London-born film score composer Will Bates has released his new album, The Pirate Album. We asked him the BIG questions . . .
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The son of two Hammer Horror actors, Will started his eclectic musical career as a jazz saxophonist and has played with Roy Ayers and Steve Hackett and worked with Mike Rutherford of Mike and The Mechanics.
The concept behind The Pirate Album began when Will rented a fifteen-foot-long balafon (a gourd-resonated xylophone) without consulting the director of the movie he was working on.
He was joined by his close friend percussionist Mathias Kunzli who joined the project with six other balafons. However, when the director and Will then met at the studio, the director was neither impressed nor amused.
Undaunted, Will went ahead anyway and decided to work on an album of his own and recruited London-based jazz musician Quentin Collins and drummer and percussionist Spencer Cohen.
Tell us three things about yourself . . .
I grew up in West London, now I live in Los Angeles. I have a weakness for analog synths and pickled onions. I'm terrified of karaoke.
How would you describe your music?
My day job is scoring movies and TV shows. So, I’m always working to a brief. The Pirate Album is what happens when there is no brief. But ultimately I wanted it to be a collection of good summer jams, played by humans.
Who are your musical inspirations?
At first, I thought this record would land somewhere between Eden Ahbez and Talking Heads. But with the help of my collaborators and the shedding of certain inhibitions, there’s a bit of Weather Report, late 70s Miles Davis, Ninja Tunes and Jean Michel Jarre thrown in there too.
What was the first gig you ever went to?
My parents took me to see The Gypsy Kings at The Dominion Theatre in London. Must’ve been around 1985. We just saw them in LA at The Hollywood Bowl. Loved it. So, a full circle there.
What was the first record you ever bought?
I think I was about seven years old when I bought Ennio Morricone’s score to The Good The Bad And The Ugly from WH Smith’s in Chiswick. I still listen to it from time to time. Just amazing that someone had the idea to combine all those crazy instruments and colours.
What’s your favourite song right now?
I seem to have found myself in a Steely Dan phase. Entirely my wife’s fault (well done to her - Ed). Any Major Dude.
Favourite lyric of all time?
"Beelzebub has a devil put aside for me" - Queen.
If you could only listen to one song for the rest of your life, what would it be?
4’ 33" by John Cage.
Where can people find your music/more information?
Spotify has The Pirate Album and a lot of my soundtrack albums.
Alan Cor
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