Kris Bowers and the Music of the Wild Robot – Academy of Scoring Arts – ARTICLE
On the 7th of December 2024, the multi-awarded composer Kris Bowers (Green Book, Space Jam: A New Legacy, Bridgerton, The Color Purple…etc) talked about The Wild Robot score in an event organized by the Academy of Scoring Arts at the First Baptist Church of Glendale, Los Angeles. The event is part of the inside score sessions of this association.
The event description was the following:
The Academy of Scoring Arts is a non-profit organization based in Los Angeles founded by Ron Jones in 2009 and whose aim is to promote and study film scores and composers by doing events, seminars and interviews. The event was moderated by the current president of ASA, composer Reuven Herman (Star Wars: Rebels, Transformers: Robots in disguise…etc) who organized the panel with the help of the Academy of Scoring Arts members including conductor and composer Jose Daniel Ruiz (Music Director at VideoGame Music at UCLA..etc), the board of Directors: Josh Lucan, Bonnie Janoski, Daniel Stimac, Carrin Tanaka, Craig Marks, Del Engen, David Das, Tim Davies, Billy Sullivan, and Mike Meehan plus the managers of the Baptist Church of Glendale.
The music album from Wild Robot includes two original songs “Kiss the Sky” and “Even When I´m Not” co-written and performed by Maren Morris and her team, and it was released on September 27, 2024 by Back Lot Music (link). The movie is directed by Chris Sanders and contains over 80 minutes of music recorded at AIR Studios, London. Moreover, the score has been nominated to the Academy Awards (read more), to the Golden Globes, the BAFTA Awards, the Critics Choice Awards, The Society of Composers and Lyricists Awards (read more), the Chicago Film Critics Association Awards, the Satellite Awards, the IFMCA Awards (read more)…etc., receiving lots of praise and recognition.
It was a very insightful event since Kris Bowers shared his process of creation of the music. He said that in order to create the sound of wilderness he contacted The Sandbox Percussion group who played different percussive sets. These included teacups, chromatically tuned glass bottles, planks of wood and cowbells. He avoided using instruments associated with some cultures. He also used some synth sounds combined with orchestral sounds.
Afterwards, he made emphasis on the circumstance that the feelings of the music were very important for the film. In fact, he composed the main themes using the piano trying to get the emotion of each moment. The “migration sequence” is an example of the importance of getting the right feelings with the music. Furthermore, he explained his workflow with his team, how they organized cue lists, Logic Sessions and scores in a very efficient way. An event worth attending for a score worth listening and enjoying!!
Article and pictures by Ana Beyron
NOTE: Additional information about this soundtrack: recording sessions & Making Of
https://scoringsessions.com/2024/10/03/kris-bowers-scores-the-wild-robot
