One of the first things I want do when I start writing music for a film is to create its own sound world, its own music world.
So when I'm listening to music, I'm listening to a lot of hip-hop to be inspired and to hear new things.
I think with everything I do, I'm trying to just come up with new ways of creating music and mixing styles together. That's just what's fun for me to do, to try to make myself inspired.
I think to try to make new music and new ideas, you have to push the boundaries of existing music.
Any time I get a chance to work with artists that make me inspired and learn new stuff about music - every chance I get, I'll take.
I moved to L.A. in 2007 from Sweden.
I would love to do more superhero work; as a young film composer, that is one of the things you dream of.
Travelling is a key part of my life. It keeps me inspired, takes me to new places, introduces me to new sounds, and allows me to explore new environments and soundscapes.
I think, for me, a way to really come up with new ideas and come up with new ways of writing music is to create a unique sound palette or soundscape for all the films I'm working on.
When I'm working with an artist, my job is to make their vision come to life.
Obviously, the 'Rocky' theme is one of the most recognizable themes in film.
Any time you have the chance to celebrate something with your closest best friends, it's very special.
Chance The Rapper is a person who really knows what he wants.
I wanted to be the best guitar player in the world. And then my dad got me a portable recorder, so I started writing my own music.
The through line of the way I like to work, what makes me different, and what I like to do for every project - although they are completely different from each other - is I like to do a lot of research and create a unique landscape and unique soundscape for each movie.
Needless to say, I like to create a unique sound for each project I do.
In western classical music with an orchestra, you focus the orchestra on melodies and harmony. In African music, the biggest focus is on rhythms and counter-rhythms - the complexity of rhythms.
Needless to say, when I work on a film, it's mostly just me alone in my room just waiting to present the music to the director - and either he likes it or not.
I really want to get better at conducting.
Some of my favorite scores include Bernard Herrmann's Hitchcock scores.
Every now and then, as a composer and producer, it's important to write music for yourself.
I think, as a composer, pressure should be something that makes you better.
I've produced all of Childish Gambino's music.
Growing up, I was listening to a lot of Metallica, a lot of instrumental guitar music because I started out as a guitar player.
One of the instruments that really stuck out to me was the talking drum, which is basically the first type of communication device. It's a drum you put on your shoulder, and you can pitch it with your arm, and you can 'talk' with it.
I love L.A. partly because it feels like there are so many parts of the world in this city.
I'm just constantly figuring out new ways to reinvent myself.
I would say that 'Creed' has a lot more music in it. It's 60 minutes of music, while 'Fruitvale' had about a fourth of that at best. There's a bigger focus in 'Creed' because I had to make music for training montages.
I haven't really ever seen a big budget Hollywood film with African music. Most of the time, it's just Hollywood's perception of what African music is.
I need to study more. I need to educate myself more - and not just in music, in everything - but especially in music and composing.
