Meet Lindsay Dievert | Composer for media

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

Hi Lindsay, have you ever found yourself in a spot where you had to decide whether to give up or keep going? How did you make the choice?
Music and composition have always been my life. For me, giving up is not an option. I cannot imagine dedicating my life and time to anything else. When things get tough and I want to give up, my raw passion for music and drama keeps me going.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
One of the most important parts of being an artist for me is creating pieces that reflect myself, my feelings, and my experiences in them. When I receive a film, documentary, etc. to work on, if I’m given creative freedom, I allow my feelings after watching the clip(s) to drive the music I write. If I’m given direction as to what kind of music is wanted, I of course bring that into consideration as well. Still, I always look for a connection between myself and the piece I’m working on, and my creations blossom from those connections. My uniqueness as an artist shines through in the ways in which I make my work personal. I’ve always been most proud of the music I write for pieces that speak about my passions and what is important to me. I feel that when I can relate to, sympathize with, or feel strongly about a certain message, it allows me to bring self-expression into my works, and add my own personal voice. This ability really caters to my values as a creative, because it brings the personal aspect of art into what I’m working on to a further extent.

I took after my father with my interest in music. Throughout my childhood, I was listening to his favorite songs, and him playing the drums. This passion of his always resonated with me, so much so that I’ve turned it into my academic focus and prospective career. I started playing instruments, from piano to guitar to bass, and was able to further my appreciation of what music can do for people as individuals and in the world. Creating my own music was then something I felt compelled to do because it allowed me to add to the influence that music has through myself and my lens. I remember watching films with my family every weekend and always being focused on the music. This is where my fascination for the relationship between drama and music began. It has only grown since then as I continue to study screen scoring and work on short films.

It wasn’t so easy starting the process of making this passion of mine go in a career-oriented direction. However, I knew that I couldn’t do anything else with my life. Once I began scoring short films in high school I knew that I never wanted to stop. Then I found NYU’s undergraduate screen scoring program and I knew it was perfect for me. I had to overcome financial obstacles regarding things like equipment, university tuition, and more. I knew I had to work, so I applied for a job I’ve now held for the past year. I work at NYU’s theatres, which allows me to be surrounded by and interact with my interests on a daily basis. This helps the financial obstacles while also giving me a new space to learn and grow within this profession and the field of the arts as a whole. I’ve also learned a lot about overcoming competition while striving to be in a profession that has more limited space than others. Facing these challenges, I’ve learned to focus more on my work, and less on the outside forces that try to interfere with it. This focus on myself ties into me bringing me, my voice, and my feelings into the pieces I create.

I want the world to know that my work is personal. In each piece I write, I bring in experiences from being four-years-old hearing new music with my dad, all the way until now when I discover more parts of myself as a creative every day through being surrounded by such a diverse group of artists and art itself.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
There are so many awesome things to do in NYC so this is difficult. I would definitely take them to the Blue Note to hear some jazz. There is so much incredible music being made everywhere in the city, so it is definitely worth it to take a trip to go see some local bands. Some of my favorite venues are Rockwood Music Hall, Bowery Electric, and Heaven Can Wait. In addition, it’s always fun to walk down the street, hear live music and walk right in to explore. That is the beauty of NYC. There is so much new music within walking distance. No NYC trip is complete without a bagel. My favorite place to grab an everything bagel is definitely Bagel Bobs right by NYU campus.

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?
I dedicate this shoutout to my parents. Without their constant support and belief in me, I would not be where I am today.

Website: https://www.lindsaycdievert.com/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindsay-dievert-184912205/