelle Birsky and Kevin Henthorn on the Music of Terminator Zero

Today’s episode features Michelle Birsky and Kevin Henthorn, the dynamic duo behind the music for Terminator Zero, Netflix’s new anime series. In a lively conversation with our host, Arielle Paul, the duo takes us on a musical journey, from epic synths to driving beats and haunting vocals, sharing the insider’s scoop on creating this phenomenal score.

Tami Neilson, Karyn Rachtman, and Moniker discuss the music of Saving Bikini Bottom: The Sandy Cheeks Movie

Today’s episode features the hilarious and talented musical team behind Saving Bikini Bottom: The Sandy Cheeks Movie, the latest film in the SpongeBob saga. Our host, Arielle Paul, is joined by singer-songwriter Tami Neilson, the composing trio Moniker and legendary music supervisor Karyn Rachtman, who put this dream team together.  We’ll get an insider’s look at what it took to make the film’s colorful, genre-hopping sound and why this project was truly “kismet.” So fasten your seatbelt, grab your Krusty Krab pizza, and turn up the AC because things are about to get hotter than a hickory-smoked sausage!

Chanda Dancy and the Emmy-Nominated Music of Lawmen: Bass Reeves

Today’s special episode features composer Chanda Dancy, and our new host, journalist, musician and songwriter Arielle Paul. Chanda takes us through her breathtaking score for Lawmen: Bass Reeves on Paramount + which is nominated for an Emmy® for Outstanding Music Composition For A Limited Or Anthology Series, Movie Or Special (Original Dramatic Score). From Dvorak to plastic cutlery, Chanda shares her inspiration and insider secrets to create this phenomenal score.

Introducing the New Lakeshore Records Podcast Host

Meet Arielle Paul, the new host of The Lakeshore Records Podcast, and a journalist, musician, songwriter and lifelong lover of film and television. She’s giving the podcast a new spin, interviewing composers, directors, actors and showrunners about their unique creative processes on specific projects. Tune in next week for her exciting first guest, composer Chanda Dancy, who takes us through her Emmy-nominated score for Lawmen: Bass Reeves on Paramount +.

Ludvig Forssell Discusses Musical Puzzles, the Soul of Anime, Boy Kills World and More

For today's episode, host Alon Levitan speaks with composer Ludvig Forssell about musical puzzles and double tasting your creative output, the soul of anime storytelling and its influence on the west, workflow with the great Hideo Kojima, music as a language in Swedish culture, the serenity of the bleak countryside in Takeshi Kitano's Kikujiro, , Musique Concrète, Metal Gear and Death Stranding, 3rd person objectivity,  Oppenheimer's strings, the varied brilliance of Johann Johansson and Joe Hisaishi, Zootopia on a desert island, sticking to the plan for the best path forward, and more.

Ruth Barrett Discusses Ripping Off The Musical Band Aid, Big Beasts,The Terminal List, Law & Order: Organized Crime, and More

For today’s episode, Alon Levitan had an enlightening and fun conversation with masterful composer and hilarious badass Ruth Barrett. Ruth is amazingly versatile, she's a real riot, and incredibly insightful when it comes to the craft and all things music.  In their wide-ranging conversation they discussed Knightrider & the Flash Gordon soundtrack, Stravinsky riffs & Jazz improv, fear as an integral part of the creative process, ripping off the band aid off with Antoine Fuqua and Chris Pratt in his underwear, bringing Hitchcock and Bernard Hermann into the world of drums and synths, popcorn TV & musical crack cocaine, the mysterious alchemy of noodling around on a keyboard, Ruth's inner Incredible Hulk, Martin Phipps and orchestral goosebumps, how to find the scene that speaks to you, the brilliance of Prince and Grace Jones, how animals communicate, and so much more. Ruth's scores to Law & Order: Organized Crime, Big Beasts, and The Terminal List are out now worldwide.

Steve Jablonsky Discusses The Importance of Silence, Dramatic Weight, The Tiger's Apprentice, and More

For today’s episode, I had a superb conversation with the great Steve Jablonsky. His wide-ranging compositions have had a profound impact on me, my son, and listeners all across the globe.  He's such a pro, and just a great all around guy. It was an honor picking his brain for a few hours. In our expansive conversation we discussed how to create dramatic weight and get of your own way in the creative process, the importance of silence, Michael Bay as a metaphor for God, the truly transformative nature of Transformers music, how Hans Zimmer helped Steve channel his grief, listening to the Beatles and the rise of "quote" epic music", collaborating on the Pirates of the Caribbean,  the maestro Ennio Morricone and The Untouchables,  how the sounds of skateboards influenced The Tiger's Apprentice, the Jablonsky track that impressed Steven Spielberg, Steve's Japanese heritage, the brilliance of Harry Gregson-Williams,Yoko Kano, and Ari Aster, the pitfalls of overthinking, fatherhood, parenting and work/life balance, and so much more. Steve's score to The Tiger's Apprentice is out now worldwide . I hope you enjoy my conversation with Steve as much as I did.

Gary Clark discusses the Intimacy of Songwriting, Flora and Son, "The John Carney Test", the Song That Sparked Sing Street, and More

Today’s episode is a real keeper. All around music powerhouse Gary Clark has performed, written, produced, and composed incredible sonic gems that span every genre time adores, and our host Brian McNelis (president of Lakeshore Records) has released thousands of soundtracks and music supervised countless films, video games and more. In Gary and Brian's wide ranging conversation they discussed how Gary came up in a classic Scottish Irish musical household, the perennial wisdom of David Bowie, the bravery and trust of John Carney and "The John Carney Test", magical co-writing moments with stars Eve Hewson and Joseph Gordon-Levitt in the Flora and Son songwriting room, Musicals that aren't Musicals, the brilliant jazz harmony of Duke Ellington, the intimacy of songwriting, always diving into new situations as a creative, the fine line between God and Steely Dan, practicing until your fingers bleed, the song that sparked Sing Street, the politics of song selection, how to marry exclusive original songs to films, and much more.

We highly recommend you put your good listening ears on for this interview, watch Flora and Son today, and listen to the incredible soundtrack (out now worldwide via Lakeshore Records). Enjoy!