Q : Are there any TV theme songs you wish you had written?
A : I’m not sure there are any that I wish that I had written, but there are certainly some that inspired me creatively. When I was younger the theme from Twin Peaks comes to mind, The X-Files, and even Miami Vice. Recently it seems that TV themes are a dying breed, which is a shame, but there are still a few good ones out there!
Q : When writing the music, how much is done before seeing the scene and how much after viewing it?
A : I don’t write anything at all before I have the scene to work with. I’ve always viewed the composer’s role as creating music that works in support of the drama on the screen and is therefore tailored very closely to the footage. In fact, a lot of creative decisions are made before I even write a note. For each scene we have discussions about the role of music and what it should try to convey. After that I often spend a long time working with tempos, meters, and designing and recording sounds before I actually get started scoring a scene.
Q : How much did you have to do with "Fallacies" by TwaughtHammer?
A : Twaughthammer, as you know, is a fictional rock and roll band comprised of several characters from Breaking Bad including Jesse and Badger. The band is referenced in several episodes. The concept for the band was conceived by the writers during season 2 and “Fallacies” is one of the band’s songs. Creator/executive producer Vince Gilligan and writer/producer Sam Catlin provided me with the lyrics, and I wrote all of the music and produced the recording. I performed the piece along with my regular guitar player Mike Pendleton. The lead vocals were sung by Matt Jones (Badger) with Matt, Aaron Paul (Jesse) and myself all singing backup. Our crew then created a music video for the song which appears on the season 2 DVD as a bonus, and the song itself is on our first soundtrack record which we released around that time.
Q : What it is like working with Vince Gilligan?
A : Vince is of course an enormously intelligent and talented guy, but what I admire most about working with him is the creative environment that he fosters around him. To his great credit, Vince welcomes everyone’s ideas and encourages discussion and debate about all of the creative decisions that go into making Breaking Bad. Just as important, though, he has a strong vision for his show and when it comes time to make a tough choice, he is decisive.
Q : What was the inspiration for Heisenberg's theme music we hear every time Walt puts on his hat and starts walking.
A : From very early on in the series Vince Gilligan spoke of Breaking Bad as having moments that are a “post-modern Western.” Walt’s black hat, of course, is a nod to that idea. We talk a lot about the use of music and sound in classic Western genre films, and Heisenberg’s theme (and Breaking Bad’s main title theme for that matter) is my modern take on that idea. It has the same spare quality about it, which is intended to capture the scope of the desert landscape, but instead of acoustic percussion and an acoustic guitar I’m using synthesizers, found sounds, and instruments from around the world. I perform the motif that makes up the melody for Heisenberg’s theme on a Japanese koto, which is then heavily processed. Heisenberg’s theme in this form first appeared in season 3 and that version of it “The Long Walk Alone (Heisenberg’s Theme)” is included on the upcoming Breaking Bad score soundtrack album, which will be available on August 28th on iTunes.
Q : Season 5 has been phenomenal so far! Can you please tell us something about the season finale? Also do you know how Breaking Bad will end?
A : Thanks! There have been some wonderful opportunities for the score to play an even larger role in season 5, and it’s been as much fun as ever to be a part of. As for the season finale, I honestly don’t know much more than you do. Music and sound are the last step that is completed for each episode, so I’m writing the music only a few weeks before they air!
Q : Episode 411 was epic, You did great job. The music for last scene was brilliant, epic, phenomenal and amazing! Bryan Cranston's acting was phenomenal! This scene was the most intense scene in TV's history! This is my favorite scene of the entire series. What inspired the music for this scene?
A : Also can you please tell us something the creative process? Thank you. This is one of the most memorable moments of the series, and we are all very proud of how that scene turned out. Bryan Cranston, Anna Gunn, and Betsy Brandt are all fantastic, and of course I love the way it was filmed. I was inspired by one very specific moment in that sequence, when Walt starts his crazy laughing and Skyler leans back in fright from underneath the light into the darkness. This little moment struck me very much like a horror film… or at least a horror movie as Breaking Bad would do it. Musically I wanted to convey that they were all completely trapped, that Walt’s last resort option had failed and there was nowhere left to turn. Creatively I started with that dull, aching, persistent thud. To me, this represents the growing realization that everything is hopeless. As they’re dire situation becomes more and more apparent to them, that thud feeds back upon itself to create a fuller and fuller sound that eventually obliterates all of their other senses.
You can pre-order the upcoming Breaking Bad score soundtrack album from Itunes by clicking here!
Dave Porter's Official Facebook Page : http://www.facebook.com/pages/Dave-Porter/150020628425348 Photo credit : Thomas Mikusz
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