I'm Christopher Tin, composer of concert music and video game scores. (I won the first Grammy ever for a piece of video game music.) AMA!

christopher tin, baba yetu is amazing. your style of music is revolutionary. why did you decide to write in so many different languages?

Thanks! It actually has more to do with styles of singing than languages (although language is a part of it). I just really like the different ways that people sing. I just love the wide variety of sounds that different cultures make with their voices, from throat singing to opera. I think it's beautiful!

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Maybe next time I do a concert in NY!

Will you be composing any music for Civilisation- Beyond earth?

I haven't been asked to, but I'd love to for sure.

What's your process when composing? Do you start off with a melody in your head, or do you play a bit and have it come to you? Do you compose straight to the staff, or do you even use a staff/lead sheet at all?

It happens any number of different ways. Sometimes things just pop in my head, sometimes I noodle around on a piano until something comes to me. Sometimes I sit at a piano with staff paper, and sometimes I'm in front of a computer.

I don't like to do things the same way every time. You always want to be evolving as a composer, and if your creative process is exactly the same each time, then how do you expect today's work to be any different from yesterday's?

Although your best known song is Baba Yetu, is there another song that you have written that you think should have got more attention, or you just think is a better song?

I think the finale of my new album, a song called 'Waloyo Yamoni', is sort of the best thing I've ever written. :)

Waloyo Yamoni, track #10 of The Drop That Contained the Sea, is listed as being in the "Lango" language. Sorry, I'm terribly interested in which language this is exactly. Do you mean "Lango", which is spoken in Uganda and is related to Luo but not the same language. Or, do you mean the Lango language of South Sudan)? How did you come across this text? Thanks for satiating the language geeks!

Spoken in Uganda, yes! And I found it via an English translation, then reached out to a friend who works at the Google Nairobi office, who helped me track down a native Lango speaker.

Mr. Tin,

I emailed you 6 years ago when I was in highschool asking for permission to use Baba Yetu for a choral performance. You sent me an incredible email and the sheet music.

Thank you so much.

Awesome! And you're welcome!

I have no question here, but Baba Yetu is one of the best songs in a game of all time.

Thanks!

Congratulations on the release! Where did you find a native speaker of Proto-Indo-European to advise you on pronunciation for the first track?

Actually, believe it or not, Reddit. I think I hopped on to a linguistics sub after searching for Proto-Indo-European, and came across Professor Andrew Byrd's work.

/r/linguistics is an amazing place to learn about language.

That's where I went!

(Inside linguist humour: the last native speaker of Proto-Indo-European died some 4-5,000 years ago. However, the reconstruction of the language is serious and well-grounded work, and writing a song in the reconstructed language is valid.)

I missed your joke. Well played, sir.

Hi Christopher, love your music especially your work on Civilization IV. One of my all time favorite video game composers is Nobuo Uematsu. I was wondering, are you familiar with his work and if so what do you think of him as a composer? Also, favorite pieces?

Easy. Liberi Fatali! Conducted that one on the Video Games Live tour and absolutely loved it.

What video games, other than games you worked with, have amazing soundtracks in your opinion?

Katamari Damacy. Duh.

I can't find your music on the Google Play Store, why is that? :(

I didn't know people used it, actually. Going to have to look into that...

How do you feel about video game music winning grammys? Do you think they should get them as often as "normal" music? I love your work btw! EDIT: Do you they EDIT 2:I love you work

It's great if game music would win more Grammys, but I don't think the Grammys need to make any special concessions, like making their own Video Game Score category. That's unlikely to ever happen, and frankly, I'd rather see video game music just become so mainstream that on one would blink if a game score won Best Instrumental Composition, or a song written for a game won Best Country Song or something.

Hilarious username, BTW.

Compared to Calling All Dawns, your new album seems pretty complex. Do you think you've grown as a composer? What was the hardest song to write on The Drop That Contained the Sea?

And what's with all the Mezzo-Soprano favoritism? Seriously, they get all the interesting harmonies and great solos. Not that I'm complaining - I'm a mezzo myself!

I love my mezzos! :) And yes, I feel like Drop is way deeper than Calling All Dawns, especially in my instrumental writing.

I was one of the high school performers that sang in The Drop at Carnegie, and I was wondering, how old were you when you decided to major in music?

I decided to do the music major when I was a sophomore. I was already taking all the classes, so I decided to declare a double major with English. I also tacked on a minor in art history. Given the fact that this was Stanford in the midst of the late-90s tech boom, and I was probably considered the least employable person on campus at the time.

What has the role of minor in art history been in the processes behind the Dawns and the Drop? I'd imagine it's of some use -- of course depending on whether your art history concerned itself with global or only western history...

Very little, but maybe someday in the future I can put that minor to good use in my music!

Have you any advice for aspiring composers/musicians?

Write lots and lots of music! Just keep writing, keep writing… just get the stuff out there.

As someone who picked up the full score to Calling All Dawns as soon as it was available, are there plans to sell a full score to The Drop That Contained the Sea? As a music student that's doing composition, studying your work in that form was quite helpful!

I just want to say that Waloyo Yamoni is such a good song. I love the length and I've listened to it 4-5 times at work this morning alone.

Thanks! I feel great about that one. And yes, there will be scores available to Drop too. The orchestration is way more intricate in this one.

Hi Mr. Tin. It's great to have you here. I remember having Baba Yetu on loop back in middle school, and was one the reasons why I got into the Civ series, which is why I miss hearing the song every time I boot up Civ5. It's a beautiful song.

Have you been approached by other video game developers to compose, or would you be interested in working on a game? I would love to hear more of your work elsewhere.

Always looking to work with game developers, as I'm a gamer myself. And I do have some more video game work coming out soon… next week it will be announced, in fact. ;)

Hello from r/civ!

If you miss hearing Baba Yetu when you boot up Civ 5, there's actually a relatively easy process to putting it in. It's a matter of replacing the OpeningMenu_Exp.wav file in your Brave New World, Gods and Kings, or Civ 5 folder (depending on the latest expansion you have) located in C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\SteamApps\common\sid meier's civilization v\assets\DLC. If you have Civ 4, you can copy the Baba Yetu file from there, otherwise, make sure to support Mr. Tin by purchasing the Mp3 and then converting it to .wav format. If you need more help, feel free to message me (don't want to hijack this thread with a long tutorial).

Happy Civving! And thank you Mr. Tin for your beautiful theme. Grammy well-earned!

Thanks Peter_the_Great! One of the first things I'm going to do once I get some spare time is fire up Civ IV again. It's been over two years… FAR too long.

Hello Christopher! I'm a big fan of your work!

I have a question, though: I know Baba Yetu (probably) is your best known piece, but wich one do you think is the best?

Keep on creating amazing music!

Probably 'Waloyo Yamoni' from my new album! I feel really good about that one.

How do you see the relationship between video games and music maturing?

Does the video game lead the music, or vice versa?

Video games definitely lead the music, yes! When you're writing for a game, your number one job is to make the game better through music.

So, what does a guy end up getting paid for writing a Grammy winning game score?

The same as for writing a non-Grammy winning score. :) (Okay, maybe a bit more these days.)

So, the first album was the night-day cycle, the second one is the water cycle, so what will the third one be? The cycle of life and death? The cycle of seasons? The cycle of rise and fall of empires?

I'm thinking about something to do with birds, or flight. Still working on the concept!

You're my favorite composer of all times. How do you decide in what language you want your songs to be in and do you write the lyrics in english first? Who was one of your favorite artists to work with? :)

Generally, I actually track down pre-existing lyrics with some sort of cultural meaning in the language. But usually language follows the singers… if I hear a great singer that I really want to work with, then whatever language they sing in, I'll write in!

I love all my singers, and they're all amazing musicians. I think one of the most memorable sessions for me was working with the great Frederica von Stade. She was the opposite of everything you'd ever heard about opera divas. She was so warm, so kind, and humble. And an absolutely amazing singer!

I just love your music. Baba Yetu is such a beautiful piece, and the entire 'Calling All Dawns' is one of the most amazing albums I have ever listened to. I just love your expansive world-music approach, with the combination of languages, melodies, and ideas. (Also, the recurring oboe melody in that album is one of my favorite musical themes of all time, mostly because I play oboe.)

Anyway, to stop fanboying and get to my question... Whelp. It looks like everyone's asked all the relevant ones, so I'll just hit ya with a silly one. What is your spirit animal? Who are your influences and what would you say their spirit animals are?

Sea otter! No, monkey. No wait… quokka?

And I'd say Ennio Morricone, Hans Zimmer and Johannes Brahms were big influences. Maybe they're quokkas too?

You mentioned at Carnegie Hall that you had an idea of a new piece, has there been any progress made?

Not much… been busy trying to get the new album out there! Thanks for coming to the concert, by the way!

Actually, I am from Badger High School and I was an alto for The Drop. Thanks for the opportunity, pal! It was incredible!

Thanks for being a part of it! Give my best to the rest of Badger High.

Do you find "Work" (as in the promoting of albums, administrative stuff, and other non-songwriting activities) as a roadblock in your creative process, or do you enjoy that part as well?

Yeah, it's definitely distracting. Some of it isn't bad though. Interacting with people at concerts and such is a lot of fun. Reddit AMAs are fun too. :)

To what extent has your masters in humanities helped you in the composing process?

It's helped me be a better, more aware person of all the aesthetic, historical, and cultural traditions out there. That all comes back and feeds into my composing process in one way or another.

Will we hear again the voice of Ron Ragin in one of your works? He has an amazing voice, loved it in Baba Yetu :D

Ron's amazing! And yes, I'd love to work with him again on something.

Where was Iza Ngomso recorded? I LOVE how you made those violins work at the end of the piece! Beautiful!

Abbey Road with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, and then SABC Studios in Johannesburg with the Soweto Gospel Choir!

We at Angel City Chorale are thrilled that today is your CD release.... How are all the ways people can get it?

We who love "Drop" are thrilled that the Angel City Chorale sings so well on it!

In case Chris is too bashful, I'll link to the ChristopherTin.com store, where you can buy the CD by mail order, and MP3s, FLACs, and HD FLACs (24-bit, 96kHz sampling) for electronic delivery. (Fan tip: I expect that buying from the artist's store is the way to get the biggest share of the money back to the artist.) I see that Amazon.com has the CD on back-order. Amazon.com and iTunes have MP3s for download. I imagine local CD stores would order it as well.

Thanks for chiming in, Jim!

Does composing pay well/very well?

How much can a composer earn?

How did you get started composing?

What is your tech setup?

If you want to get rich, stay away from the music business! It's crumbling all around. Hard question to answer, but I'd say I have a pretty comfortable, if not glamorous, life.

Tech setup: use Logic, Pro Tools, and Sibelius.

Your work with Stereo Alchemy is pretty different from the classical styled music you're known for. Is there another genre of music you'd like to tackle in the future or perhaps an artist you'd like to collaborate with?

I always thought it would be fun to do an orchestral version of Skrillex's 'Bangarang'. I think I'd use a lot of bass trombone and tuba. ;)

(I'm only half kidding.)

I used to work with John Carmack (creator of Doom and iD Software) and was struck by the juxtaposition of laid-back, devil may care attitude, and world-class determination and brain power. I wonder if you've gotten to work with similarly interestin people in music and games?

That's a pretty good description of your typical game industry employee: super smart, laid back, and easy to get along with. That's why I love working in games!

Hi Christopher,

Kind of a vague question, and a comment:

-Could you speak a bit about the concept behind "The Drop that Contained the Sea", and what feelings and moods you are trying to convey through it? I'd love to hear your thoughts and feelings, as I've only had time to listen to the album once so far today.

-I also want to say that I've been looking forward to this album since you first announced it nearly a year ago. It's wonderful, thank you. Track 3 in particular is truly awesome.

Thanks for your time :)

All the pieces on 'The Drop That Contained the Sea' have to do with water in some way: snow, oceans, clouds, etc. And they're ordered in the way that water flows through the world: snow, mountain streams, rivers, oceans, hurricanes, rain.

And glad you like it so far!

I got a copy of Calling All Dawns through Humble Bundle when it was available. It was the first I had really heard of you and your music (never had the chance to play Civ IV despite having all other games in the series).

I ended up listening to your album every chance I got for a good week. Amazing stuff. Looking forward to hearing the new album when I can.

Thanks! Hope you like the new one just as much.

Who are your favorite composers in games, film, and classical music?

Also, you make game developers everywhere - designers, engineers, art, and sound alike - proud of your accomplishments. That grammy is awesome. Now if only they understood the beauty of video game composition.

Thanks! That's nice of you to say.

Some of my favorite composers are Stravinsky, Brahms, Prokofiev, Mahler, Copland, and Thomas Ades. Film composers would include Ennio Morricone, John Williams, Elliot Goldenthal, Hans Zimmer… lots of people have had an influence on me over the years!

Hi everyone.

I have been looking forward to release day ever since Chris told me he was making a new album. Why did he tell me? Because it's who he is -- a really cool guy who interacts with his fans and deals with them - us - extremely well. Back in the day, he took the time out his day to personally send me the first FOUR copies of Calling All Dawns - signed - for the price of two, simply because we had corresponded briefly.

Chris: You are completely awesome, and I'm going to continue supporting you financially because you and your music deserve it.

I don't care that you're sending me a free copy. You're still getting money.

I really cannot wait. Today is a good day.

Steiner, jesus man, just hang on to your money! You've done enough for me already! :)

Actually, on second thought, send me your address… I'm not sure if I still have it.

(Steiner's being coy here--he did a ton of research for me in Old Norse for my song Haf Gengr Hriðum.)

I always loved the Civ IV music, and then I stumbled upon the rest of Calling all Dawns through one of the Humble Bundles. It's great.

Can you name some of the inspirations from the various global musical traditions that you incorporate into your work? For example, where did you learn about Maori music, any pointers for where to start listening?

And what are you listening to lately? Who else is writing new music you like?

Maori hakas? Go to YouTube and watch the New Zealand All Blacks, their national rugby team. That's some inspiring viewing. :)

And the new album has everything from Mongolian long song, to Portuguese fado, to African gospel, to throat singing, to Bulgarian women's choirs, to Indian Carnatic improv, to chant, to Arabic improv… it's all over the place!

What were you feeling in Carnegie Hall when we all gave that standing ovation in the end? Btw, The Drop That Contained the Sea is one of the most amazing pieces I've ever heard and I walked out of that concert sad that I wouldn't be able to hear it until today. Already went through it 5 times now :)

That was ridiculous. I was basically just running around backstage the whole time going "holy shit! Holy shit! Holy shit!" Thanks for coming to the concert. :)

First, I just wanted to say thank you for the beautiful art you've created and shared with others. I had the pleasure of producing, directing, and conducting "Calling All Dawns" at my university and it was an absolutely life changing experience for all involved.

Second, my questions. 1. You suggested in another interview that your next album might fall around the theme of birds. Any more you could elaborate on the album (languages you hope to use, musical backgrounds, the theme, etc?) 2. For those who perform your work, what advice would you give or what is the most important thing to focus on? 3. What non-classical/world music inspirations and favorite artists do you have?

Fantastic! Thanks for performing CAD! (Consider performing Drop too!)

I'm still working on the birds concept, but it's something to do with flight, I think. I have a few pieces sketched out, but nothing concrete yet.

For those performing my works, I think getting a rhythmic groove going is the most important thing. A lot of what I write has driving rhythms, and it really helps to feel that driving sense of pulse.

As for non-classical inspirations, this will sound strange, but Florence + the Machine's album 'Lungs' was a big inspiration for The Drop That Contained the Sea!

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I think I got into it when I was 16 or so. Once I got a taste, I never looked back!

Do you ever write songs for your wife? Any of your new songs inspired by her?

Hon, is that you?

Thank you, Mr. Tin for your wonderful composition, "Baba Yetu". It really brought Civ 4 alive. It is a great work of art!

Thanks!

Hi, I had the honor of singing in Calling All Dawns with Fairview High school last year and enjoyed it immensely. I can honestly say your music inspired me to keep going to school through chemotherapy, and I am very grateful.

On another note, how do you get transitions between songs and languages to come out so smoothly, especially the less apparent ones between "Kia Hora te Marino" and "Baba Yetu" and between "Waloyo Yamoni" and "Water Prelude" that make the albums feel cyclical?

Nice to meet you, and thanks for being a part of last year's concert! And on a side note, so glad my music was meaningful in some way.

Musically, you just have to plan far enough in advance to know that you're going to do things like that. I wrote Waloyo Yamoni first and once I knew how it ended, I just started off the Water Prelude in the same key.

You've said that you're a gamer. What games are your favorites?

Red Dead Redemption, the Uncharted series, GTA V… but also, and not to sound like a homer here, but Civ IV. I've spent months of my life playing that game. Absolutely love it!

Hi Tinman! It's Alicia dropping by to say how amazing you are and how much we are inspired by your hard work. We can't wait to hear the new album! Much love, Alicia and Chris (and Autumn and Matthew)

Hi Alicia! Miss you guys!

How does this make you feel? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvru5jEQSOg

It's time to SLAM!

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It's the lifestyle of easy money, fast cars and supermodels that keep me going. (Yeah right.)

Seriously though, it's mostly the thrill of making something new. I love a creative challenge.

Hey Christopher, I absolutely love your song Baba Yetu and Civilization IV! What was your main motivation or inspiration that got you to compose Baba Yetu?

The Firaxis team told me the type of music they wanted really, but I did spend a lot of time making sure every note was perfect.

I very much appreciate the Calling All Dawns album. It's one of my most listened to albums, and I can't wait to hear more of your work.

What do you think of Austin Wintory's soundtrack for the video game Journey? I believe it was also nominated for a Grammy, though it didn't win.

Austin's a good buddy of mine, and Journey is gorgeous!

I first heard Calling All Dawns on your interview on the top score podcast and it awoke something inside of me. Your music inspired me to start learning music theory and try my hand composing. I feel very passionate about music now and am really having a blast. Thank you for this great gift!

What is your best piece of advice for someone new to composing?

Compose a ton of music! Just write and write and write. That's how you get more comfortable with the process.

Hi Chris, I don't really know your work, but I've met you a few times, several years ago now, at the traveling rings in Santa Monica. While I never really joined the ring crew, I remember being impressed when I spoke with you and you mentioned being a composer - I lived with 2 jazz studies majors while at USC so I really only started to appreciate music around then. I guess I just wanted say "hi," and see how you've been since the shoulder injury?

Hey! I get queasy every time I think about that accident on the rings. Nowadays I play hockey, which isn't exactly safer, but at least I'm not flying through the air upside down.

Don't think I have any questions, except maybe whether you would be open to doing full game scores more in the future and whether your Grammy success brought you any further business in that field? Guess that did turn into a question! Anyway, wanted to say I love the new album, I love Calling All Dawns, and wish you the best of continued success!

Yes, I'd love to do more full game scores. The Grammys have opened a few more doors for me, but mostly in the classical world, where I now write a lot of commissions for concert works. But I do love games, and look forward to continuing to work in them.

The vocals on your piece Temen Oblak sound similar to a bulgarian folk song I heard a few years ago called "Kaval Sviri". Am I crazy or were you inspired by "Kaval Sviri"? If the vocals are the same, did you rerecord the vocals or sample them?

The singers are the same! That's probably why it sounds so familiar… exact same group. But there were some Bulgarian vocal traditions that I stayed pretty close to, like the irregular meters, downward cascading vocal lines, going from minor to major. Kaval Sviri's a gorgeous tune, though… wish I had written that!

What do you do on your sparetime, when you're not composing? :)

P.S: Love your music, keep up the good work!

Lately? Watch Sons of Anarchy and the NHL playoffs.

Who do you think is gonna take the cup this year?

Hoping the Kings. :)

Seriously though, we're looking pretty good right now, I have to say!

Christopher, I have to say that Calling All Dawns is my absolute most favorite album, and I'm so excited for The Drop that Contains the Sea! Iza Ngomso is brilliant. You truly outdid yourself.

With that said, are you planning on going on tour with Tommy Tallarico and Video Games Live through Canada again soon? I missed getting your autograph!

I might, but it just depends on my schedule. I did have a blast with that Canada tour, though!

Given the tremendous work you've done with the Soweto Gospel Choir, when can we expect a South African concert?

I need to find an orchestra willing to participate, but definitely want to organize something there!

Your songs seem to incorporate religious elements. What role does religion play in your life and work?

I tend to see my music more as cultural, and religion is a big part of culture.

What is your connection with Africa and Swahili especially on which you based Baba Yetu? what inspired you to go with the language among the myriad of tongues in that continent?

It was actually by request of the game developers that Baba Yetu had an African feel. Swahili just happened to be a convenient language for the singers!

I saw you conduct Baba Yetu in LA awhile back, and it absolutely gave me chills. Fantastic work.

If you could compose music for the next game in any video game franchise, which would it be and why?

I really do love the Civ franchise, so any time they want me to write for them I'm very eager to do it. But I'd certainly love to work with Naughty Dog or Rockstar on one of their games. Between Uncharted, Last of Us, Red Dead Redemption and GTA, my wife and I have wasted many hours in front of the PS3.

You're one of my favorite modern composers and I've already pre-ordered your CD.

Three questions: Do you have people to help you with the lyrics, since they're in so many different languages, or is it all you?

You ordered my CD Piano Themes a while ago - what did you think about it? (:

Also, how does writing for video games/film compare to writing pieces for concert performances?

I can't wait to hear more from you!

Hey Trevor! Your CD was great! Good work, and hope you do another. :)

And yes, I get lots of help with lyrics.

Jesper kyd did amazing work on the xbox game hitman 2. It was chilling and inspired, and most importantly the themes tied in with each specific level. Do you think it's important to have conceptual artwork before creating the music to get a sense of the visual style and gameplay? The composing for halo 2 was also very well done.

I think so, yes. Honestly, I get a lot of my inspiration from visuals. And Jesper does great work for sure!

Mr. Tin I love your work! I listen to you all the time on pandora radio and you are just awesome! I wish I had a question for you but I have zero musical talent and I just wanted to gush some. Okay I'll ask a question:

What is your favorite savory sauce?

Does hoisin sauce count?

What do you think about 8bit music? Do you produce chiptune music? and what is your favourite bgm 8bit music.

thanks.

I don't do chiptunes myself, but occasionally have been asked to produce some 8-bit inspired game music. It's fun to do! Brings me back to my NES days...

Christopher, I still wake up and masterbate to baba yetu every weekend! Thank you for such inspiring music!!!

Uh... yeah! Right on!

Hi Chris! Looking forward to listening to your album on the drive home today. Hopefully I'm not too late to the AMA.

How some hockey talk in this AMA?

As a Blue Jacket fan I am getting tired of trading the Kings someone, only to see them and the team do quite well in the playoffs. I'm thinking this going to be the new strategy for the Kings. Have you made it to any playoff games yet?

Hah. Someone was joking on HFBoards that Columbus is our farm team. I LOL'd at that.

Seriously, though, we seem to be getting the better end of these trades, although Jack Johnson isn't a bad signing either!

Haven't made any playoff games yet… been too busy with the album release!

Obligatory fan-squeeing: I'm so excited for your new album! Calling All Dawns is one of my favorite albums. I got it because leaving Civ IV open on the title screen to listen to Baba Yetu and also using my computer were mutually exclusive, and ended up adoring the whole thing!

Actual questions: How did you first get interested in the music of other cultures?

I'm involved with social justice work, and I've recently begun learning about the concept of cultural appropriation vs. cultural appreciation. I definitely don't really understand it yet, but I'm just curious if anyone has ever called your work appropriation, and what you think about the concept and/or how you've responded. I'm not saying I think it is (I've got too much privilege and too little appropriate perspective to make that call, if it can even be made) and I really hope you don't take this as a calling-out or accusation, I'm just really interested in the intersection of the arts and justice so I'm curious.

Hi! No one's ever said anything like that to me before, but it may be because I'm careful with what I do, and usually wind up working with people who are authorities in the culture that I'm working with. I suppose if I were to write in all these different languages and NOT work with well known singers from those cultures, I'd be opening myself up to more criticism.

Thanks for listening!

Hey Christopher. I'm a big fan, and wanted to say that I've been listening to the new album this morning and it is fantastic. Especially love track 9, the Norse one ( I think it's Norse)... Can't wait for my physical copy!

Hope to hear you score some big movies some day. Your music is exceedingly fresh!!!

Hey thanks! And yeah… I really went to town on that one. I think the brass really enjoyed playing that.

Hi. I consider myself to be one of your most passionate fans. Already listened to the new album 4 times and loved it. My question is: How do you write for all those different "styles of singing", as you referred to it in your answer to Freeslugs? Do you consult with specialists from every nationality/style, or do you "learn" by listening to native music?

Thanks Yair! I do a ton of research, and consult with a lot of people who are experts in that language/tradition. Also listen to a ton of music. But I also get a lot of help from my singers.

Hey, big fan of your work! As a composer working in a creative field, do you ever feel like you're not good enough? And how do you get over it?

All the time, man! Self doubt and frustration is part of the process. :)

Opinion on the Ducks? Leafs? Canadiens?

... I like hockey.

Also, what's a film or video game you really wish you could have composed for, or an upcoming or hypothetical one you'd love to contribute to?

Ducks: supposed to boo since I'm a Kings fan, but really I don't care that much. I used to put on their games when there wasn't a Kings game to watch.

Leafs: I'm so sorry.

Canadiens: congrats on taking a 2-1 series lead! Hoping for a Kings-Habs final, like a rematch of '93.

And I wish I'd scored Planet Earth!

I would love to put my music to film and video games. Creating a feeling with sound is awesome. Congrats on being able to do it for a living!

Thanks!

Hi Christopher! Huge fan of all your composition work ever since I first heard Baba Yetu, and I've seen you in concert a couple times. Just wanted to say hi, and that I'd love to buy you a beer (/your beverage of choice) if I ever get the opportunity to meet you. I've heard much about you from a friend for whom you wrote a letter of recommendation a couple years back.

In that theme: what's your favorite beverage, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic?

Update: I just bought The Drop that Contained the Sea! Listening to it now. I'll consider it penance for pirating Calling All Dawns when I had no money. ><

LOL. No worries, and thanks for buying the album.

As for drinks, I'm a sucker for flavored teas. You know, the Asian kind, with tapioca balls and other stuff. Yeah, I have the palette of a 13 year old.

Have you concerned Finnish or Sami (native language in northern Scandinavia) as languages in the future?

Sami yes! In fact, my Norwegian choir Schola Cantorum sent me a link to some Sami artists to check out, that I'll be looking further into.

I've just started writing orchestral music using MIDI, what are your thought on this style of writing, do you use it and do you think it is still a viable (using real orchestra VSTs) format to be used for music (either cinema or games)?

I think it's a great way to get your feet wet, but writing for live orchestra is actually quite different. There are a lot of pitfalls when writing for live players that you won't run across with VSTs (like taking breaths, dealing with bowings, instrument range, etc.) But it's a great way to get started!

What is your go to crock pot recipe?

My wife just snickered from the next room "You don't have one."

Yeah. I'm not a great cook.

Don't really have a question, ust wanted to say that Baba Yetu is one of the most beautifully composed songs I have ever heard!

Thanks!

Hey Mr. Tin, thanks for the AMA. I love Calling All Dawns, and will be checking out your new album posthaste.

My question: of all the non-Western vocal styles you've used in your music, which one is your most favorite?

Gotta say that I'm a sucker for African gospel choirs. That's a sound that's just in my wheelhouse. I think all my best pieces (Baba Yetu, and the two from the new album, Iza Ngomso and Waloyo Yamoni) have all had an African influence.

Baba Yetu is one of the best video game songs ever.. No questions here just wanted to say thanks!

Thanks!

Hi Mr. Tin! Thank you for doing the AMA. I just want to first thank you for composing such beautiful music - "Calling All Dawns" is my go-to album when I need to relax, and I often played Civ 4 just for "Baba Yetu" (before I knew of the full album). I will definitely be purchasing your new album, too.

Would you please be able to recommend a few other composers with similar styles to you or that you really enjoy? I love your style of music and would love to have even more to add to my collection. Thanks!

The music I actually listen to sounds nothing like my own! My favorite album of the last five years is actually Florence + the Machine's first album, 'Lungs'. That was actually an inspiration for The Drop That Contained the Sea.

But let me add that there are a lot of great film scores out there that incorporate world elements, like Life of Pi, The Mission, The Power of One… all favorites. Those latter two were scores that I practically grew up with!

Christopher Tin, this last school year I was a member of the BYU Men's Chorus. Assuming i remember correctly, I heard that you helped with the arrangement of the male choir version of Baba Yetu and were very gracious towards our choir and our director, Rosalind Hall. I just wanted to say thanks for being such a great dude and to keep up the amazing work!

Hey, thanks! I hope to work with you guys again sometime in the future.

I know he's more "electronic" while your sound is more organic IMO. But what do you think of Tim Follin/Geoff Follin? Would you ever make music like that or them?? His work on Plok and silver surfer was great!

Love your work thanks!

Ooh, don't know it… will have to listen!

I hope I'm not too late for this! I only recently discovered Calling All Dawns and loved it. Mado kara mieru is probably my favourite song off the album. I'm a Japanese studies major and just had some classes on poetry from the middle ages. Thank you so much for making me feel relevant!

What was your process when writing Calling All Dawns, or really any music? Do you start with the music, how and when did you decide which language you wanted, and what texts to use?

Boy, every song is different. Sometimes it starts with purely the music, sometimes it starts with a text. I have to say I do get help from fans, though, who often help me find texts to work with, and send me inspiration for my music.

When you compose, what are you aiming for? I mean, do you have a concept, a group of sounds, an emotion, a musical narration, a motif or something else in your mind?

I've been listening to Iza Ngomso for a week now. I have been very much impressed by the sheer hope it fills me with. Thank you for that!

Mostly an emotion… I like to punch for the gut, so to speak. :)