Meet Amy Summers | Composer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Amy Summers and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Amy, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
I used to feel guilty about any time that I spent away from composing or from doing things that directly contributed to and enhanced my career. Paradoxically, I’d frequently burnout and get writers’ block. Over time, I’ve come to realise that the more interesting and full your personal life is and the more you take proper care of yourself, the better you will perform in your job and the more you will bring to the table. I schedule time every day to do something different with my brain and/or body – read, walk, learn something, socialise, exercise – and stick to it. Being self-employed, you never know when work is going to start up or for how long, and it can be any day, any time. Even when you schedule time off, you are always ‘on call’. You really have to be kind to yourself, breathe and break hard when you can. In the words of Maria von Trapp, ‘strength lies in nights of peaceful slumbers. When you wake up, wake up!’

Please tell us more about your career. We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, what you are most proud of or excited about. How did you get to where you are today professionally. Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges? What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way. What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?
I’m lucky to have been encouraged to just write write write. I’ve always thought of composing like practising an instrument; I know that my own sound and voice will develop with time and practice, and I have faith to keep going because I enjoy writing so much. As well as loving theory and analysis, composing for me has always been an escape and is about fun, emotion, enjoyment and curiosity. No matter the style or medium, I’ve never been afraid to stick to my gut by making sure I feel enough of those ingredients in what I’m creating.

When I started composing, I went through a phase of wanting to do everything by myself, which was a mistake. Over time I’ve learnt the joy and importance of collaborating with others, and now it’s probably the thing I get most pleasure from. One of the most fantastic surprises I’ve had is how interesting it is to collaborate with artists who are not primarily musicians because it can revitalise your creative process. For example, I worked with a dancer a few years ago who’d choreographed a piece which followed the ways she naturally felt inclined to move depending on what type of clothing she was wearing. We discussed how we could reflect this in music, and were excited by the parallels we discovered. We did lots of experimenting with timbre, tessitura and characterisation of sounds and instruments. It was a really useful exercise, thinking about how to craft music in a way that it supported what the dancer was experiencing. Similarly, when working with film directors, conversations about music in non-technical terms can be really refreshing and inspiring because you have to think outside the box.

I’ve recently finished my first solo-scored feature film, Anxious, which has been one of the greatest pleasures of my career so far. Having 90 minutes of picture allowed me to dive deeper than I’ve ever dived into anything before. I worked so closely with the wonderful Nida Chowdhry, who wrote, produced, directed and stars in the movie, and we spent about two months planning out the score, which, as well as making demos, largely consisted of talking about the story and sharing ideas. This was the perfect film to get stuck into. Every line in that film is in there for a reason, and likewise, I wanted to create a score that was glued to the story. It was a privilege to spend that much time working with a professional writer, and we talked for hours day in day out. I learnt so much from that process.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I’m based in the West Country at the moment, which is a wonderful part of the UK. Bristol has a thriving arts and music scene and there’s always something going on in town. The museums are wonderful too; I went to see the Wildlife Photography exhibition recently which was incredible! But the landscape and countryside round here is something else. Clevedon has some beautiful coastal walks, and Cheddar Gorge is a cycle ride away which is quite a wonder, as well as being home to many excellent tea rooms!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Absolutely. I have been lucky to know so many wonderful people in the form of teachers, colleagues, lecturers, musical directors, friends and family etc. over the years who have inspired me and provided me with experiences that have nurtured my artistic, musical and personal development. I want to give a particular shoutout to Nami Melumad who really took me under her wing when I met her through the Alliance for Women Film Composers (AWFC) a few years ago. She introduced me to film directors and producers and gave me the boost of confidence I needed to start scoring films professionally. Nami has an amazing attitude and is an incredible composer, and I will always be thankful to her for taking a risk on me. Also Alex Patterson, who saw something in my choral music when I was a student and offered me the role of Composer-in-Residence at Nottingham Cathedral when I graduated, which led to huge professional development for me. We’ve worked together ever since, and I’m always writing something for Alex’s choirs!

Website: https://www.amysummerscomposer.com/

Instagram: @_amy.summers

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amy-summers-77a25b148/

Twitter: @amysummersmusic

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amysummerscomposer

Youtube: @amysummersmusic