Featured Exclusive Interview: Dominic Kelly - Source Music Composer for NCIS TV

[Xenon]

      Like we were just saying some minutes ago in the NCIS featured article, Abby is listening to a very cool music in her lab and since we were curious about that, we found out that there are two sources: Numeriklab, a band with very dynamic songs (too bad they don't have a website any longer) and Dominic Kelly. Since we were lucky enough to find and contact him, we are presenting you today a featured exclusive interview:

XenonWeb:
How would you describe your job?

Dominic Kelly:

      I compose source & score music for television and film. I write a lot of the gothic electronica music for Abby’s lab scenes in the show NCIS. A film that I wrote the original music for is just coming out on DVD on May, 27th 2008. It is called “The Lather Effect” directed by Sarah Kelly, and stars Eric Stoltz, and Ione Skye, as well as other great actors.

XenonWeb:
Is there a single special music style that influenced you in your work or there are many?

Dominic:

      I like all kinds of music under the sun. I believe there is “good” in every type of music. I grew up loving 60’s and 70’s rock, then I studied jazz music at Berklee College of Music, and then I got a degree in classical music from Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. I love a lot of new bands, I am inspired when I hear powerful melodies that seem very original, not contrived from, say the Beatles or something. I really am not impressed by Beatle-esque music. Young songwriters should be forbidden from over-playing the Beatles (haha!), it can really repress their OWN writing styles.

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XenonWeb:
How did you get into making the soundtrack for Abby from NCIS TV show?

Dominic:

      I knew one of the producers, and he asked me if I wrote that style of music. I had just been writing a lot of electronica for some documentaries, so I had some recent experience. I started submitting tracks and over the seasons, from feedback from the producers, Abby’s distinctive style emerged.

XenonWeb:
Did you ever talk to Abby about the music you are making for the TV Show?

Dominic:

      Not yet. I would love to meet Pauley and talk about music, etc. but mostly I deal with the show producers. She sent me a signed picture which I cherish. I’ll head down to the set one of these days, I’m just always so busy. Pauley used to do a blog with poetry, her views on the world, etc. and I used to derive great inspiration form that.

XenonWeb:
What would be a defining feature of your music?

Dominic:
Analogue synths. massive break-beats. Filthy bass. Gothic melodies.

XenonWeb:
Would you like to create soundtracks for videogames? Which games would inspire you the most?

Dominic:

      Sure, action games would be fun, or spooky games. I used to play a lot of Unreal, Half-life, and the various Battlefield games.

XenonWeb:
What can you tell us about the tracks from your latest album? How much time did you work on them?

Dominic:

      The GOTHTRONICA album is made up of 15 of my favorite tracks that were submitted for use in NCIS. Many of the tracks were actually used in Abby’s lab at some point. I had submitted some 400 songs when I compiled the album. Composing time depends. I write instinctually, meaning, all the elements need to fit together to please me on a very basic level. If an element bugs me once, I can let it go, but if it bugs me twice it’s gone. I don’t have time to second guess myself. I need to compose very quickly, so I trust my instincts.

XenonWeb:

      Movie soundtracks are sometimes hard to find for people not involved in the movie making industry. What can you tell us about the customized tracks from NCIS?

Dominic:

      Hopefully there will be an NCIS soundtrack soon! There have been a lot of great bands used on the show as well as other great libraries, and the composer of the show is VERY good.

XenonWeb:
What is your favourite soundtrack and why (movie or videogame)?

Dominic:

      I was very influenced growing up by the music of Ennio Morricone. My father took me to all the Spaghetti westerns when I was very young. I like compilations of the great composers, “A Fist full of Film Music” and “John Williams greatest hits”.

XenonWeb:
You certainly met other people working in the making of soundtracks and movie making industry - what can you tell us about them?

Dominic:

      I spent a lot of time on the set of the film “The Lather Effect” my sister Sarah Kelly directed the film, and I met all the actors and was a music consultant, because they lip-synch one of my old band’s songs at the end of the movie. The cast is Eric Stolz, Ione Skye, Tate Donovan, Peter Faccinelli, David Herman, William Mapother, Connie Bitton and Kaitlin Keats. They are all very accomplished actors, and they were wonderful people. It was such an honor to work with them.

XenonWeb:

      Thank you, Dominic, for your time and we wish you best of luck and lots of inspiration so that you can create more cool action electro gothic songs.