composer | film & television
2017 was capped off with Tesco’s 2017 Christmas advert ‘Save The Day’: a 1950’s crooner-inspired orchestral arrangement of Shakin Stevens’ Merry Christmas Everyone, recorded at Abbey Road Studios.
Client – Tesco
Music Supervision – Native Music
Advertising Agency – BBH
Nick Samuel is a composer and arranger; with work spanning film, TV and video games.
His work is driven by music’s relationship with the narrative, with a between-the-lines musical approach to storytelling, and drawing influence from across the board of genres. An early-life love of animation and later studies in fine art also played a role in his understanding of how music affects the picture, and the different ways in which melodies ‘speak’ with an image.
Professional life in music began as a saxophonist and keyboard player, working within genres ranging from Jazz to Alternative Rock / Metal, delivering performances on the stage and in the studio with artists in London and internationally. A natural transition to composing, as songwriter and band-leader, first saw him forming the group ‘Hopper’, which went on to receive a finalist accolade for ‘Best Alternative Act’ at the Indy Awards in 2007.
Nick’s career as a composer for film and TV began in 2009, his experience in live music and improvisation heavily contributing in how his music moves and communicates, not only with the image, but also the audience. He began by treading the well-worn path of scoring short films, before working within TV and advertising with clients including ITV (Text Santa), Tesco Books, Against Breast Cancer (for DCM), Pearl & Dean (for whom’s digital campaign he received the 2013 Music + Sound Award for ‘Best Composition in Cinema Advertising’); and Tesco’s 2017 Christmas TV spot ‘Save The Day’, recorded with a 55-piece orchestra at Abbey Road Studios.
His work in long-form film began in post-production / sound designe, before going on to score for feature films, working with production companies, studios and directors worldwide. Summer 2017 film releases include the acclaimed ‘Max Payne: Retribution’ and medieval fantasy / horror ‘Knights Of The Damned’.
Nick was born in California, and he lives and works in London.
