2024 recap, the healing power of sound, and tips on writing for strings.

Hello Friends,

Happy New Year! It’s the first Rundown of 2025 and I’m hyped to have you along for the ride. This week I’m sending a smoke signal out for veteran trailer composer, a 2024 recap of some awesome projects we had the pleasure of working on, and some fascinating studies regarding the healing power of sound.

Let’s get to it!

PROJECTS

Happy to share that our tracks made it into The Challenge Season 40 again! Episode 18 featured Dark & Danger by The Tech Thieves and One True God, and Episode 19 included Empire by Saint Mesa. Huge thanks to everyone who helped make it happen!

SYNC SEARCH

As the year kicks off, my team and I are looking for more vetted and experienced trailer composers with placements under their belt. We’re looking for the top of the top tier.

If that’s you and we have not worked together yet, please drop a response here with a link to some of your placements and trailer tracks!

I recently received a question about realistic string programming, so I wanted to share some tutorials that helped me tremendously with writing for strings, orchestration, and breaking away from basic string chords. These tutorials focus on string suites, which follow a slightly different process than creating big, bombastic string lines for climactic trailer moments. That said, it’s always great to have a variety of techniques in your toolkit to achieve the right sound and style for the right moment.

Submit Your Questions

Have a topic or question you’d like me to discuss in the future?

As 2024 wraps up, we wanted to take a moment to reflect on a year filled with amazing collaborations and creative projects at Rareform Audio and Black Sheep Music. From the tracks we composed to the sound design that brought stories to life, every step has been a collaboration we’re proud to have been part of. Shoutout to our amazing clients, talented artist and to everyone who made it all possible. Here’s to another year of music, sound, and storytelling in 2025!

We recently came across an interesting study that explores into the way music impacts emotional and cognitive well-being, especially for older adults and individuals with dementia. The research highlights how something as simple as engaging with music, whether through listening, playing, or participating in therapy can make a real difference. It shows improvements in mental sharpness, emotional health, and overall quality of life. It’s a powerful reminder of how deeply connected we are to music, beyond just the sound itself!

When thinking about the journey of becoming a music producer, one question comes up a lot: "Am I too old to start?" It's a fair thought, especially in an industry that often highlights young, rising stars.

So, the short answer? No, you're not too old. If anything, you might be bringing something to the table that’s hard to teach: perspective. Point being, age doesn’t close the door, it changes the way you walk through it. Check out our blog for more insights!

That’s it for this week!

-Nathan

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