Brief Summary
In this episode of The Sirens of Audio, Duane and Phillip share feedback from listeners on topics ranging from political discussions on the show to preferences for longer, complete episodes. They then discuss the importance of music in Doctor Who, highlighting standout composers and musical moments. The main segment features an interview with composer Joe Kraemer, who discusses his career, influences, and work on Big Finish audio dramas, including his approach to creating themes and sound design. The episode concludes with Duane and Phillip's recommendations, with Phillip highlighting Kraemer's "Mission Impossible - Rogue Nation" soundtrack and Duane recommending the "Tripods Cast" podcast.
- Listener feedback shapes show content and format.
- Music is vital in Doctor Who for atmosphere and storytelling.
- Joe Kraemer discusses his career, influences, and work on Big Finish.
Introduction
Colin Baker introduces "The Sirens of Audio," encouraging viewers to watch. The hosts, Duane and Phillip, express their excitement about the new Joe Kraemer theme music for the podcast. They announce that Joe Kraemer will be the guest on the show and mention they will share feedback received online before the interview.
Listener Feedback
The hosts share feedback from Anthony via Instagram, who appreciates their podcast. Duane notes the relatively smaller Australian audience for audio dramas and encourages listeners to share the podcast. Mac Moore's YouTube comment advises against political topics, a sentiment the hosts agree with based on their own experiences with other podcasts. Another comment from "unknown artist" praises the Companion Chronicles and full-cast adventures set in the black and white era, which revives stories from that era. Lastly, feedback from Broken Moon Audio supports longer, complete episodes to allow listeners to decide when to take breaks and prevent losing listeners on the second part of split episodes.
Rabbit Hole: The Importance of Music in Doctor Who
Duane and Phillip discuss the importance of music in Doctor Who, noting its ability to create atmosphere and tell stories. They highlight Dudley Simpson's varied contributions, from atmospheric pieces to stunning themes that progress the story. Standout examples include "The Talents of Weng-Chiang" and "Seeds of Death." They also praise Tristram Cary's iconic music for "The Daleks" and Roger Limb's punchy scores for "The Caves of Androzani" and "Revelation of the Daleks." Murray Gold's contributions to the new series are also acknowledged, with Phillip mentioning Rose's theme and Duane highlighting the musical sting in "Turn Left." They consider doing CD album listenings as part of their show. Duane shares his favorite classic serial soundtrack is Geoffrey Burgon's "Terror of the Zygons," for its eerie and scary atmosphere.
Trailer: Vienna Series 2
A trailer for "Vienna Series 2" from Big Finish Productions is played, showcasing the intergalactic assassin and bounty hunter Vienna Salvatore.
Interview with Joe Kraemer: Early Influences and Career Beginnings
Duane introduces Joe Kraemer, a composer for Big Finish, who shares that he is currently in Los Angeles. Kraemer discusses his upbringing in upstate New York and his early passion for music, influenced by his father's home recordings and his grandfather's work as a movie projectionist. He recounts his first experience scoring a film at age 15 for a high school student named Scott Storm, which combined his love for John Williams' movie scores and songwriting.
Joe Kraemer: Education and Transition to Film Scoring
Kraemer discusses his education at Berklee College of Music, where he studied film scoring, composition, and technical aspects of music editing. He learned analog and early digital editing techniques. After moving to Los Angeles in 1994, he worked in sound to establish himself while maintaining connections with Christopher McQuarrie and Bryan Singer, leading to his first big movie score for "The Way of the Gun" in 2000.
Joe Kraemer: Scoring "The Way of the Gun" and Doctor Who Fandom
Kraemer describes the extensive process of scoring "The Way of the Gun," emphasizing the effort to minimize the use of temp scores. He shares his experiences with the studio's financial constraints and the challenges of recording with a smaller orchestra. As a Doctor Who fan since childhood, he recalls watching Tom Baker episodes on Saturday mornings and being fascinated by the show's unique British television style and visual effects. He also remembers attending fan club meetings and discovering the Target novels.
Joe Kraemer: Musical Influences and Big Finish Involvement
Kraemer discusses his early exposure to Doctor Who music, including the original theme by Ron Grainer and Delia Derbyshire, and how it differed from the tonal scores of Star Wars. He notes the shift from Dudley Simpson's orchestral scores to electronic music. He explains how he became involved with Big Finish through Andrew Cartmel, who admired his score for "Jack Reacher." Despite initial concerns about budget limitations, Kraemer was eager to contribute to Doctor Who, driven by his passion for the series and radio dramas.
Joe Kraemer: Balancing Big Budget Films and Big Finish Projects
Kraemer recounts working on Big Finish projects, such as "The Defectors," while simultaneously working on major film scores like "Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation." He emphasizes that his involvement with Big Finish was driven by his love for Doctor Who and the opportunity to be part of something meaningful to him as a fan. He describes how he balanced these commitments, even coordinating Big Finish projects from the set of "Mission: Impossible."
Joe Kraemer: Sound Design and Collaboration with His Son
Kraemer discusses his role in sound design for Big Finish, initially taking on both music and sound to manage budgets. He explains the detailed process of sound editing, including dialogue editing, background passes, Foley, and specific sound effects. He mentions that his son now assists with sound design, allowing Kraemer to focus on composition. He notes that modern technology makes working remotely with Big Finish in the UK seamless, with the time difference even proving beneficial.
Joe Kraemer: Composition Techniques and Doctor Who Themes
Kraemer describes his composition process, using computers and sample libraries, occasionally incorporating live instruments. He discusses his approach to scoring "The Defectors," aiming for a Dudley Simpson-esque sound that evolves into a more modern orchestral style. He shares insights into working with directors, citing examples where he tailored his scores to their specific visions, such as creating a modern sound design for "Static" and a "Guardians of the Galaxy"-inspired score for "Jenny: The Doctor's Daughter." He also discusses writing themes for Big Finish characters like Jenny, Missy, the Paternoster Gang, and the Robots, aiming to create definitive themes for these characters.
Joe Kraemer: Creating Iconic Themes and Musical Shorthand
Kraemer details the construction of the Jenny theme, aiming for a genetic offspring of the Doctor Who theme with rock elements. He explains how the Vienna theme was inspired by Mozart's 40th Symphony. For the Missy theme, the brief was a demented Mary Poppins mixed with the Doctor Who theme. He emphasizes the importance of reinterpreting thematic material in various styles and genres. He notes that the music is allowed to be more expressive in audio dramas than in modern movies.
Joe Kraemer: The Art of Film Scoring and Creative Freedom
Kraemer discusses the irony in his scores for Missy, where the music often plays against type, creating a sense of unease. He appreciates the creative freedom in audio dramas, allowing for more expressive and thematic writing compared to the drony scores often favored in Hollywood. He laments the trend of simplifying melodies in film scores, citing his experience on "Mission: Impossible." He contrasts the classical training of composers like John Williams with the rock-rooted literacy of modern film composers.
Joe Kraemer: Musical Shorthand and Influences
Kraemer explains his use of "sonic shorthand" to quickly convey emotions and ideas to the audience. He discusses the influences behind the Paternoster Gang theme, drawing from 80s and 90s mystery shows like Poirot and Sherlock Holmes. For "Transference," he aimed for a 70s suspense thriller vibe, referencing films like "All the President's Men" and "Klute." He enjoys hearing his favorite characters say his name in Big Finish productions.
Joe Kraemer: Working on Doctor Who and Future Projects
Kraemer shares his thrill of working on Doctor Who, including scoring for Tom Baker and Louise Jameson in "God of Phantoms." He expresses his fondness for Peter Davison and his hope to work with other Doctors from the new series. He mentions his work on the official Doctor Who magazine tweets during the pandemic. Kraemer announces the availability of his scores for "The Defectors" and "Absolute Power" on a CD called "Escape to Danger," dedicated to Terence Dicks. He also reveals an upcoming CD for "Box of Delights" and hopes to release more of his Doctor Who work.
Conclusion and Recommendations
Duane and Phillip reflect on their conversation with Joe Kraemer, praising his talent and genuine fandom. Phillip recommends Kraemer's "Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation" soundtrack, highlighting its programmatic music and themes. Duane recommends the "Tripods Cast" podcast, which explores the books and TV series. The episode concludes with thank yous and contact information.
