James Edward Barker

James Edward Barker (born 14 February 1980) is a British composer, music producer and film producer. Many of his music works include an ethereal mixture of live sonic experimentation with grandiose classical motifs and alternative percussion.

James Edward Barker
Barker in 2018
Background information
Also known asSkeffington, Rakdjango
Born1980 (age 40–41)
OriginUnited Kingdom
GenresFilm score
Occupation(s)Film composer, orchestrator, arranger
InstrumentsGuitar, keyboard
Years active2005–present
Associated actsTim Despic
Websitevenerationmusic.com

Biography

Barker was classically trained at Newcastle University in the UK, and is a multi-instrumentalist, performing as a guitarist, percussionist, pianist and vocalist.

His first feature, Unhitched, a romantic comedy starring Seth Green, Stuart Townsend, and Amy Smart, was directed by Shooting Fish director Stefan Schwartz. Barker co-composed the score with his old school friend Tim Despic, with whom he frequently composes with. Barker and Despic also worked with veteran director Robert Young on Bye, Bye Harry!. Barker followed these films with a number of solo ventures, mostly dark and moody scores including: Psych:9, starring Sara Foster, Cary Elwes and Michael Biehn; Jim Threapleton's Extraordinary Rendition, starring Andy Serkis and Omar Berdouni, and the British indie horror film Reverb, starring Leo Gregory, Margo Stilley and Eva Birthistle.

In 2007, Barker and Despic scored the $7m British ITV television production, The History of Mr Polly, starring Lee Evans; and in 2008, he continued his solo career, working with BAFTA-nominated director Martin Radich on the WARP Film and UKFC production Crack Willow, produced by Tristan Goligher.

Barker scored the follow-up to the cult horror hit The Human Centipede, titled The Human Centipede 2 (Full Sequence).[1]

One of Barker's most remarkable working relationships is with the critically acclaimed director Andrew Haigh. They first met on the film Crack Willow and after Barker was asked to score his short, Five Miles Out and other projects after that. Haigh hired Barker to write the score for his second feature film, Weekend, however the director ended up making a creative choice to not involve any score in the film. Following that, Haigh made 45 Years, again a film with no score, but finally connected on Lean on Pete which features an atmospheric score by Barker.[2] The synergy between score and sound design was largely impacted by a four-week-long mixing session, allowing experimentation to find the right audio and guidance from sound designer Joakim Sundström, who worked on Oscar-nominated Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri.[3]

Awards

Filmography

References
  1. Webster, Andy (6 October 2011). "Gore, Grime and One Creepy Guy in an Underground Garage". The New York Times. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
  2. Lara, Wesley (27 March 2018). "Behind the Music interview: Lean on Pete's James Edward Barker". The Hidden Remote. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
  3. Bahvani, Divya (3 March 2018). "James Edward Barker: the synergy between sound and score was important for 'Lean On Pete'". The Hindu.
  4. Keslassy, Elsa (22 December 2017). "Andrew Haigh's 'Lean on Pete' Wins Top Prizes at Les Arcs Festival". Variety.
  5. Oteiza, Gorka (12 September 2018). "World Soundtrack Awards 2018 – Second wave of nominees". SoundtrackFest.com.
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