Pawel Morytko Reveals What’s a Blessing and a Curse for Composers

Pawel Morytko is a composer for film, TV and video games based in the UK. After graduating from the University of Hertfordshire, where he studied music composition and technology for films and games, and now living in Edinburgh, Pawel has focused on writing for production music libraries, indie video games, animations, and various music commissions.

Different styles and genres can be heard throughout Pawel's work, ranging from beautiful and epic orchestral music, to soft and emotional piano and strings, as well as powerful trailers and ambient underscores.

His music has been featured in various media and TV channels abroad such as ESPN News, SportsNet New York, WE, and SAT.1.

Pawel sat down with LBB to discuss his creative process, and the magical moments when composing

LBB> When you’re working on a new brief or project, what’s your typical starting point? How do you break it down and how do you like to generate your ideas or response?

Pawel> It honestly varies from track to track. Some ideas will come from just playing around on the piano until I land on something that resonates with me. Others will start from something really simple like an atmospheric pad that just happens to be the perfect sound that I’m looking for. And others could come from a melody that I’ll start humming in my head randomly during the day at which point I try to get back to my studio as soon as possible before I forget it!

LBB> Music and sound are in some ways the most collaborative and interactive forms of creativity – what are your thoughts on this? Do you prefer to work solo or with a gang – and what are some of your most memorable professional collaborations?

Pawel> I have always enjoyed both aspects of this kind of work personally. I work really well on my own, but I also love collaborating with others to see what ideas others might have that I would have never even thought of.

I’ve worked with a few vocalists now and it was always a fun and exciting experience, from writing lyrics together, tweaking melodies until they’re perfect, and shooting back and forth demos and feedback until we’re both happy with the final result. I can’t sing myself for example so collaboration for me is quite often working with people who can do something that I’m not able to do myself.

LBB> What’s the most satisfying part of your job and why?

Pawel> The most satisfying would have to be watching a simple small idea evolve into the finished final product. It could be a short little melody on the piano that becomes something truly unique and fleshed out when all of the instruments come together – it's quite magical when you step back and realise what you started with and ended up with.

LBB> As the advertising industry changes, how do you think the role of music and sound is changing with it?

Pawel> I’m not quite sure as it’s hard to say where it’s heading. I think the music’s role for the most part will always be a supportive one, the styles and genres might change, but at its core I think the function will remain as it is – to elevate the visuals with sound and help the viewer connect with the right emotions through music.

LBB> Who are your musical or audio heroes and why?

Pawel> Growing up my musical heroes were probably Howard Shore, John Williams and Hans Zimmer. Their scores have always been so memorable to me and Shore’s ‘The Lord of the Rings’ soundtrack in particular really inspired me as a kid as I have always loved that sort of medieval fantasy fiction and LOTR feels like the godfather of the genre in a sense.

LBB> And when it comes to your particular field, are there any particular ideas or pioneers that you go back to frequently or who really influence your thinking about the work you do?

Pawel> There aren’t any specific people per se, but I do love to be constantly learning how to improve my craft and most of that is reading what other people have tried that works and then experimenting with those ideas myself.

It could be anything to help with efficiency/workflow, or working with MIDI and making orchestral instruments sound more realistic, or even simple tips on mixing that could make my music sound even more polished.

I think a lot of us composers are always striving for perfection which is probably a bit of a blessing and a curse!

LBB> When you’re working on something that isn’t directly sound design or music (let’s say going through client briefs or answering emails) – are you the sort of person who needs music and noise in the background or is that completely distracting to you? What are your thoughts on ‘background’ sound and music as you work?

Pawel> Personally I like to give my ears a rest from music as often as I can when not working on it. I love the craft with a passion but there are times where I just don’t want to listen to anything and just give my ears and head a break.

I also find it easier to focus without any music because knowing myself I would start analysing the ‘background’ music and look for ideas that could inspire my next piece of music. Which is something that I love doing, just not when I’m trying to focus on something else.

LBB> Outside of the music and sound world, what sort of art or topics really excite you and do you ever relate that back to music (e.g. history buffs who love music that can help you travel through time, gamers who love interactive sound design… I mean it really could be anything!!)

Pawel> This might sound a little strange but quite simply just the personal experiences that happen in everyday life. Emotions, moods, how we feel when we go through certain events in life. Especially when it comes to songwriting lyrics, focusing on a certain emotion or a past experience can channel a sort of energy that can help words fall down onto the paper and the chords and melodies to fall into place.

LBB> As we age, our ears change physically and our tastes evolve too, and life changes mean we don’t get to engage in our passions in the same intensity as in our youth - how has your relationship with sound and music changed over the years?

Pawel> For me it hasn’t changed a whole lot (yet) but I have noticed a newfound passion for songwriting, writing lyrics, working with vocalists and making songs as opposed to what I normally do which is sync music for TV.

I genuinely love both of these things and aim to continue exploring both avenues but it’s just been a nice breath of fresh air to step out of my comfort zone and discover something new that I’m passionate and excited about!