Composers tend to find their niche genre and gravitate towards it whether it's horror, sci-fi, thriller, or action. For example, you aren’t going to find Danny Elfman doing too many romantic comedies these days. A subgenre that you don’t often hear a composer specializing in is Halloween music, but that’s just what Chris Thomas has become known for. Whether it be a haunting video game (Hyde’s Haunt & Seek), a horror film (Don’t Look Back) or a Halloween theme park attraction (Knott’s Scary Farm), Thomas has created music for it. Some people might get chills when they hear this type of music, but Chris actually finds comfort in it. “All things Halloween (and horror) have been a lifelong passion. Some of my earliest memories of film are watching scary movies (well beyond what was age appropriate) with my mom and grandma," Thomas said. "Right away, I learned the scares and absurdities of this genre were something safe, fun, and fair to laugh at. Today, these genre areas are very warm and nostalgic for me” So how does one create music perfect for the Halloween season? It’s all about finding new ways to create sounds or using instruments in unintended ways. Thomas explains, “I have a habit of finding things I can break, re-string, and bow or hit. I love discovering strange and terrible resonances in metals, woods, and anything I can string together and make speak with my cello bow. I think the deepest scares occur when innocent sounds from...
Published By: NoFilmSchool - Thursday, 31 October