Freelance composer/musician

Find Grayson on Twitter and Instagram.

Who or what did you want to be when you grew up?

One of my earliest childhood aspirations was to be a volcanologist; maybe because of those silver, heat-proof suits they wore when collecting lava? Unsurprisingly that career never took off.

What is your professional background?

I studied composition, but toured the globe with a post-punk band throughout my 20s. I started writing music for film and TV around the same time, and nowadays that's mostly what I do full-time alongside tutoring / lecturing at University.

When do you feel the most creative or inspired?

After my first coffee of the day.

When are you happiest?

After my first coffee of the day.

What’s the best stress relief advice you’ve ever been given?

Go to sleep.

What is your most treasured possession?

My piano; it's taught me almost everything I know!

What is the most important thing life has taught you thus far?

That I have no control over it.

What is your number one business tip for surviving (and thriving) in your industry?

Authenticity is everything; if you believe in what you're doing, it'll come through in your art.

What is your big project or goal for 2018?

To teach myself new tools, software, etc and let that inform my creative process. 2018 is looking pretty care-free right now, so I'm very excited. Things will get weird.

Who or what is inspiring you at the moment?

Composers and performers who can code, and are bringing all kinds of technology / mixed media into their sound worlds.

What do you continually ask yourself?

Funnily enough, question 10! I regularly write down what I'm being inspired by, so I remember to follow through on those interests.

Who do you collaborate with best?

I should probably say musicians, but I recent years I could just as easily say film directors (when we're on the same page!).

Who has challenged you to be better than you once were?

My former bandmates. There's a certain camaraderie that develops with life on the road; one that demands you have your act together!

How does courage manifest in your work?

In taking risks. I thrive on putting myself out of my comfort zone; it's the only way to evolve creatively.

When has mentorship played a role in your life?

While I was doing my masters in composition; my supervisors at the NZSM were a wealth of knowledge and inspiration!