We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Kenny Adrian a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Kenny, thank you so much for joining us. You are such a positive person and it’s something we really admire and so we wanted to start by asking you where you think your optimism comes from?
I would say definitely my parents, but especially my mom! From a young age, she has always instilled in me a fiery passion to keep pushing and keep dreaming, even of achieving things that may seem out of reach. Even when I don’t believe in myself or think we don’t have the means, she would always say that good luck or good fortune isn’t solely dependent on us, mere humans. She reminds me that even when we feel we fall short, there’s always a bigger power that may give us the boost needed to achieve our dreams. I think this sentiment has always given me strength in times where I feel powerless.
I also believe that “everything happens for a reason”, as overused as that phrase may be. Not hitting a goal or changing plans can always be a blessing in disguise, even if it doesn’t feel that way at first. So I try not to fret too much when things like that happen.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I’m a film and game composer currently based in LA, originally from Jakarta, Indonesia. The films I’ve worked on have premiered at NY International Shorts Film Festival and won awards from the Oniros Film Awards, The Rookies and Korea International Short Film Festival and more.
I’ve loved movies all my life and have played music from a young age, so when I was old enough to understand the idea of film scoring, it seemed like a natural fit. I find composing music for film to be incredibly rewarding – being involved in the storytelling process and working with the filmmaker to figure out how to capture a character’s essence sonically in a theme is such a fulfilling collaboration.
Composing for games is something I’ve only started doing in the past two years, but I’ve found it to be just as fun. I never realized just how different it can be at times to composing for film. There’s always something new to learn! Currently, in addition to my composing work, I also serve as a score technical engineer on composer John Debney’s team.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Consistency, perseverance, and balance. I think those are 3 things I try to keep in mind in regards to my career. Especially for musicians and artists, I think our work tends to look more fluid and unpredictable than most people.
Maintaining consistency is crucial. Some days may be longer than others, and there can be periods of intense work followed by lulls. Having consistent practices, like orchestration exercises or composing just for the sake of it, helps anchor me and prevents feeling lost or aimless in my journey. Giving a consistent effort towards an action also helps me maintain the quality of my work.
Perseverance feels pretty straightforward. Like I mentioned before, I try not to worry too much (easier said than done) when things don’t go my way. Finally, balance. What I mean is knowing when to take a step back and slow down. It’s easy to become so immersed in the day-to-day grind that you lose sight of the past hard work you’ve been putting in. Taking the time to step back, slow down, and give yourself a well-earned pat on the back (perhaps with a small treat) is important!
One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?
I’m always on the lookout for filmmakers to collaborate with! I enjoy all kinds of films, though I must admit I do have a particular soft spot for animation. What really excites me is the idea of working on heartfelt stories that shed light on dynamics and perspectives we don’t see enough of on film. I read a book earlier this year called “Before The Coffee Gets Cold” and I can’t help but imagine it being made into a movie, maybe a series even. If it ever comes to it, I’d love to score it! If you’re interested in working together, you can find me on Instagram @kenadriian or shoot me in an email at [email protected].
Contact Info:
- Website: https://play.reelcrafter.com/kennyadrian/music
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kenadriian/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kenny-adrian-62b70a1bb/
Image Credits
Ryan Nava, Samuel Gunawan
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