Meet George Bloomfield, TEABREAK Sound Designer
George is a Freelance Composer who worked with us on TEABREAK to create the auditory experience that plays alongside the dance performance.
We had a chat with him about his experience creating the project as well as his own personal endeavours.
What has working on TEABREAK meant for you both personally and professionally?
I really love cross-disciplinary projects and am generally drawn to people doing interesting things that are slightly out of the box. This collaboration between people with varied skills makes for something really exciting. I often compose for Film and TV which I love, but the touring and physical performance of TEABREAK is something I want to do more of.
What was the process of working with Trigger like and how did the collaboration come about?
Working with Trigger was great and I particularly enjoyed working as part of a bigger team. I came to Bristol for a full week of rehearsals and worked with Angie and the dancers to adapt the music to reflect the choreography. The incredible dancers added so much energy to the music and working closely alongside them allowed for a more aligned piece.
What Instruments did you use on the track and why?
I used a massive variety of instruments and styles to portray what tea means to everyone. With so many differing opinions and contributors across the world, I needed to reflect this in the audio! The music covers a variety of genres from orchestral to big band to a hip hop section and this was a really fun challenge for myself!
Having an understanding of the storyline and plot in this project was integral to conveying emotion in this piece. Sometimes the music needs to take the lead and sometimes it’s important to not overpower the dialogue. Both the music and sound design is delivered via headphones in a spatial soundscape (called ‘binaural’) which helped create an immersive feeling and allows the listener to connect to each narrative as if it’s happening to them.
What is your musical background and how did you get into this career path?
I’ve played music since primary school and always loved it. I primarily taught myself and was always interested in making my own instruments and messing around with electronics. At 18, I moved to the Alpes and spent a few years playing jazz and blues for bars and weddings. I went on to study Audio Engineering which covered a bunch of topics such as Acoustics, Spatial Audio and Speaker design. Alongside my degree, I started releasing my own solo music which ended up getting shown to a music editor who asked if I wanted to write for TV. This opened a range of opportunities and I realised a career as a composer can be viable. A music production MA and lots of varied projects later, I am here composing full time which is amazing.
What can we expect from you in the future?
I’ve just signed a record deal with “Nice Guys Records” for my upcoming EP “Space Between”. The record consists of indie, jazz, funk and a bit of psych and has been influenced by my experiences composing for film. I recently got invited to play a live session for BBC Introducing which we filmed just a matter of days ago. The EP’s second single “Intertwined” just released and landed on Spotify’s “Fresh Finds Jazz” playlist – so who knows where that may end up! I’m also working on a few other films and documentaries which I’m excited to be able to share soon – there is always a fair few projects on the go!
Oh and finally, what’s your favourite cuppa?
I like a lemon and ginger tea when working – whilst also being a bit addicted to coffee! I think tea has always been a comforting presence during difficult times and it’s amazing how a simple drink can create a safe atmosphere.
George's EP "Space Between" is available to on all steaming platforms now!
Instagram - @georgebloomfieldmusic
Facebook - George Bloomfield Music