“It’s not the notes you play, but what the notes you play leave behind”.
Michael Vignola was born on Nov 1st, 1980, in NYC, his Mother was a stay at Home mom with aspirations in the performing arts and his Father an entrepreneur running his own home remodeling company. Michael was raised in a traditional working class family. He was very close to his grandmother who passed when he was only 13. Since childhood, he had the innate sense of what music meant to him. His first record listening experience was granted by his grandmother, filling the room with the sounds of “Stand By Me” be the late, great Ben E. King. He would soon start taking piano lessons at an early age, the future composer preferred to learn by ear, teaching himself, to play the piano, guitar, and clarinet. He wrote is first piano solo at the age of 12 and started playing in bands as a guitarist at the age of 17.
Extraordinary – By Composer Michael Vignola – Ambient – Minimalist Music: https://t.co/HtLX3qmqxq via @YouTube
— Michael Vignola (@vignola_music) January 6, 2017
Tell us about your career
I been told for a long time I have a cinematic sense to my work. Listening to orchestral music at a very young age. I would go to sleep most nights then listening to these beautiful orchestral arrangements on the radio and imagining myself as the conductor for these symphonies. I have in a sense gone back to my roots something that has always been there. I just finish writing a short film for director Nick Conroy called “Carried Away” which will be going into Film Festivals early 2017. And currently working on a Feature Film called “Lovely Thoughts” Written and Directed by Marcello Peschiera
What is your process as a film composer
After I have spoken to the director in depth about what he or she are looking for. I will then watch and listen to the film, while in my studio, just in case I have a flood of inspiration the first time around. I want to be ready to record the idea if something arises. Sometimes I do have to run in there or record an idea on my phone like a melody or rhythmic pattern etc. I won’t record with a tempo track on the session at first in most cases, I want to focus primarily on the feel and movements first.
What is your greatest inspiration
It’s the wonder of life, the fact that we even exist the people that are close to my heart inspire me every day.
How would you describe the influence of our work
I like to be involved in anything that is thought provoking, that might open your mind to new possibilities in life. It can come from a piece of music, a film, a piece of philosophy I listen to on youtube, or a book I am currently reading. Lately to give some examples the beginning scene to the movie Arrival. also really well done is the Original NetFlix series Black Mirror awesome stuff, I see myself doing those kinds of things, as I am naturally in that state of creatively.
What procedures to you implement when you are on a project
The most important procedure is communication, constant communication is key when scoring to film. Understand the characters and where they are coming from. Creating a space that is unique is the ultimate goal that should be implemented.
Tell us about your near misses, failures and successes
You can only learn from your failures, You must fail to succeed in life. This applies to everyone even the best of the best, they were the ones that failed the most to get to where they are. Don’t be afraid to fail you will only grow from it. Success to me is pushing through the doubts I may have about myself, that is a real challenge for me at times. Getting through the doubt is all the success you need the rest will follow believe in who you are.
