I am Tom Holkenborg, aka Junkie XL. I'm a Hollywood film composer ＆ electronic music producer. I scored the new Netflix series White Lines and the new Scooby Doo film "Scoob!"—both came out today. AMA!

Why are you not keeping the Junkie XL name?

How often do you get together with Hans and are you guys close friends?

Also when watching a movie for fun are you constantly critiquing the music in movies you watch with what you would have done differently?

What was it like working with Gary Clark Jr.? Why was he picked for "Come Together"? Were you a fan of his before working with him? I've gone to so many of his concerts before he teamed up with you and when I found out he was working with you I thought it was so random and awesome! Have you talked with him since or gone to his concerts? Any plans to work with him again in the future? He seems like a chill guy to work with.

Lastly, are you composing Zack Snyder's Army of the Dead?

I am not using Junkie XL for film releases anymore;

Hans and I talk regularly! Last week the last time..We always exchange insights in the business or talk synthesizers or sounds!!

Gary is such a cool person; very down to earth yet so musical and an incredible performer!!

Yes I am scoring Army

Did you have any influences from older film score composers? And how did you get started in that business? Thanks.

I do! Primarely classic composers though. Strawinski, Scriabin, Ravel but also older film composers like Steiner and Bernard Hermann

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It was incredible to work with George Miller! He is so visionary! That also means he will push me to pull out the max of what was possible for the music in the film! It was a scary experience at first for me because he had worked with classic icon composers like John Williams and Jerry Goldsmith

Hi Tom! I saw you a few times at the Guvernment in Toronto 2003-2004. Do you happen to keep setlists from old shows? You were epic and I am still trying to figure out what some of those tunes were

That is so awesome!! Thank you!

In those days I played a lot of reworked tracks that I did that never got released because of copyright issues... Also I would rework my own tracks just for live purposes. On top of that; the gigs were live gigs in which I was able to manipulate the sequences so they never were quite the same! I hope that answers it...

Loved what you brought to Black Mass.

How did you get your start in the film business?

Thanks for your time

thank you!!

Actually quite slowly. While I will still an touring artist I worked here and there on something. When I moved to LA in 2003 I slwoly started getting more involved. From 2010 it was fulltime and in 2014 I did my first Hollywood film 300; Rise of an Empire

Hi Tom, I hope all is well.

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Regarding Sonic. Did you take any inspiration from the soundtracks over the years? did you place little easter eggs in some of the tracks, and will you do the same if you compose for the hypothetical sequel? (I hope we can get either the tracks "It Doesn't Matter" or "His World" next time, haha)

The director wanted that score steered away from the game language and themes. So it all became a complete different idea. I was heavily inspired by the old Tom and Jerry scores ( 50's) for the faster action pacing... The theme for sonic itself is more poppy in nature, almost like a song....

If you would had the chance to score for one film which has already been released, Which would it be ?

At this point I would say Das Boot

Is there a way musicians who know theory but cannot read sheet music can study classical music and learn to apply it to film scoring?

Actually for study purposes its not so hard to study and read sheetmusic. It becomes completely different when you have to read and play or conduct. In that case speed is of the essence. But not for study. Order some of these Dover scores online of great classical works and see how the real masters did their voicings, how they arranged woodwinds. The roll of brass with woodwinds. And also how to present thematic material and how to develop it throught a piece.

Hello Tom! Hope you're having a great day. Your new soundtrack for White Lines is just as great as always!

The video you posted on YouTube on April 22 made me both worried and a little confused. You said that "All the computer setups are gone", what happened...?

Thank you!! HAHA, The computers are not gone as in sold or went up in thin air! Me and my team all now work from home! That's why I mentioned that!

What is the very best cheese?

Well, the dutch make one of the best cheeses in the world BUT what the best Dutch cheese is highly debated in the Netherlands! My 2 cents? Beemster Old age cheese!!

Hey Tom! Love your work! Super inspirational bring up too. Question(s): Do you find yourself changing your writing creative process often as new resources, devices, et cetera become available? What is that like for you, and do how do you embrace the creative process in part of your normal writing or scoring routine? Thanks in advance!

Such great question!! With every new development in music instruments or software new music styles will arrise!

Therefore also inspiration and creativity!

How different is the approach for writing something like White Lines opposed to Fury Road?

Very different! And yet the same!

Big difference is volume! FR is 2 hours... WL is 10 hours.

Way more music needed for WL and also the arc how to build your music is way longer because of that!

Both projects went through extensive LAB work to create a sound and or a feeling to get the tone of the show/movie right

What do you consider your "Magnum Opus"?

to be really honest!! I usually don't like things from the past that much. I susually see the composers ( me) missed opportunities.

I take that always in and take it to the next film!

I always had the same in my artist career!

Hi Tom. Thank you for doing this. I heard you talking about the importance of education in music theory, orchestration etc. in one of your videos on YouTube. What’s the most important skills to learn besides four part writing, counterpoint and orchestration if you want to become a Composer?

And thank you, for all the material and experience you are sharing on YouTube and other social media, for us to learn about the business and become better composers and musicians. I really appreciate it!

-Frederik

Hey everyone, This is my last question here... Thank you all!

Technical aspects of composition are important but mostly diversity is and lets not forget all the human skills needed when you work on a film. It is team sport where many people have a part to play so its important you are a very good team player!

How do you come up with your ideas? Do you often know what you’re going for or is it more a process of experimentation, discovery, and stumbling onto an idea you like?

I usually write the score in my head. Process of elimination is very important in that. Once I hear it clearly in my head I start working on it on my computer or one of my instruments.

But many of my scores are sound scores. In that case I still hear a sound I am going after but obviously experimentation will give you new idea's.

That also goes for melody and harmony... While you are excecuting what you hear in your head you get new idea's.

But you will always get feedback from Director and or studio and producers and will have an another important impact on how then the writing process continues...

Hey Tom! Thanks for doing this. I've been listening to the Mad Max: Fury Road score quite a bit in lockdown. Wondering if you have recommendations for scores (written by you or others) that are well suited for at-home listening, outside the context of the film? Thomas Newman's American Beauty score stands out for me

Thank you so much! By the way; It is exactly 5 years ago that the movie came out!!

Anything Johan Johansson did is great to listen to!

Today's the 5 year anniversary of Mad Max: Fury Road!! Is there a single life lesson you pulled from working on that film?

At the end of the day ask yourself; Is this the best I can do;

Answer is always NO

Why do you make the youtube tutorials?

It is really giving back to the community that has given me so many opportunities in my life.

I also grew up in education because my mum was a music teacher... from 2004 I also ran a 4 year university study at ARTEZ in Holland called Music and Media

Hey Tom, congrats on White Lines & Scooby! Wanted to know coming from the world of electronic music, are you still a fan of house/techno? Any all-time favorite artists/albums?

I LOVE TECHNO now adays!! I watch so many of these incredible dj sets that really give me goosbumps!!

Hey there Tom!

Who are some of your favorite Hollywood composers? And who are some of your favorite non-Hollywood composers?

Max Steiner Bernard Hermann Johan Johansson John Williams Hans Zimmer Harry gregson willliams

all above are topnotch composers

Thanks for doing this! I'm an aspiring film composer.
How do you see the industry changing for film composers due to COVID? And how is starting as a film composer different now from, say, 10 or 20 years ago?

Covid will change the dynamic in short term. Long term is that a huge amount of content is needed for all streaming platforms and also the theatres and of course all kinds of new experiences like VR; 4d theatres; park rides and such

It should be good for a lot of people because more music is needed than EVER before!!

How did you approach the score for Scoob?

Scoob was really great because Tony Cervone is such an open minded intelligent director! He wanted something fresh and modern without loosing the classic feel of scoob. It became an incredible mix between all kinds of different Urban beats with Flower Power sounds, Industrial sounds, Surf Guitars and super fast Tom and Jerry orchestral music!

Hey Tom, a specific question, but how long do you take to write your suites for films at the beginning of a film project? Weeks? Months? I know it all depends but it's rarely discussed that this is how a lot of film music is written now.

sometimes 18 months!! ( fury Road) sometimes 9 months ( Terminator) sometimes 4 months ( Tomb Raider) sometimes 4 weeks ( Black Mass)

What advice would you have for young composers trying to break into Hollywood? Curious if you think it's necessary to get a formal music degree or is it possible to make it self-taught

Knowing music really well over 200 years is important. Not if you can reed sheet music or know theory. Though it IS very handy.

Being an assistant to working composer is the best way!

Hey Tom! Really love your work and all of your tutorials on YouTube as well. Thank you so much for giving back to the community. I have two questions:

1. With the current circumstances we are facing. How do you think this is gonna affect jobs in our industry? What should new graduates from university focus on?

2. How did you get to where you are today? What steps can young composers follow? What should we focus most on? Is it necessary to assist someone?

Thank you again. I really love your work and you have inspired me to become a better composer and a human being. I hope you have a great day ahead!!

1; short term it is tough for everyone. Long term; the future looks very bright. SO much music needed in the future!!

2; Intern or work with working composer is the best advice I can give

lots of us are going to be competing in Spitfire's Westworld scoring contest. any tips for scoring chase/action scenes with lots of sync points?

Listen to some of our classic masters in Classical Music! Or listen to Old Tom and Jerry scores!

Hey Tom! How are you? Wondering what was your favorite score from this year's award season?

1. I thought an incredible job by Thomas Newman

What are some tools you recommend, like Spitfire, GarageBand? Any outlets you prefer for any reason?

If you want to get into scoring get or Logic Pro or Cubase ( my preference). Then you can look into the sample library companies that deliver everything an aspiring composer needs. Spitfire and Orchestral tools are the biggest and more serious!

Hi Tom. I just want to start learning composing for films and games, I only know some basic stuff. In which order should I learn these stuff? -Music theory -Reading music -Playing piano -Fundamentals of other instruments (Strings, Woodwinds, etc) If there is anything else which is a must or could help? What is your advise for people who are new in composing? Thank you.

Being versatile is always very important now adays! And the orchestral side but also modern music styles like hiphop; electronic music and others.

Mostly be genuine! Be yourself, develop your own signature sound and style

Hello Tom,

How do you layer vst with hardware synths ? What is hardware strong points, and what vst? Can you explain a bit with maybe short example from your work? Thanks

I would highly recommend to watch one of my studiotime episodes from season 2 called one bassline different synths.

In here I compare VST with their original hardware synths

hey, thank you so much for doing this :)

Have you started your career in the nethetlands? What was your very first film then and where did you got that ,,job"? Did you liked your first steps actually 😃😄🎶

I love your work and you are a huge inspirstion for me. Actually I am a teacher, but I spend my freetime in writing music :)

Many regards from Germany!

I got asked a lot in the beginning to work on films because of my artist career.

People wanted some of "that" sound or magic into their films...

Slowly from there I started developing my career!

• Favorite 5U VCO?
• Favorite 5U VCF?
• Favorite Control Voltage source?
• What is one synth you've used recently that surprised you with a strange/hidden feature or benefitted from misuse?

You know!! Modular synths are the most interesting toys out there!

And I can't help but saying that some time one module is your new best friend and 3 months later another module is your best friend!!

Right now on all your questions; Moon from Germany; Gert is his name. Incredible person and synth designer and builder! Check him out!

Will we ever get another Kitchen Time?

absolutely!!!