Using a mixture of spaghetti western and chain gang blues, this is the theme of a day laborer who has the misfortune of working for the wrong guy.
Instruments used:
Drum kit
Guitar
Harmonica
Trumpet
Upright bass
Wooden spoon (as percussion on the upright bass body and piano bench)
Wurlitzer organ
Starring:
Tyson Mason
Meredith Brown
David Saucedo
Writer and Director:
Derek Milton
Director of Photography:
Mark Spencer
Editor:
Darius Marvin
Original Score:
Sten Valin
Sound Design:
Brian Rothlisberger
Slate:
Bucky O'Connell
Art:
Cory Bailey
Forward moving and upbeat, this is a dark comedy with a bittersweet tone. The theme captures the blind optimism and bad luck of a man who moves to Los Angeles with high hopes and low prospects.
Instruments used:
Bass
Drum kit
Guitar
Piano
Saxophone
Wurlitzer organ
Starring:
Brian Rothlisberger
Robin Harper
Writer and Director:
Derek Milton
Original Score:
Sten Valin
Brazilian native Ferly Prado describes the work, sacrifice, and pride of being a world-class dancer on Beyoncé's 2016 "The Formation World Tour." Blending acoustic and electronic drums, with a minimal bass line and light percussive accents, this score provides a fitting accompaniment to the edit and visuals of the commercial.
Instruments used:
Bass
Drum kit
Drum machine
Drum sticks (striking the upright bass)
Starring:
Ferly Prado
Director:
Derek Milton
Original Score:
Sten Valin
Acclaimed dancer Quinetta Wilmington describes the passion, dedication, and camaraderie it took to be part of Beyoncé's 2016 "The Formation World Tour." Subtle string arrangement, bass, and guitar lines mix with a syncopated drum beat to give a light hip-hop lilt to traditional instrumentation.
Instruments used:
Drum kit
Electric guitar
Four cellos pizzicato
Nylon string guitar
Upright bass
Wurlitzer electric piano
Starring:
Quinetta Wilmington
Director:
Derek Milton
Original Score:
Sten Valin
Residency score for Denver Art Museum Creative-in-Residence Thomas Evans (AKA Detour) from October 1 - November 30, 2017. Hip-hop and jazz are the main influences for this score. Subtle and supportive, this score pushes the piece along while not distracting the viewer from the subject.
Instruments used:
Drum machine
Upright bass
Wurlitzer electric piano
Starring:
Thomas Evans (AKA Detour)
Director:
Molly O'Connell
Original Score:
Sten Valin
"Zoom In: The Centennial State in 100 Objects" is an exploration of Colorado's history in 100 objects. The score to this museum exhibit employs a tonal pallet which evokes the open spaces and mountains of Colorado. This score uses a broad and ambient base, with melodic fragments that hint at western themes, while remaining non-intrusive to the museum goer.
Instruments used:
Ambient wind
Cello
Mellotron
Piano
Synth
Upright Bass
This video demonstrates the scale and size of the Zoom In exhibit at the History Colorado Museum in which the score continuously plays.
This cue is featured in a documentary about the historical Grant-Humphreys Mansion in downtown Denver, which is on display in an exhibit at the History Colorado Museum. Drawing from the architecture and time period of the piece, the use of a large cello and bass section give this score a feel of classical style, with a strong rhythmic pulse befitting a ballroom.
Instruments used:
Cello
Upright bass
A look backstage of Beyoncé's 2016 "The Formation World Tour" with Marlon and his scooter. Calm and collected, this score mirrors the tone of the film and the forward motion of Marlon's scooter as he preps for a show.
Instruments used:
Bass
Drum kit
Guitar
Piano
Saxophone
Wurlitzer organ
Starring:
Marlon
Director:
Derek Milton
Original Score:
Sten Valin
When you accompany the Salesman you never know where this awkward man will lead you. One thing you will never forget is that he is "terribly sorry about all of this." Light-hearted, upbeat and bright, this theme captures the essence of a naive salesman as he makes his rounds. Using traditional instrumentation and lush cord progressions, this theme conveys the ethos of an optimistic time.
Instruments used:
Drum kit
Guitar
Piano
Saxophone
Trumpet
Upright bass
Wurlitzer organ
Starring:
Tom Auclair
Christina Robinson
Jennifer Summers
Tom Vilot
Robb Taft
Tasha Muhammad
Mike Davis
Writer and Director:
Brian Rothlisberger
Bucky O'Connell
Director of Photography:
Jason Varner
Original Score:
Sten Valin
Sound Design:
Still Kalil
A comical web series about a man investigating life. Drawing from Bossanova and middle-of-the-road elevator music, this tune has a neutral, light comic tone which mirrors the main character's demeanor.
Instruments used:
Bass
Drum kit
Guiro
Mellotron
Nylon string guitar
Piano
Shaker
Stay tuned Katz lovers! The above images are simply sneak-peek screenshots as this web series will be airing soon to general audiences.
A noir film about a delivery driver who encounters the strange realities of the general public. Drawing from 1940s jazz, this theme creates a tone of propulsion, uncertainty, and intrigue.
Instruments used:
Clarinet
Drum kit
Piano
Saxophone
Trumpet
Upright bass
Wurlitzer organ
Starring:
Tyson Mason
Alex Noury
Amy Lawhorn
Iris Karina
Dan Sutter
Shimizu Shinichiro
Writer and Director:
Derek Milton
Director of Photography:
Robin Harper
Editor:
Darius Marvin
Original Score:
Sten Valin
This film is about a dysfunctional couple who devise a plan to test the loyalty of a close friend. For this score, clarinet and cello sections are paired with mellotron and trumpet layers to give a lush harmonic base for a light piano and guitar melody to rest on. All together, this theme provides a fitting juxtaposition to the film as a whole.
Instruments used:
Cello section
Clarinet section
Guitar
Mellotron
Piano
Trumpet
Upright bass
Starring:
Alex Noury
Amy Lawhorn
Robin Harper
Writer and Director:
Derek Milton
Director of Photography:
Mark Spencer
Editor:
Darius Marvin
Original Score:
Sten Valin
Knives is a short film about a man that writes into a knife company after an unfortunate accident. Drawing from avant-garde classical and horror film music as a starting point, the usage of repetition and dissonance drives this cue and mirrors the scene.
Instruments used:
Cello
Harpsichord
Piano
Sine waves
Upright bass
Starring:
Mike Katz
Featuring:
Isabelle Kohn
Writer and Director:
Bucky O'Connell
Director of Photography:
Chad Mahadevan
Derek Milton
Editor:
Bucky O'Connell
Original Score:
Sten Valin
Visual Effects:
Mark Spencer
Overview
As a composer, Sten Valin draws from various genres across the musical spectrum creating layered recordings that complement and augment the intent of any given project; a versatile blend of music fitting the needs of production.
Film scoring is a unique specialization. A blend of two disciplines: film and music. When music and film are taken in simultaneously, they become greater than the sum of their parts. Film is enhanced by the addition of music, and music is enhanced by the addition of film. A score is a kind of glue that binds two different genres of art into one emotive whole. A whole which, when done well, can be a powerful cocktail of stimuli.
A score differs from "music in general" in a few ways. Scores are written to serve the intention of a specific project. Whereas, the majority of music is written for its own sake. A score follows the cinematic and narrative contour of a film; it auditorily mirrors and amplifies the visual components of a project.
Film scoring requires a wide breadth of musical knowledge, and the intuition to know which musical elements best serve the project. Sten's process for scoring generally starts with a conversation to discuss the director's vision. After the initial conversation, he will watch or read the project until familiarized with the work. Although each project is approached differently, tempo is often used as a guidepost.
Once the pulse of the project has been taken, the qualitative elements such as harmony, instrumentation, melody, and rhythm are considered. With notes from the client, the visuals of the project are mirrored through musical devices.
As an example of these elements, "Rake" was a short film that Sten scored. This piece mixed rhythms of chain gang songs with instrumentation of spaghetti western scores, all with a blues harmonic underpinning. The film's protagonist is a hard working day laborer. The director of the film wanted a main theme that captured the essence of the protagonist: gritty, laborious, and stoic.
From this direction, Sten started with a prison "chain gang" rhythm. Traditionally this is the sound of 20-30 people hitting rocks or steel with hammers while laboring on a project such as a railroad track or rock quarry. Needing a percussive tone that would mimic a "gang" of people hitting rocks, while not overpowering the theme as a whole. To achieve this effect, multiple layers were recorded of a stick hitting the body of an upright bass, and a wooden spoon striking a piano bench. This technique provided slightly staggered hits of back beat percussion: the subtle feel of a chain gang rhythm.
To build on this rhythmic base, Sten added instrumentation often used by Italian composers of western film scores: tremolo guitar, harmonica, and trumpet. Minimal and evocative, this instrumentation gave a rooted feel, along with a nod to the western film tradition. Wurlitzer organ was added in with a rotary tone cabinet to fill out the harmonic palette. Sustained chords and threaded blues lines tighten the piece into a gritty whole.
Through the inherent power of music to conjure emotion, these elements make up an auditory version of the film's main character; amplifying and merging the visual, with the auditory, into one cohesive package.
Tailor-made to suit any need. From film to commercial work, and from interactive exhibits to installments, a well crafted score will elevate the quality of any project.
Rake (main theme)
Big Guy (main theme)
Ivy Park (commercial score)
Ivy Park (commercial score)
Denver Art Museum (residency score)
History Colorado (installment score)
History Colorado ("Grant-Humphreys Mansion Ballroom" cue)