Typically a job comes your means that simply suits who you’re as an individual. And that is how I Love Filipino got here to composer Denise Santos.
I Love Filipino is a model new Netflix sequence highlighting totally different points of Filipino tradition, so it’s becoming that Filipino composer Denise Santos has arrived on the venture with the flexibility to inject a novel and private sonic backdrop to the sequence.
Incorporating regional devices and sounds, Santos scored each episode of this playful docuseries, drawing from her background writing extra music underneath legendary composer Hans Zimmer.
It was wonderful to speak to her about this expertise.
Let’s dive in.
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NFS: Hello Denise! Netflix has created a number of glorious travelogue reveals, however I Love Filipino appears like an particularly distinctive alternative to showcase a specific tradition for a world viewers. What does it imply to you as a Filipina lady to be part of such a present?
Denise Santos: I completely agree. I Love Filipino captured one thing so particular about Filipino tradition and went past what is usually identified about us. This has been a type of tasks the place I used to be in a position to present up as authentically as I can. I used to be born and raised within the Philippines and have lived in Los Angeles for 11 years now. It was a chance for me to embrace my heritage and my roots whereas combining them with the coaching I’ve had in Hollywood. It meant much less second-guessing and easily BEING me—translating my genuine self into the music.
NFS: Are you able to inform us about your key inventive issues in shaping the rating for the sequence, and the way you labored to include components of Filipino tradition?
DS: After I was nonetheless dwelling and dealing within the Philippines, I had the prospect to file samples of native Filipino devices for movies I scored early in my profession. The primary inventive idea for I Love Filipino’s rating was to create a transparent hybrid of Filipino music with modern pop and movie rating music. So lastly, this was my probability to make the most of these samples that had been sitting in my arduous drive for therefore lengthy! Suppose gongs, bamboo percussion, and bamboo flute blended with beats, guitars, and orchestra. I carried out a number of the guitar elements myself, nevertheless it was additionally actually necessary for me to get Filipino musicians concerned. So within the rating, you’ll additionally hear Ling Lava (who additionally wrote extra music) and Anjelo Alonte on guitar, Ida Anita del Mundo on violin, Maria Corazon Reyes on viola, and Giancarlo Castrillo Gonzales on cello.
Denis Santos Credit score: John Atchley
NFS: Are there any distinctive devices or instruments that you simply used for the rating?
DS: This can be a very small element, however I created my very own shaker utilizing raw rice inside an outdated capsule bottle. A former colleague confirmed me this trick years in the past, and I assumed it will be good to duplicate for this rating, particularly within the episodes that includes meals. I additionally used a spoon and fork (tapping them in opposition to one another) as a further percussive sound. A giant a part of the Filipino consuming expertise entails these three issues: rice, spoon, and fork—and I wished to be a bit meta, have enjoyable with these sounds, and incorporate them into the rating.
I additionally used a two-stringed Filipino lute known as a hegalong that was custom-built for me by a buddy within the Philippines. It has this actually attention-grabbing metallic sound and suits superbly within the combine when used for a lead melody. I’ve used it in non-Filipino tasks earlier than as a rhythmic component, however this time it actually acquired to shine because the lead as a result of it was such a pure match for the context of the present.
NFS: I’m inquisitive about your background as an in-house composer in Hans Zimmer’s firm, Bleeding Fingers. Do you’ve got any favourite recollections from that have, and did you study something that you simply proceed to make use of in your musical strategy right this moment?
DS: I’ve so many nice recollections there! Profitable an Emmy throughout my time there was undoubtedly certainly one of them. However that was simply the icing on the cake. The cake was the small, day-to-day interactions I had with my former colleagues. It’s such a uncommon alternative to be in the identical house as a number of the finest within the trade, and to expertise their firm whereas navigating the challenges of the job. It was a pool of expertise, sources, and inspiration that I acquired to swim in every single day.
Certainly one of my favourite recollections is solely strolling down the halls and listening to muffled bits and items of music coming from the totally different rooms. That feeling and vitality are irreplaceable.
One other favourite reminiscence is after we would share meals collectively. Oftentimes, it was simply us goofing round for some comedian reduction, however some days we’d spend that point sharing concepts, ideas, technical discoveries, and extra. I’ve made so many lifelong pals there—to not point out that’s the place I met my husband, who’s a really proficient composer himself!
I discovered a lot throughout my time there. I take into account it the Grasp’s in Movie Scoring I used to be by no means in a position to take. I discovered the fragile artwork of writing themes and crafting large musical and sonic concepts to raise a rating. Each venture we labored on pushed us to assume outdoors the field. We had been educated to at all times take issues a step additional, and that’s a mindset I carry with me now.
NFS: What are the variations between scoring for a journey sequence like I Love Filipino and a nature sequence like Primates or Island of the Sea Wolves?
DS: Since I Love Filipino is a journey sequence with many talking-head moments and fewer narrative components, it gave me extra alternatives to jot down tracks that might stand on their very own. It felt extra like writing a soundtrack of instrumental songs than a conventional musical rating.
In the meantime, nature documentaries like Primates and Island of the Sea Wolves comply with animals of their pure habitats, and people naturally include storylines. Like how they hunt for meals or care for his or her kin. The music I wrote for these reveals closely supported these narratives and helped transfer the story ahead. For instance, you’ll hear much more begins and stops within the music as we comply with the animals’ totally different actions. In a means, writing for nature documentaries felt nearer to writing for animation.
NFS: Are there another genres or mediums for which you’d like to compose a rating?
DS: Ah, I really feel like this checklist is limitless! I’m at the moment co-scoring a romcom with my husband, in order that’s lastly off the checklist (for now). Past that, I’d completely like to compose for extra dramas and darkish comedies.
In the end, although, the concept of style goes out the window if the story or subject is compelling. For me, all of it begins with whether or not or not I really feel linked to the story, the filmmakers, and the message of the movie. My creative dream is to have a diversified portfolio with a constant throughline of fine storytelling and passionate individuals behind the work.
NFS: Thanks, Denise! Is there anything you wish to add about I Love Filipino or your profession at massive?
DS: I Love Filipino has been a dream venture and a labor of affection for all of us who labored on it. I hope extra individuals world wide get to look at it and really feel the dedication the creators poured into it. It’s accessible on Netflix worldwide, and the rating album is out on all music streaming platforms.
As for me, I’m engaged on some thrilling tasks that I can’t fairly speak about but—however comply with me on Instagram @denthantoth for updates… and cute pics of my canine!
