KIERAN KIELY PUTS THE ROCKSTAR INTO FILM COMPOSING

Change is inevitable. This phrase often produces a fearful reaction. Most people like the comfort that is produced with familiarity, even though they excitedly await the technological updates that enhance and transform the way that all of us interact and lead our lives. While these advancement sometimes lead to the extinction of once ubiquitous things (as the automobile did with the horse and buggy), others react with evolution. One constant throughout modern civilization is the Arts. The people’s desire and need of the Arts to lift their spirits, entertain, and inspire them is more prevalent than ever. Technological advancements have allowed filmmakers, visual artists, dancers, and musicians to present themselves as never before. Through the relationship these art forms have with modern media, we see both the transformation and evolution of new artists as well as their interaction with those whom have already mastered certain art forms. It is an exciting time because what it becoming clear is that the artistic sentiment is cultivated throughout many different levels of abilities. This scenario is clearly present with filmmakers being given access to highly accomplished musician/composers like Kieran Kiely through his work with Felt Music. Felt Music is a premier music production company that specializes in composing and recording stock music cues for film and television. Digital film and software has enabled budding and established filmmakers to create for a variety of different platforms. The days in which film was only presented on the silver screen are long gone as cable, streaming, straight to video, and YouTube have become viable avenues to present productions by well-established filmmakers as well as those in progress. One of the long respected marriages among the arts is that of cinema and music. Felt Music allows filmmakers to use the work of consummate composers and musicians like Kieran to heighten the artistry and the emotional impact of their productions.

Kieran Kiely may not be the name that you have seen on your iPod playlist but he has been an integral part of the music of artists like: Sinead O’Connor, Dave Stewart, The Corrs, Stevie Nicks, Bono, Van Morrison, and others. In recent years, Kiely has contributed his talents to films like: Danny Greene: The Rise and Fall of the Irishman, Jason Bourne, Ice Age: Collision Course, Independence Day: Resurgence, The Angry Birds Movie, and TV production like Timeless, and Quantico. As a musician, orchestrator, and composer…Kiely is ideally suited to work with Felt Music to create the sonic mood and assistance that was just out of reach for many filmmakers until recently. Felt Music is proud of their ability to provide music for every style and genre of film. The convenience of immediately available completed music of countless different styles enables filmmakers many choices. Felt Music’s production manager, Rueben Hurst, comments, “Kieran is a qualified expert on many different styles of music and his versatility has made him extremely valuable to Felt Music and to the many TV and film productions that have bought the rights to his pieces. Regional commercials, hit TV shows like BBC’s CountryFile (currently the network’s top factual program), and even documentaries such as The Wedding Planner have all made use of Kieran’s extraordinary musical pieces. His ability to compose to picture is second to none, which is something of a rarity. He sets the mood with his music and captures the essence of a scene with such effortless beauty. His is an outstanding professional and my first port of call for any of my projects.” Kiely brings his ability to compose in the language of the traditional Celtic music he has been so recognized for, as well as the rock and orchestral productions in which he has been such an inspiring force. Adding to this, his recent work on major Hollywood films, and it becomes a highly attractive asset to many productions.

Felt Music was introduced to Kieran via guitarist and producer Kevin Armstrong (David Bowie, Sinead O’ Connor). Armstrong and Kiely were familiar with each other from their work with famous rock artists but Felt Music requires musicians with unique and exemplary composing skills as well as one additional important asset; the ability to produce brief yet imaginative pieces of music. It’s easier said than done. Kiely explains, “Apart from Felts Library of music, they offer a custom service where composers write to a brief or to a picture. The advantage for Film makers is that they have access to a wealth of music from the library, and if they find something they like, they can ask to work with the composer of that music to arrange those tracks to their liking. They also have the option to order custom made music for their project. It’s certainly a good thing for TV productions. I believe about 90% of all TV music now comes from music Libraries. Being able to write short pieces of music that immediately get your attention and draw you in is an essential part of the skill set for Felt’s composers. The most challenging aspect of writing to a brief is reading between the lines. Assuming the brief is clear, then the skill is knowing how to put that brief in a musical language and write and produce a piece of music that hopefully everyone will like. Writing short pieces of music is a great way to hone your craft.” As one of the most recognized authorities on traditional Celtic music, Kiely filled an important position amongst Felt Music’s composers. It was quickly evident that his abilities and accomplishments made him far too valuable to be pigeonholed in one genre. Kieran confirms, “I started by writing Celtic pieces for Felt. I know this music intimately, so I didn’t have to dig too deep for inspiration. They then asked me write in different styles; with my eclectic background in music, I found I had a lot to draw from. When you know a style of music well, writing in that style will come naturally; so, it’s very possible to write convincingly in completely different styles. This is an important skill for a Film and TV Composer as you have to serve the Film, which might be a completely different genre from your previous project. The music has to be different.” It’s the combination of experiences and influences in Kieran’s musical career that has made him so valuable in so many different professional situations. He has been able to synergize his multi-instrumentalist abilities and eclectic compositional influences to positive effect whether on the concert stage or conducting an ensemble to film cues. Sometimes these intersect as Kiely notes, “Composing is definitely a solitary endeavor but I love collaborating. It depends on the type of music. For Film, I like to write to the picture, and that’s pretty much the norm for composers. But when I have to write something for say a car advert and they want it to sound like a band, I get together with some friends and write.” Kieran Kiely is one of those few elite musician/composers who has experienced the limelight as well as the “behind the scenes” introspection to find the music inside him to inspire others. Perhaps part of the reason he is so effective and prolific in his current pursuits is related to having received the accolades that have allowed him to fulfill his “rock star” days and turn the focus now to the new challenge of creating music that brings the attention to others.