Meet Nicholas Marks | Film Composer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Nicholas Marks and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Nicholas, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
My career is first and foremost driven by an insatiable desire to create timeless original works that serve as the soundtrack to human experience. I want my body of work to defy genre, be enjoyable to listen to for years to come, and most importantly, impact people in the same way that my favorite music has done for me.

The creative skills of being a composer extend to being an entrepreneur. Both require vision, an understanding of how to build a structure (often from nothing), having the discipline to analyze and refine granular details, assessing what steps need to be taken to achieve one’s objectives, and execution.

Music runs in my blood, and I have been hyper aware of this since my earliest memories. I began studying piano at age 9, I listened meticulously to records and film scores, and always had big dreams of writing and performing my own works for the biggest films, or on the biggest stages. When I was growing up, music poured from the walls of my house, courtesy of my father playing records all the time (he was a former French horn player in the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra). In my teens, I became obsessed with jazz and improvisation, and started to write my own tunes. I still recall some of the first gigs I went to, where I would watch and listen in awe of my heroes. I was hooked, and it became clear that this was all I could ever do.

With this said, there were other, more linear, career opportunities in front of me. At University, while completing my music degree, I also pursued a law degree, which had opened many other doors. While I enjoyed the intellectual rigor of studying Contracts and Intellectual Property law, I never once saw this as an emotionally or creatively viable, long-term career path. If anything, it only served to affirm what I already knew: scoring music was my calling. In many ways, my career ‘chose me’: it has always been clear what I love most, where I feel I am best self, and how I feel I can make my strongest and best contribution to the world.

I always felt my broader skill set translates well in both the creative and pragmatic aspects of my career. I enjoy networking and collaborating; I love to get into the small details, while keeping a birds-eye view of an entire project. Having a creative career is essentially the combination of (a) continuing to grow my artistic voice and vision and (b) creating diverse income streams as a composer alongside this that allow for continued realization of projects and output.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I’m a composer for film and television, producer and pianist of original instrumental music. My original music is best described as a through composed cinematic, future soul / neo-soul, jazz electronica. Driven by narrative, each track is designed to take the listener into an alternate world, serving as a soundtrack to human experience. In writing for film and television, I thrive on getting inside different musical worlds and creating tracks within those genres, or, a hybrid of elements into something new.

To paraphrase Chick Corea: “Music is about… creating the kind of things that you think are beautiful.. You have to learn your own heart and your own mind about sound… [and] pursue that road”. Throughout my journey so far, one common thread persists: in order to ‘stand out’, you have to create something that is your own. I have always found listeners to respond strongest to my music when I’m doing my own thing. I love scoring film because every project is a new opportunity to create something sonically unique and emotional in connection with a story.

I have been a frequent collaborator and contributor on many projects, whether for Hollywood companies such as Village Roadshow; major outlets such as The Atlantic, G’day USA and NPR; original projects with some of New York’s best musicians, or films with directors such as Roger Spottiswoode. Over the past few years, I set myself the goal of releasing works under my artistic name. I am in the final stages of recording and mixing my debut album as artist/leader, slated for release in the 2nd half of 2022.

The journey here has had many ups, many downs, and many ordinary moments. It has not been easy at all, but it has certainly been fun! It has taken enormous perseverance, resilience, patience, discipline, an open mind and heart to hearing feedback, constant reflection, refinement and a willingness to just keep going. Each experience is a learning moment, and you take these lessons into facing the next challenge. Do not hide from the challenges, these help make you as a person and artist, and elevate your craft to the next level. I have too many lessons to simply summarize in a short paragraph! Don’t be afraid to ask yourself tough questions, because persevering through these will help you advance, both in music and life.

I was not an especially talented child. I had a clear passion for music and a decent ear. Technically speaking, I recall many peers who pursued music were significantly more ‘gifted’ than I was. My journey has been about ruthless grit and determination, having an enquiring mind, and pushing myself to play and write what it is I have to say. Do not be afraid to take on board feedback. Looking back at each point where I can say there was a clearly marked stage of progress and growth, it did not necessarily seem so at that time. More and better opportunities presented themselves, aligned with my progress and development. In 2016, I had reached a point where I wanted to live in New York, and test myself on the world stage. After 11 months, I got the artist visa, sold everything I owned, and bought a one way ticket to the U.S.A.

Life experiences inform your art, choices, and your brand. Embrace each moment as something that forms part of the picture.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I’d like to dedicate this shoutout to two distinct groups: First, the mentors in my life, without whom, I would not be here today. Starting with my first proper jazz piano teacher at age 16, Steve Sedergreen. All achievements in my journey can be traced back to him. He was someone who saw something in me from the beginning. He taught me (and many other young musicians) so much about music and life, and instilled a strong sense of self-belief. Then there is Dr. Donna Coleman, who reinvigorated my relationship to the piano and showed me the richness and vast depths of the musical universe through deep study of the classical masters. Then there is ear-training specialist Dr. Bat-Sheva Rubinstein and pianist Sam Yahel, who’s pedagogies elevated my artistry (and in turn, career) to a different level.

Second, I am very lucky to have had the steadfast and unwavering support of my parents, siblings, and extended family, and in the past 4 years, my wife. They have been a bedrock through all the successes, triumphs and tribulations that come with being an artist and entrepreneur.

Website: https://www.nicholasmarksmusic.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nmarksmusik/

Other: https://rcrft.co/reel/7d05468b-e12d-4f0a-af76-433b212d9dd1

Image Credits
Recording Studio Photo Credits : NEIL TAN Abstract / Colorful Photos: WILK