Interview with Michael Baugh | An Award-Winning Multi-Instrumentalist

My name is Michael, and I’m a music composer for films, games, and trailers. Coming from a humble background, I’ve been working full-time in music since the age of 17, steadily building my career. Over the years, I’ve contributed to AAA projects, IMAX releases, trailers, and advertising campaigns. I’ve also had the privilege of collaborating with some of the world’s top musicians, including Grammy Award winners and nominees.

I didn’t initially choose this as a career—I simply followed my passion for the work, and opportunities naturally came my way. I’m grateful to have ended up on this path, even though it can be incredibly challenging at times. The pressure and tight deadlines can be tough, but I genuinely enjoy the thrill of it all.

My role involves bringing the audio visions of my clients—whether directors or game developers—to life. The process typically begins with a brief that outlines the desired style of music or sound, often accompanied by examples or "temp music" to clarify their vision.

From there, I create mockups or demos based on this direction. Once the client is satisfied with the mockup, we move on to recording live musicians to bring the composition to its final form. While there's much more complexity behind the scenes, this gives a good overview of the process.

Good music in media seamlessly aligns with the visuals, storytelling, and emotion. Half the battle is choosing the right sound palette, ensuring it complements the scene without overshadowing it. The true art lies in supporting the visuals, enhancing the narrative, not stealing the spotlight.

I get my inspiration from books, playing around with new and unusual instruments, and nature. A good walk in the woods clears the mind and allows inspiration to flow.

It's a real honor! For me, it was a genuine surprise, and truly unexpected. It has certainly motivated me to work harder and strive to be better in my work, but most of all it has given me something to want to celebrate. As creatives, we very rarely pat ourselves on the back, especially if we're British!

For this competition, I chose to submit two very different pieces: an opening credits theme for an upcoming show and a composition for an advertising campaign with Neural DSP. These works felt like the most current and strong representations of my abilities, and they had the budget to allow me to bring in some of the world’s best musicians to perform them. Their contributions really helped make these pieces stand out even more.

The biggest challenge for these projects was that both clients sought something fresh and unconventional, which meant I needed to push creative boundaries without straying too far into the abstract. It required significant thought and experimentation before I could even begin writing a single note.

However, deciding on the musicians I wanted for the pieces made the process smoother. Knowing their strengths and styles allowed me to tailor my compositions to them, enabling me to elicit truly great performances from familiar collaborators.

It definitely adds a polished touch to my CV and social media presence! Having accolades like these is beneficial for potential clients, as it demonstrates that:

1. I will utilize their budget effectively,

2. I can deliver on their vision, and

3. the final product will meet professional quality standards.

These awards serve as a reassurance of my commitment to excellence in my work.

I love that, despite much of the work being remote and connected through platforms like Slack, Discord, X, and Instagram, I have access to a truly international network of like-minded colleagues.

Collaborating with other creatives in this industry is incredibly rewarding; their visions and stylistic approaches may differ from mine, but there’s so much to learn from their perspectives and workflows.

The most exciting aspect of this industry is its dynamic nature—constantly on the frontier, pushing for new ideas and innovative ways of doing things, and always evolving and improving.

The UK, despite its size, attracts significant investment in both the film and game industries. This influx draws talent from around the world, creating a vast pool of exceptional professionals. Standing out among such skilled individuals can be challenging, but this competitive environment pushes us to continually improve and evolve. It’s incredibly inspiring and motivational, driving us to elevate our craft and strive for excellence in everything we do!

Always put your best foot forward. If it’s not the highest quality work you can produce, don’t release it—keep it in the oven a bit longer and let it fully develop. Good things take time!

In the realm of music for media, one of the best things you can do is enroll in as many short courses from ThinkSpace Education as possible. Once you've mastered the basics, I highly recommend signing up for their Bootcamp course.

If you’re serious about pursuing this profession and want to make a living from it, consider one of their Master's Degree programs. This is the path I took, and it truly transformed my life.

I never thought I would get paid to do something I love!

My father. He was always positive regardless of the situation or circumstances.

A positive mental attitude can carry you over mountains, push you past trauma, strengthen your immunity to thoughtless words, and lift you above self doubt.

Please visit my website if you'd like to see or hear my work: https://mikebaugh.co.uk/