Jamal Green is a British composer currently based in the UK. His unique sound finds its way into everything he works on from BAFTA Award Winning TOEM (2021) by Something We Made to FX’s comedy series Breeders (2023). Don't miss our interview with Jamal Green about his music, composing and life.

Can you share with us your journey into the world of music composition? How did you discover your passion for composing? What were some early influences or experiences that shaped your musical style and approach to composition?

My sister is a now successful professional drummer & content creator, but when I was growing up and we were all living under one roof I’d often fall asleep to the sound of her practicing rudiments on her drum pad along with a metronome so that was my introduction to both musicianship and sheer determination and dedication to music. I discovered composition very shortly after and I immediately took interest in music for films & games because I’d always loved the Halo soundtracks and had recently heard Modern Warfare 2’s soundtrack as well as having always loved film music. I really started writing before I picked up an instrument so I think early on that meant I had to work with ideas I could vocalise first and that’s something that’s stuck to some degree - I like working with melodies that are hummable or singable where possible.

How would you characterize your musical style, and what elements do you believe set your work apart?

I like to think I have a bold style that carries a tender sensibility. I don’t shy away from using unusual sounds or fusing and bending styles to marry up with unique perspectives on a project.

Can you share some insights into your creative process? How do you approach composing and find inspiration for your work? Are there any non-musical aspects of life that influence or inspire your compositions?

Generally the start of my creative process falls into one of two categories; one starts with me picking up an instrument (usually piano or guitar) or singing melodies and thinking about things musically - Things like chords, melodies & harmonies that's my go to for creating themes for locations or characters for example. The other is from a sound design perspective. I’ll play with synth sounds, drum sounds, record things & play with effects until I feel like I have the right sound palette to jump straight into composing with - Then everything feels absolutely right for the project.

Being selected as a 2022/23 BAFTA Breakthrough is a significant accomplishment. How has this recognition impacted your career and creative journey?

BAFTA is held in such high regard in the film, game and TV industries so being a BAFTA Breakthrough felt like a co-sign that people could trust. On a personal level it’s a recognition of my work that I’m so thankful relatively early on in my career. BAFTA Breakthrough has opened doors for me to meet so many incredibly talented people I otherwise wouldn’t have had the chance to meet.

As a composer, how do you choose the projects you want to be a part of? Are there specific criteria or themes that attract you to a particular project?

I always want to be challenged so I definitely feel an attraction to projects that will allow me to work in ways I haven’t been able to before. For games I’m a sucker for aesthetics so if a game has a unique art style I start hearing music right away! For films and TV I’m really interested in characters and I like to get invested in their journeys and their development.

Are there specific lessons or insights you wish you had known when you were starting your career as a composer?

I wish I wasn’t so intimidated early on by learning things I thought were complex and arduous like learning to play more instruments or music theory. I had the mindset that the end goal is to get to an expert level at whatever it was you were learning but I realise now the goal is always just to be better than you currently are and learning a little bit of something can have a massive impact on your work and your life!

Are there any upcoming projects or collaborations you are particularly excited about? Can you give us a sneak peek into what we can expect from your future work?

There’s not too much I can say right now but I’m really excited about working on film, game and TV projects all at once! It’s exciting to be working across all three mediums and I hope that’s something I can continue through my career.

Finally, from your perspective, what is the meaning of life?

I think the meaning of life is to spend your time with the people that make you the happiest and spend your time doing the things that make you happiest and the rest is all bullsh*t!