Meet Jeff Dodson | Composer & Sound Designer

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

Hi Jeff, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
I think people often associate the fear of change and risk as the same thing. For me being able to separate real risk from fear of change is critical for growing a business and as an individual. It’s critically important to not fear change, and just as important to identify real risk.

For myself starting a business wasn’t risky, but it was a change and seemed like a difficult choice. Reflecting on many decisions it became easier to see the difference and I think an important skill to develop. Don’t be afraid of change and be aware of risk to make decisions that will further your goals as a person or business.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I’m a composer and sound designer. Primarily focused in trailer and advertising music. I focus on high concept original sound design and blend that with classical piano training to try and make unheard and unique sounds that set the bar for sound design in advertising, and honestly just to make cool sounding shit.

Originally my work was in my IDM music project ‘defrag’. Which had the benefit of never intending to be a career so was just an outlet to make insane sounding noise. In the long run I think this worked out, because as ad music evolved the industry became more contemporary and unafraid to take risks. The sound design that we were doing in the early 2000’s is just now leaking into mainstream giving myself an outlet to put my art into projects without sacrificing it to be accessible.

I had the fortune of connecting with a number of agencies and individuals that were working on projects not afraid to try something new. Rebranding networks like G4tv and Showtime pneumonics have always been a place to push sound design to stand out.

Music is comedically undervalued. Artists in general are not compensated for a skill that takes years to develop, and plenty of clients will try and offer ‘exposure bucks’ to bait people to work.

There’s nothing wrong with working for exposure, but it has to be your choice as the artist. If an artist sees potential in a project that means it really has value because they believe they can elevate it. I’ve reached out to plenty of projects that I believed I could make the project better because I believed in it. When a client asks you to work for exposure it’s because people don’t believe in what they’re doing and they need you to get it done for cheap. Don’t waste your time to be invited onto a sinking ship. Invest your time in a project that has potential that you believe in if you need exposure.

Support your friends, that’s what I would say for my story. It doesn’t have to be money, but a lot of talented people aren’t heard, and reposting someone’s work could land it in the ears of a potential future.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I collect pinball machines, so I would certainly recommend Ayce Gogi in Sherman Oaks or Bar 82 in DTLA. They are spots that care about pinball and have a great assortment of games without being over priced or designed for income (sorry 2bits circus you know what you are). Food at Ayce Gogi is Korean BBQ and delicious. Shane is a really cool guy and has helped bring back pinball in LA along with Keith Elwin at ’82.

I’d also hit up Din Tai Fung at the Americana. I would never recommend a mall… but the Xiao Long Bao at this place is absolutely mind blowing.

Heading to the coast I’d swing by the Museum of Jurassic Technology, a made up curiosities ‘museum’. Filled with bizarre fake exhibits that are all trying to look real. Made up back stories and everything. It’s really a very LA spot. Plus you can hit Father’s Office for an awesome burger after around the corner.

Plenty of other places that are more well known, like the view at the Getty, and Griffith, which is overly touristy. The hidden abandoned zoo at Griffith is fun, and you can climb into the old exhibits.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Rogier Hendriks and Kasper Verweij without a doubt. They reached out in the early 2000’s after hearing one of my tracks and asked if it was ok to use it for their demoreel for their studio. This would be the start of a working relationship that would open many doors for me as a composer. Rogier and Kasper helped guide me from making music to making music as a career. Something which I’m eternally grateful for.

Website: https://rainfall.film/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lamentelement/

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

Other: https://www.defr.ag/

Image Credits
Rogier Hendricks, Menno Fokma, Stefan Alt