Liam is a creative composer who has scored projects of all sorts in productions from all over the globe. Having previously studied Creative Music Production, he later specialised in Music for the Moving Image at Leeds Beckett and graduated in 2019. His music has been featured in world-class events such as the London Fashion Week and at the European Championships of Munich. His list of accolades include three Best Soundtrack Awards and one Best Soundtrack nomination. 

Course: MA Music for the Moving Image

Tell us a bit about yourself and what you've been doing since you graduated? 

I always doubted I could turn my music into a professional career but after graduating from Leeds Beckett I was at least willing to give it a try. With the help of the pandemic, I was given the opportunity to stay put, build a home studio and start creating my brand. I have not looked back since. It’s now been four years since that moment and I cannot complain. 

There have been tough moments and there will continue to be: being an artist is never easy (nor stable) but fortunately I am not short of projects, ideas, goals, motivation and even recognition. I have recently come back from Russia, where I won my third Best Soundtrack Award at the prestigious Antares International Film Festival. And whilst accolades are never really life changing, they definitely are good indicators that I am walking in the right direction.

What have been the highlights and challenges of your career so far? 

On a superficial level I suppose I could consider each one of my three Awards to be the highlights of my career but what truly feeds my soul is attending International Film Festivals. There I get to meet artists from all corners of the globe, exchange art, cultures, experiences, points of view… and finally hear my soundtracks in big and crowded movie theatres. Nothing beats that. 

Outside these moments of communion though, the job of a composer can be pretty isolating (even more so now that everything can be done remotely) and so it is not uncommon that in the midst of this seclusion self-doubt and discouragement creep in when things do not go my way. By now though, I have come to accept that instability and unpredictability are part of my job and I embrace them for they also come with spontaneity and freedom.

How has your experience of studying at Leeds Beckett influenced you and your career? 

I have nothing but fond memories of my time as a music student at Leeds Beckett. I loved how much time and space we were given to experiment and play around with whichever area sparked our interest. In my case it was orchestration and music programming (which is about making digitally recreated instruments sound as realistic as possible). In this regard, I found the master’s to have great and savvy teachers who would point you in the right direction without giving you straight answers. Also, we were given access to a ton of equipment (both hardware and software) that I didn't know existed and I still use to this day. 

Finally, on a much more personal side, the time in Leeds gave me hope and led me to believe a career in music was not utopic. 

What advice would you give someone thinking about studying this course? 

l would recommend not expecting to come out with a great job straightaway. This is something that takes years to build but this master’s might very well be the foundation or the spark. If you are passionate about music making but are a bit lost as to which area to specialise in, there are many subjects you can learn about and find out which one resonates best with you. 

On the other hand, if you bring something with you and are certain which way to go, the course will allow you to hone in on that particular niche and develop your ideas further. Either way, this master’s has a lot to offer.

What's next for you? 

Nothing more than keep scoring all the projects I can get my hands on. I have also recently taken on a film scriptwriting course so who knows… maybe I will find some time to write some stories of my own. I welcome whatever the future brings without spending that much thought on what that may be.