My name is Sebastian Evans and I am the composer of Nickelodeon's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. I have also scored Ben 10: Omniverse, Transformers: Animated, & Super Robot Monkey Team Hyperforce Go. My favorite Ninja Turtle is Donatello. AMA!

You're probably the single most qualified person to answer this question: What's the best way to get a song unstuck from your head?

Get a different song stuck in your head.

What is the craziest sound you have ever used in a score?

My voice. Heavily tweaked out. My voice sucks.

Hi there! Fellow musician here. Been playing several instruments (predominantly the guitar) for a very long time. How did you break the barrier of just being another average musician and turn into a composer responsible for so many awesome programs?

Thank you for the compliment. Short answer: Moved to LA, met some great people and got my demos around.

Why is Donatello your favorite Ninja Turtle?

Because he’s the best! He’s kind of underrated in my opinion. He’s like R2-D2, Q from James Bond, and Woody Allen rolled into one person.

As someone who knows very little about what it takes to be a composer (let alone for animation), what do you spend most of your time doing? In other words, what's a normal workday?

Its basically me walking around, humming all day, thinking about a scene. This is while I'm doing other things, such as working out, showering, picking up my kids. Its a great job that allows me to be flexible and creative! :)

If you could have a conversation with any musician in history, who would it be and why?

Probably George Gershwin. Why? It's George Gershwin! Also, My other musical inspirations probably didn't speak English.

So you have a favorite turtle, but how about favorite monkey from SRMTHG?

Antauri, definitely!

what do you hope to work on next?

I'm pretty open and really like all genres. But I'm itching to do something set in space! Star Wars- ish. Star Trek-ish. You get it.

What are the most difficult aspects of your job, and what do you find the most rewarding?

Time! Time is the most difficult part. Deadlines are no joke. The most rewarding is that I get to have a career composing. There’s a lot of great composers out there and I’m just grateful I get to do it.

Have you ever considered other careers than composing?

Nope. I've pretty much wanted to do this since I was 7.

What was the first instrument that you played? Did you have any particularly influential teachers?

My 1st instrument was Piano. I did have great teachers. Ida Orr (piano teacher) Bruce Tipton (middle school band teacher). Lisa Buringrud (high school band teacher)

What is the craziest place you've ever traveled to? Do you collect exotic instruments at all?

Also, which animal do you think would be the best at composing? Have you ever used turtle sounds in your score??? :P

Salem Oregon for an Amway meeting when I was a freshman in High School. I don't get out much.

I love TMNT!!! I'm a musician and am considering studying music. Who are some of your favorite classical composers? And what's on your Most Played in your iTunes??

Michael Giacchino, Thomas Newman, Nobuo Uematsu, John Williams James Horner, Danny Elfman, George Gershwin, Jeff Beal, Bear McCreary, Tchaikovsky, Edvard Grieg, Raymond Scott... this could go on forever.

iTunes most played? Let me check...

Outlander, A Moon shaped Pool (Radiohead), Popstar Soundtrack, Phase (Jack Garratt), Mezzanine (Massive Attack)

Who is your favorite Jack?

What is your favorite card game?

Probably... Luscious "Jack" son. That counts.

Old Maid.

What do you do when you are not composing?

Mostly building Legos. Kicking' it with my Kids.

In 2016, what is something you are still using that is considered long outdated?

Cubase. LOL But I don't care! I've tried the new DAWS. CUBASE & NUENDO 4 LIFE. lol

What is an instrument you tried to play but just failed so hard at?

Woah. This is gonna sound borderline dooshy but I've never failed at an instrument I've tried to play. I pick up some faster than others but I always.... wait. Scratch that. French Horn. Totally failed it.

Do you perform live music ever? What is the biggest venue you have performed at?

I haven't performed anything live in a really long time. I do hope to in the future. Biggest venue? Performing Arts Center in Vacaville, CA. lol

First I want to congratulate you for you success,who give you the first opportunity in the industry?

Thank you so much! In the industry in general that would have to be Aaron Simpson and Matt Danner who was doing a pilot program for Warner Brothers at the time. The person who gave me my 1st TV show opportunity was Ciro "The Man" Nieli. Ciro really believed in me and pushed for me for SRMTHFG.

Awesome news! My Huffington Post interview just published during this AMA! -- Everyone please check it out :)

Hi Sebastian - Thanks for hanging out. Big fan of your work. What was your favorite part about working on TMNT, and how does it differ from other animated series? Would you say it is the show you are most proud of?

Thank you for being a fan. Probably working on a franchise I grew up idolizing as a child. Turtles differs from other shows in the sense that the style and instrumentation can change from episode to episode. I would say yes, it is the show I'm most proud of to date.

What is your favorite kind of cheese?

Vermont White Cheddar!

What is your favorite dinosaur?

Also, which TMNT episode was the most challenging to score?

T-Rex. Obviously. The season finale of Season 4 was definitely the most challenging.

What drafts have you composed that, although it may have sounded good at the time, now make you cringe if you re-visit them?

All of them. LOL I have to say I'm never 100% happy with the final. But I hear that is very common in my line of work. Little things I would perfect nag at me.

What television shows and recent films do you believe have the best music composition?

shows: Game of Thrones, House of Cards, Walking Dead, Elena of Avalor… too many to name.

How long does it usually take you to write a song from start to finish? Not including recording, mixing, and mastering.

Hmm. It varies. Cues are short. It can take anywhere from 1 hour to 6 hours for any given cue. It all depends on the scene that's being scored.

With whom would be your dream collaboration and on what project to work on would be your dream project?

Thanks!

I’ve dreamt of creating a score for a TV show set in a world based on the video game “Crimson Skies”. If I had it my way it would be an HBO produced show that would run for 6 seasons (12 episodes per season). The show would be written by Lawrence Kasdan and Robert Rodat and directed by Ridley Scott. Jordan Weisman, the creator of the world, would be on board to advise various aspects of production. It would star Ryan Reynolds as the lead character Nathan Zachary. I’d do the score, of course, and from time to time we’d have special music written by Jack White. That’s my dream project. Not that I’ve thought about it that much.

What advice do you have for aspiring composers? :)

1st-learn music theory. 2nd-develop your own style. 3rd-Move to where the people and work are. Steps 4-274 you will learn when you start. lol

Do the ninja turtles ever play any music in the show? Do you write those songs & lyrics?

What instrument from a jazz band do you think Donatello would be best at?

There's a dream sequence in the 3rd season where the turtles are playing death metal. Donnie, Hmm. Probably Triangle? I feel like his musical ability would be lacking. Nobody's perfect!

Who's your favourite villain from the TMNT series?

Shreddar. Always.