Meet Bryan Atkinson

We were lucky to catch up with Bryan Atkinson recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Bryan, thank you for joining us today and sharing your experiences and acquired wisdom with us. Burnout is a huge topic these days and so we’d love to kick things off by discussing your thoughts on overcoming or avoiding burnout

Burnout, Rewards, and Letting Go: Reflections from the Studio

Last year, I was working on a game soundtrack with more responsibility than I’d had before. It was a returning client, but this time I had a bigger role. The lead composer (we were tag-teaming the project) handed off the main theme to me since he was swamped. I was thrilled—but also overwhelmed.

At the same time, I was moving my creative space and settling in with new roommates, all while racing toward a deadline for a high-level game. One day, I took a burnout nap—one of those crash moments—and dreamed about fuses sparking in a toy electric car. My brain was literally telling me my fuse was burning out.

The next day, I had a thought: I need to reward myself—I’m doing a great job. So I booked a 90-minute massage and just… melted. It barely scratched the surface of what my body and mind needed, but it was a start. I pushed through and the project ended up turning out better than I could have hoped. And a few months later, when the game released, player reactions to the music were incredibly validating.

That experience taught me two major lessons: reward yourself, and learn to let go.

Reward Yourself

Fast forward to this year: another game expansion, another few months of intense work. But now, I’m the lead composer. Training wheels off!
When I got the down payment for the project, I immediately bought a massage package—my way of saying, “Good job, man.” It’s not just about massages, though. Sometimes it’s randomly grabbing an ice cream on the way back from pickleball, just to feel like a kid again. If you’re your own boss, be a good one.

Yes, I’m joyfully putting in extra hours and working some weekends. But I’m doing something I deeply love. Still, I’m not perfect at this. The other night, I was up ‘til midnight obsessing over a music track that just wasn’t working. My body was telling me, “You’re doing good, but it’s time to rest.” And my brain said, “No! It has to be perfect NOW!” Inner conflict. But I’m learning—slowly—how to pace myself, plan better, and be kinder to myself.

Learn to Let Go

Music is the most abstract art form I know. It blends emotion and intellect, and sometimes that combination can lead me straight into overthinking.
I’ll send off a track to a client, feel good for a moment… and then start second-guessing. The drums were too loud. Maybe a family member hears the cue and says something small—“those drums sound loud”—and suddenly that comment echoes in my head for days.

The thing is, I had a vision. And sometimes, the final result doesn’t fully match it. But you know what? That’s okay.
Reconciling what something could be with what it is can be hard for me. I want everything to be perfect. Mind-blowing. But lately I’ve been imagining God walking with me, saying, “Great job.” Not perfect job, but that elusive pinnacle of “perfection” is often irrelevant in the arts. As a mentor once told me “good art is never completed, only abandoned.”
I expect a lot of myself. And I am at a great level—but I’ll still keep growing. So pat yourself on the back. You’re human. And every artist you admire? They have parts of their projects they wish they could tweak. That doesn’t negate the beauty of the whole. It doesn’t take away from the hard work you pour your heart into!
You’re a professional. Breathe. Let the art take its shape—even if it’s not what you originally pictured. It might be something just as good. Maybe even better.
You’re doing a great job.

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 am a professional composer for games, films, and media. I weave musical ideas together and create tailored soundtrack experiences for projects such as the game Guild Wars 2, or indie anime-inspired series Gabriel and the Guardians, as examples.
I take pride in being a collaborative artist dedicated to crafting a compelling, evocative soundtrack. I especially enjoy writing memorable themes that reinforce the story in the right place and at the right time.
My journey began as a piano player in junior high where I started to experiment writing my own music. I’m most grateful to my parents and mentors who encouraged me to pursue this seriously. After high school I went to junior college and studied audio production while self-learning many aspects of digital audio and music orchestration. Since then I’ve completed a masters in arts in Composing for Video Games through ThinkSpace Education (University of Chichester) and am proud to be a full-time composer… without a day job! Teaching for five years was an amazing experience while I was building up my skills and network, and will ever forget those challenging yet rewarding days helping students discover their love of music and technology.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Having a strong foundation in music from an early age has been extremely valuable in my development. Also, without a competent grasp of piano theory and performance I would not be the same composer I am today. I certainly recommend a basic but competent grasp of keyboard technique for emerging composers. Lastly, immersing myself in the art form you love—really letting its layers soak into your mind and creative instincts. Over time, those early influences will fuse with your own experiences to shape a voice that feels uniquely yours.

Put simply: listen to music. Listen deeply. Take notes. Let it move you. Build a relationship with it.

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?

Certainly! I’m always interested in meeting folks who play instruments at a high level, but especially unique or eclectic-sounding world instruments which always catch my ear. In addition, I’m happy to mentor emerging composers and give feedback on music, career advice, etc.

Contact Info:

Suggest a Story: BoldJourney is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems,
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
Resilience
Where does your optimism come from?

Optimism is the invisible ingredient that powers so much of the incredible progress in society

Confidence
Stories of Overcoming Imposter Syndrome

Learning from one another is what BoldJourney is all about. Below, we’ve shared stories and

Resilience
The Power of Persistence: Overcoming Haters and Doubters

Having hates is an inevitable part of any bold journey – everyone who has made