We are Daniel and Jon Licht, composers and singer/songwriter (Dexter, Silent Hill, Dishonored, etc.) AMA!

Hey Daniel! Huge fan of your work. Some of my favorites in Dexter include "Blood Theme" (obviously), "Love Your Wife", "The Truth" and "Nurse Dexter". Your work in Dishonored also perfectly captured the atmosphere of the game.

How do you prepare for composing these pieces which perfectly fit the atmosphere of the scene? Do you watch the scene first and then create your piece around it? Or is the scene described to you and then they use the piece you created and mold the scene around it?

I've always been interested in your musical process and just wondered if you could give me some insight.

I almost always have a piece of film to compose to. Occasionally especially in video games I will be given a script or story treatment to work to because the pieces aren't done yet, but I will almost always check it against final picture. The main theme for Dishonored I wrote before the game had even been animated. My assignment was to help them pitch the project by creating a menu theme. -dl

Hi Daniel! 'Hide Your Tears" is one of my favourite tracks of all time. The composition is absolutely genius and gives me chills every time (the fact that it's Dexter's post-murder background music may have something to do with that, though).

I don't really have anything to ask, just congratulating on all the success, mate.

thanks!

Have either of you played any of the Silent Hill games?

I have played Silent Hill. I played a little of the original on ps2 I think. and Silent Hill Homecoming -dl

I'm no musician, but it would probably be really hard to write music for it without playing it to get a feeling for what it is like.

Yes I did play through Homecoming to get a feel. And I looked at walkthroughs which are very helpful for checking out the atmosphere if the gamer isn't talking too much!

-dl

Who is the composer you would each most like to work with?

What upcoming project are you most excited about?

How long have you been recording/playing?

I don;t generally work with other composers but if I had to say I would like to work with Thomas Newman, Gabriel Yared, Gustavo Santaolalla to name a few. -dl

Daniel, I just want to thank you for the Dexter soundtrack. I always listen to it when I'm driving around with a lot to do. It's just really good stuff.

What have you got on your plate right now?

I am working on a series for NBC " Deception" Mondays nights 10pm/9C check it out!

What's was the most fun soundtrack you made?

What's your favorite soundtrack?

I think the most fun was Hellraiser Bloodline. I recorded it in a big church in Seattle with a full orchestra and Choir. I don't have favorite soundtracks but favorite cues from work I've done. If i had to pick one I think it would be King Solomon's Mine. -dl

Dishonored was amazing, and Honor For All at the end made it 1 million times better. Thank you for that! You captured the feel of the game perfectly. It's one of my favorite video game songs ever!

Questions: did you play Dishonored? Are you going to be working on the new Dishonored game they are planning? How surreal is it seeing your music attached to such critically acclaimed media (Dexter included)?

Thanks for the compliments. I am hoping there will be more Dishonored and I will be involved.

It's great to have my music attached to great projects. and it is fun to play and hear my music.

dl

Really glad you enjoyed Honor For All! I did play Dishonored. It's a great game. It's really cool to see my music attached to a great game like Dishonored and a great show like Dexter. It's really surreal and I'm really happy to have the opportunity to contribute to these amazing projects. -JL

Did you guys work on Silent Hill 4 Soundtrack? If not, what Silent Hill Games have you done? Also, Why is everyone getting downvoted?

We did silent hill - downpour and silent hill Book of Memories -dl

What is the most challenging project you've worked on?

I did a 2 part 4 hour miniseries "Maneater" and had to finish it i three weeks. It was a fun project though.

-dl

How much has "Peter and the Wolf" influenced your work?

I love Tchaikovsky!

-dl

Daniel & Jon-

1. What are your core software and hardware components? i.e. DAW, vst/au, any external gear or crazy vintage stuff?
   
2. How did you break into your career in TV/Film/Games?
3. What professional sound libraries do you find yourselves using most often? (EWQL, ProjectSam, etc)
4. Who are your inspirations? What do you listen to to get you "in the zone," if anything?

Thanks for the AMA! :)

I use logic with a 12 core mac pro- lots of Kontakt instruments - alchemy omnisphere - VSL - Sam all of them. I find the best sound for a scene. and record live! even if its a melodica. I got my break doing student films which led top my first films.

-dl

Where do you find inspiration for your work?

In my deadlines :) I usually key in on the mood of the scene or try to get an overall feeling for what i want the project to feel like in a musical sense.

-dl

I'm so sad I missed this, I love Dexter. Stupid class :(

I'm still here!

-dl

Would you consider writing pop music? do you think your skill set would enable you to do that?

Jon writes pop music - or "alternative" I like to listen to contemporary music and work with singer songwriters often as I have time for. -dl

What would I have to do to get you to score a short film for me? I am willing to do almost anything. Love your work.

Pay me? ha! Thanks, I appreciate the support. There are many talented composers out there. Put out a notice and you will find 25 people ready to score your film. Or pay me or Jon. :)

Any recommendations of other soundtracks? (not from you guys)

Check out Jerry Goldsmith - Alien, Poltergiest, Logans Run, Alex North - Spartucus, anything by Tommy Newman , Christopher Youung - The Fly ii, Hellraiser 2,

-dl

I love the work you do on Dexter! What is your favorite song that you wrote for the series? Do you ever go on set?

I think maybe the love scene with Trinity and his wife in the Bathtub is my favorite. Very twisted love theme. I go on set sometimes. Mostly to help if there are musical questions. Jon and I played in the wedding scene at the end of season two. Look for us.

-dl

http://i.imgur.com/tXdz8pq.jpg http://i.imgur.com/cO70xSL.jpg

Those are great shots! Thanks. Stealing now...

How does making a music for a game work, did you play the game to get a feel for it before you started or was it more of a separate process?

Loved both the game and the soundtrack!

Games are not done while composer is working on them. as far as I know anyways.

thanks!

Hey Daniel! Love your work on Dexter and Dishonored! I'm a music composition student who has dreams of scoring for the screen, especially for games. My question is, what is the best advice you have for someone in my position? Thank you!

go to Berklee or USC and study film scoring. Move to LA and work for a composer. Score many many student films. Study filmscores of the past and develop an original sound! See comments below

-dl

I would like to ask you a question, and I am sure that just judging by my user name you will already know what I am about to ask.

So my question is, are there any in-jokes or things that you put into your music that no one would know about unless you pointed it out to them?

If so, what are they?

Once I wrote a song about my last name, I'll have to get around to posting that somewhere. -JL

Do you also watch Dexter? If you do, what was your favorite season or favorite character? (apart from Dexter)

I always watch every eprisode before I score it. Trinity of course my favorite character

-dl

Hope im not to late, i love your guys work on Dexter and my 2 questions are: 1. On the Dexter soundtrack, the song "Die This Way" (#25 i believe), who is it on vocals? And 2. How did that song come about?

That's me (Jon) on vocals. This track came about when I got the idea to remix Dan's blood theme. I started playing around with it and Die This Way was born. I played it for Dan and we souped it up a little bit together and the record company that released the soundtrack decided to put it as a bonus track on the CD.

What advice would you give to a young aspiring songwriter?

Just write write write write and keep writing. Listen to a lot of songs and just keep practicing.

The music is what puts the 'awesome' in the sentence 'Dexter is fucking awesome!' Really, well done. Thank you!

Question: Do you write music for a specific scene, or do you make upfront multiple compositions in a Dexter-theme from which the directors can choose what is best for which scene?

Thank you! I write for each scene although the directors and editors do pick themes I have already written into scenes often. If I like the way they work there I will leave them, but if I think it needs a new theme I will write one. -dl

Some of the songs that can be heard in Dexter were not included in any of the released soundtracks.

Assuming there is going to be another soundtrack release (for season 7 and/or 8), is there any chance that some of these unreleased tracks from previous seasons could be included as extras ?

For example, the theme that plays in the first episode of season 2 around the 35 minute mark when the divers discover the bags under the ocean. Or the one that can be heard in the background in episode 10 of season 5 around the 30 minute mark while Dexter and Lumen are searching Alex Tilden's house. (it is used multiple times throughout the series)

I apologize if I am asking the wrong person, information about who decides which tracks should be included in the soundtracks is not publicly available.

The underwater piece was released as extra content on the first soundtrack release "The Fortune". If you check all the I-tunes releases you should be able to find most of the music. I am always open to requests to release so I'll look for the piece you are referring to.

-dl

What game (that you didn't work on) had horrible music that you think you could have vastly improved?

Can't think of any offhand. I think i wouldn't play a game that had horrible music. I would just stop. -dl

Dexter has a great opening song.What do you think of the opening credits song for House of Cards?

havent heard it yet.

How many times were you rejected before you got your first big break? What was it?

I am still waiting for my big break. Kidding. One has to be ready for a lot of rejection in this business. You should never take it personally. I can give you three keys to success in music for media: 1.Do the best job of whatever you are working on. You never know who might hear it 2. Pursue every opportunity or connection you have no matter how remote. 3. Go to where the work is. LA , NY , Austin, Nasheville, etc... 4. Associate with other composers, you will get work from them. -dl

Are you be making music for the next dishonored if it becomes a franchise?

I believe they will ask me to. I hope so anyway.

-dl

No questions, I just want to say I love "Photos" and "Astor's birthday party".

Thanks! :)

No question, I just wanted to say that the dexter title song is my alarm clock ring tone. So thanks for making sure I get to work on time

cool!

Dude, I loved the dishonoured soundtrack, thank you.

Your welcome. i am playing the game myself right now.

-dl

What is a soundtrack to a show or movie that you wish you came up with?

schindlers list

dl