A Conversation with Dominik Scherrer

When I heard about the opportunity to speak to composer Dominik Scherrer about his newest project, "Miss Austen," I immediately said yes. I finally had an opportunity to speak to a composer about period dramas and Austen in particular! The interview was not a disappointment as we spoke about the inspirations for his career, the difference between American and European minimalism, writing for mysteries and period dramas (including "Miss Marple" and "Ripper Street") and then lots of details regarding "Miss Austen" that just finished airing on PBS in the US. We talk about research, choosing instruments, focusing on the emotions, and even writing in 7/8! 
I hope you enjoy this as much as I did!

The music of Anglo-Swiss composer Dominik Scherrer can be heard in some of the finest dramas made in recent years, earning him two Ivor Novello Awards, a Primetime Emmy nomination, and a further four Ivor Novello nominations. Born into a musical family in Zurich, Switzerland, Dominik moved to London aged 19, where he has resided since. Among his initial compositions were two groundbreaking operas for the screen. The second, “Hell for Leather,” garnered attention, premiering at the Sundance Film Festival, being selected for the prestigious Young British Artist exhibition, Sensation at the Brooklyn Museum, and subsequently received ten international awards.Dominik started scoring independent feature films, such as apocalyptic The Nine Lives of Tomas Katz and followed on with scores for acclaimed British drama series such as six seasons of Agatha Christie’s Marple and five seasons of the Victorian crime drama Ripper Street, earning him his first Ivor Novello award.
He is a frequent collaborator of director Aisling Walsh, scoring her Bafta nominated An Inspector Calls, the Bafta winning Elizabeth is Missing, and most recently Miss Austen. Dominik received a second Ivor Novello Award for the supernatural thriller Requiem, on which he collaborated with Natasha Khan, aka Bat for Lashes. His collaboration with the writers Harry Williams and Jack Williams began with the global hit The Missing. Dominik’s score received a Primetime Emmy nomination. Further scores for the Williams brothers were for The Widow, Boat Story, and The Tourist.Sight & Sound praised Dominik’s unique soundtrack to the Netflix series The Serpent:“Dominik Scherrer’s marvellous score, a riot of analogue synths.” The soundtrack was nominated for an Ivor Novello and Camille Award.

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