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Composer for TV / Film Vivek Maddala Rewarded for Works in 2009

Congratulations to Pro SONAR user, Vivek Maddala, on his election into the Society of Composers and Lyricists (SCL) Board of Directors. In his role, Maddala will serve on the Legislative and Partners committees, helping to investigate and solve the many challenges facing the film and tv music community.

Maddala’s work in composing music for film and TV has earned him international acclaim over the years. In January, his score for the film ‘They Turned Our Desert Into Fire’ won him the Gold Medal and Audience Choice Award for best music in the documentary feature category at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival.

Later this year, Maddala hopes to wow crowds again during the premiere of ‘A Journey In My Mother’s Footsteps,’ directed by Dina Rosenmeier. The film follows ‘Jessie’ Rosenmeier’s work as an activist in India and her daughter’s resulting personal struggle and transformation. Maddala’s musical composition for this work fuses the ethnic influences of Carnatic, Hindustani, and Western culture to create ‘wistful and ebullient’ melodies.

Also slated for a 2009 release, is recording artist Wendy Starland’s new album, which Maddala co-wrote and co-produced.  Starland was named ‘VH1’s Best Emerging Artist’ and has performed live with numerous musicians including Shawn Colvin, Jonatha Brooke and Maceo Parker.

To hear Vivek’s latest projects and see his impressive resume, visit his official website.

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As Seen On TV: Cakewalk Featured in 'Gear Spotlight'

Guitar World’s Gear Spotlight is a new segment about the latest and greatest gear available to guitar players, airing now on Comcast’s On Demand programming. The segment aired for the first time this past Friday, featuring Cakewalk’s new USB Audio & Midi Interfaces; UM-1G, UM-2G, UM-3G, and UA-1G! The segment will air on Comcast’s Life & Home channel until Monday May 4, 2009.

For those of you sans Comcast, see the video clip here on Guitar World’s Gear Spotlight

For more information on the products seen above, visit the Cable Products web page.

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Interview with Shawn Clement: Composing Music for Motion Pictures

Mix Magazine recently met up with SONAR user, Shawn Clement, to ask him about his career in music production. A composer for TV, film and video games, Shawn Clement, is gearing up for his next big project. He will be producing the soundtrack to Quantum Quest, a sci-fi /live animation feature length film, set to release in the fall. Shawn explains in his interview how he got his ‘big break’ and gives advice for those interested in the same career path. Go to Mix Online to see what Shawn had to say.

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Session Story: Composer Ray McNamara

Composer, performing artist and professor of music Ray McNamara recorded the award-winning album Oceans Made Fun using SONAR. Oceans Made Fun is the winner of the 2005 Parents Choice Award, bringing the sea to life while teaching children ages four to 12 years old language and science through music and visual aid. The recording was published by MCD Curriculum, which teaches youngsters active participation, creative writing and language development outside of a classroom environment. Hear the songs about the Shark, Penguin, Octopus and more at http://cdbaby.com/cd/mcdcurriculum.

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Session Story: Composer Kubilay Uner

Film and TV Composer, Kubilay (Kubi) Uner, recently scored a feature film using Cakewalk’s soft-synths, Dimension Pro and Rapture. Uner created a post-punk, pop feel for the score of the new Polish Brothers’ film ‘Stay Cool’ starring Winona Ryder, Hilary Duff, Chevy Chase, and Sean Astin. The film pays tribute to the 1980’s teen movies like Sixteen Candles and The Breakfast Club.

Uner also wrote the score for a new documentary about four deaf performing artists entitled, ‘See What I’m Saying” with sign language gestures as the main percussion instrument and acoustic guitars to emulate vowel sounds. Both movies are due out in 2009. Hear samples from both scores at http://www.kubilayuner.com/.

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Artist Spotlight: Malik Williams

Wearing the Many Hats of a Busy Synthesist

Songwriter, engineer, actor, and film & t.v. music producer Malik Williams

By Randy Alberts

If some commercial jingle writers’ first gigs were in garage bands, fewer still of those went on to also write and produce music for film, reality t.v., the Web and hip-hop, pop, dance, rap, R&B and rock artists. It takes a lot of control room savvy and musical chops to wear that many hats. But from this even smaller group of first-call music and audio professionals, there may be just one—Malik Williams—who can say they’ve written a song for a movie in which they’ve also starred.

“Yeah, I’m a real Hollywood kind of guy,” jokes the 41-year-old Williams, a Bostonian since birth who values his role as father and family man over his Sunset Boulevard connections. “What I mean is that I feel real comfortable in front of the camera doing these bit parts. It’s not really something that I’m pursuing as a career. I’ve just stumbled upon this acting thing, but so far it’s been a positive stumble.”

Malik Williams plays a convincing cop with Donnie Brasco star Robert Miano on the set of Boston Girls

Malik’s song contribution and bit part as a cop in Boston Girls, a “dark horror comedy” film released this year, are two recent entries to an impressive credits list. His unique balance of old and new school music writing and production skills have been tapped for a host of song and album (Charlotte Church, Bobby Brown, Elton John, Mya, Britney Spears, Danity Kane, Tyrese, Earth Wind & Fire), feature film (Sony Pictures, Miramax, Disney, Lionsgate, Stage 6 Films) and television (CBS, ABC, MTV, VH1, TruTV, Showtime, HBO, E!, Bravo) productions. If you’ve seen Keeping Up With The Kardashians, Tila Tequila’s A Shot At Love, Pimp My Ride, Cribs and Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew or happened upon some of his various ad spots running on numerous channels, chances are you’ve heard some of Malik’s music, too.

“When you think of all the types of projects I work on—film, t.v. shows, ad jingles and hip-hop, pop and rap albums,” says Williams, “you’ll see my music and audio production tastes are all over the place.”

Continue reading “Artist Spotlight: Malik Williams”