Career Spotlight: Grant Kirkhope (Freelance Composer)

April 23, 2015 Jordan Mohler

Grant Kirkhope is a BAFTA and IFMCA nominated composer of Kingdoms of Amalur, GoldenEye 007, Banjo-Kazooie/Tooie, Viva Pinata, Perfect Dark, Donkey Kong 64, and more.

Tell us a little about yourself and your experience.

I'm a composer from Edinburgh in Scotland. I worked at Rare Ltd from 1995-2008 and worked on games like Banjo Kazooie, GoldenEye, Donkey Kong 64, Perfect Dark and Viva Pinata. After leaving Rare I worked on Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning, Castle of Illusion starring Mickey Mouse, Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z, A Hat in Time, Hex Heroes, Desktop Dungeons and Sid Meier's Civilization: Beyond Earth.

What drove you to choose your career path?

It was completely by accident. I had a friend, Robin Beanland, who already worked at Rare as a composer and it was he that suggested that I had a go at what he was doing.

How did you go about getting your job? What kind of education and experience did you need?

See above. Robin recommended some equipment for me to buy and I started to compose. I sent five cassette tapes in to Rare over the course of a year and never heard anything and then out of the blue I got a letter asking me to attend an interview. To my surprise I got the job!

I was classically trained and attended the Royal Northern College of Music but I really don't think that matters. I know lots of great composers that didn't have a formal musical education. A composers most important asset is his ears, if you can hear it you can write it.

What do you actually spend the majority of your time doing?

Honestly, composing occupies most of my time at the moment.

What misconceptions do people often have about your job?

That it's easy! As a freelance composer you tend to go from frying pan to frying pan. When I was a staff composer I might be on a game for a number of years. As a freelancer I tend to get brought in towards the end of a project which means you have to hit the ground running, and then when that project is done you do it all over again. There's no time for writers block!

What are your average work hours?

I tend to work best first thing in the morning and then later in the afternoon. so I'll probably make a start around 8:30am 'til 1:00pm and then start again around 3:30pm 'til when I get tired.

What personal tips and shortcuts have made your job easier?

I know it sounds a bit obvious but just make a start, remember every song ever written is in the piano keyboard somewhere, you just have to find it! Play that first note and keep going, often by forcing myself along I get to where I need to be.

What do you do differently from your coworkers or peers in the same profession?

Hmmmm ..... every composer has different ways to compose I just know my way.

Do you have any advice for people who need to enlist your services?

Email me and don't expect me to work for free ... heh!!

What's the worst part of the job and how do you deal with it?

I call it the curse of aspiration. I'm never satisfied with what I've achieved, there's always another level to strive for. I'm usually only 75% happy with what I write, I just wish I was better than I am.It does tend to make me unhappy ... a lot!!!!

What's the most enjoyable part of the job?

When I get to hear a live orchestra playing my music, it is truly amazing!

What kind of money can one expect to make at your job?

Ha ... I can't tell you that!

How do you move up in your field?

I don't know about that, I'm still trying. It's all about who you know without a doubt. Building up those connections can be extremely difficult, and it's absolutely essential.

What advice would you give to those aspiring to join your profession?

Make sure you can write music in as many different styles as possible. Always say yes even if you don't know how to do it, go away and learn it. Don't argue with the creative director, you'll get fired and the next guy will get the gig!