Andreas Williamson profile picture

Andreas Williamson

Film Composer and Sound Designer / Engineer

About Me

I have been composing film scores, TV Themes and music for the media for many years, as well as individual pieces as compositions in their own right. My music ranges wildly from classical orchestral music to heavy metal, trance or hiphop, but a lot of my favourite music has a very strong Greek / Middle Eastern influence. With my standalone compositions I most enjoy composing fusions of different musical traditions.
I currently work as Head of Audio Production for Phoenix Film and Television Ltd based at Three Mills Film Studios in London. Amongst other things, I am currently working as chief sound engineer on the music TV show 'Soundcheck at Momos' where I've been recording and mixing some of the world's greatest musicians for the show! Among them are: Vieux Farka Toure, Orchestra Baobab, Kekele, Daby Toure, Natasha Atlas and Souad Massi. Christmas, however, will be busy as I have the equivalent of 4 studio albums to mix for the show!!! :)
I am an associate member of the British Academy of Composers & Songwriters and and as well as films screened on TV & Cable (UK & overseas productions), Commercials, Games, etc. I have scored and done sound design for a number of award winning films, including Portobello Film Festival (Best New Film), Winchester (Best Documentary), a number of entrants into Cannes. I have also worked with directors like Geoff Posner (Little Britain, Bottom, Young Ones) and have credited work for the BBC, 2|entertain, Africa Channel, Sky and Sony BMG.
As a musician I play Harp, Oud, Bouzouki, Flamenco Guitar, Piano, Percussion and Sing. I am currently learning the Bagpipes too. I usually play most of the recorded instruments in my compositions (recorded live as opposed to some orchestral instruments that I score, then programme).
Above are a few of my favourite tracks I've composed over the years. Some of the early ones don't have quite the production standards I keep to now, but I like them all the same :)

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 11/1/2006
Band Website: andreaswilliamson.com
Influences: Absolutely my big six:
Hans Zimmer, Ennio Morricone, Tan Dun, Henri Mancini, James Horner and Vangelis
As well as:
Yanni, Rammstein, Infected Mushroom, tXc, Flamenco, Corvus Corax, Mike Oldfield, Omar Faruk and various Greek Traditional Cretan and Middle Eastern, etc.
Paco Peña first got me into music and into learning flamenco guitar. Flamenco is something I will always listen to.
I also owe a lot to Hugo Varvoglis, from whom as a nipper I learnt a hell of a lot and is a GOD in the Studio!
Sounds Like: 1) Anatolia (4:48)
This track is probably my personal favourite from all the compositions I have done. When I composed and recorded it in 2003 it was one of the first “large scale” instrumental pieces I had taken into full production, with over 40 instruments and 60+ channels of audio. In this composition my intention was to ‘fuse’ Greek and Middle Eastern musical traditions with some common Western ones.
2) Sailor Chic (3:53)
One of my most recent pieces, this is the second draft I composed for an exhibition at the National Maritime Museum. The exhibition showed the development of maritime influenced fashion through the ages. A film was also cut to the music to be shown as part of the exhibition. As the exhibition dealt with a change in style over time, I aimed to incorporate this idea into the composition - starting with a late 1700s naval style theme, moving though modern guitar and drums to a cinematic finish, maintaining a common theme.
3) Out with the olds (4:01)
I did this composition for Harp for a short film; Out with the Olds (2005: Dir. Darren Simon). The film was to be without any dialogue or ambient audio, so the music was very important. As a result the composition itself tells a story and narrates the action on screen in a very active way. The story takes you through the day of an old man struggling to cope with the demands of a modern world. Things to look out for: night-time clock (1:45), lady’s earring (2.16) and kicking off slippers (2:50).
4) Dance/House Mix (7:32)
This track is a compilation of various dance/house/electronica pieces I have composed for various films and projects including: Rootical (2006:Dir. Nika Hadjidimou) which won the Portobello Film Festival Best New Film award and the Winchester Film Festival, In the Light (2005: Dir. Toby Orren) and Getting High With Leo (2002: Dir. Stuart Brennan).
Galapagos Medley (2:35)
I composed this track in 2006 for a Wildlife program. Here the music takes on a narrative role, with solo instrument depicting each animal. Their interactions on screen were reflected in the musical interactions of the instruments (aiming for something a bit like peter and the wolf). Examples of this are a Giant Tortoise (Horn 0:45) and Cheeky Crabs (Maracas 1:15). There also is a common theme introduced in the beginning which is returned to at the end.
Record Label: unsigned
Type of Label: None