June 2023
What is your favorite part of the composing process?
Ms. Samantha: I like the beginning - the idea of a blank slate is really exciting. What am I going to write? How is it going to sound? You know, there’s still hope in the style. In the beginning, I listen to a lot of peoples’ works and I learn what they did - their techniques, how they orchestrated the score... that gives me inspiration!
How did your college experience and your classes shape your career?
Ms. Samatha: I studied remotely over 10 years ago. I couldn’t afford staying at a dorm in college, but they had an alternative - studying online, watching recorded lectures, stuff like that. My bachelor’s degree was a general music degree and my teachers there helped me stay determined to keep learning. I didn’t really get a typical college experience until my graduate degree in Dublin. It was like this recording studio that teachers would come and teach at. While I went to school focused on film and media, I ended up loving video games. I kind of kept that hidden initially because I was embarrassed. There was a certain stigma back then, like “Oh, video games?”.
College for a creative degree is important in learning the skills needed for the workforce, and it’ll give you contacts and mentors.
I am especially curious about your work in film and television. It’s so awesome that you worked on amazing movies like Frozen 2 and Avengers: Endgame! Could you please share about your work and your specific role in the making of these films?
Ms. Samatha: I worked as a music copyist on Frozen 2 and Avengers. I helped create sheet music for the musicians to record to. What this entails is that the composer or orchestrator gave us the full score of music, and we had to make the parts for the musicians to play off. We made sure page turns were correct, and we read through it as if we were the players - checking enharmonics and cautionary accidentals. It was fun and I learned a lot. I got to hear things before anyone else did, which is really cool!
In what ways do you think music has shaped you as a person? What valuable lessons and skills have you gained from it?
Ms. Samatha: From around 2017-2021, I really lost interest in music… I felt like nothing was happening, and I didn’t feel like I was progressing. I was basically doing my day job, then I’d come home and I wouldn’t touch my piano or write music. Then I saw something that read, “Give yourself a fighting chance”. So last year, I gave myself something small to do - I read for 20 minutes a day. Because I had a good habit from that, I started rolling with other habits. I started getting more interested and determined to do other things. I realized I wanted to work in the game industry. After that lightbulb moment, I contacted game developers and some connections worked out. It’s amazing how much changed - I got back on board, I write music every day now, and I LOVE it. I found myself more self-disciplined and patient. It has made me a lifelong learner, and for the rest of my life I’m going to learn music and practice my craft.
As a female-identifying creative in the music industry, what is the one piece of advice you wish someone had given you, or that you would give to others?
Ms. Samantha: First of all, write music also for yourself. That took me years to realize. Write something that is for yourself, that you would feel proud of. Experiment with sounds! I experiment with synthesizers, or even sound design of a glass or a wood block. It's like ear candy, it’s so fun to play with. Don’t be afraid or intimidated by the sounds you want to use. Music is about all the sounds around us.
Ms. Samantha van der Sluis is an Australian composer, who has worked on music for films such as Frozen 2, Avengers: Endgame, Toy Story 4 and Star Wars IX. She is currently working on music for a wide variety of video games. Ms. Samantha’s video game compositions are charming and comforting - and I’d highly recommend checking them out HERE (my personal favorite is “Love, Ghostie”!).