Online Privacy Policy
This month Trevor Rabin answered questions submitted online. Below are the answers.
Q: What do you think of the bands Korn & Limpbizkit?
Mario, 11th Grade, NYC
Rabin: I'm not familiar with Korn, but I very much like the energy of Limp Bizkit particularly the bass and drums.
Q: What is so unique about you style of music?
J, 11th Grade, Bronx, NY
Rabin: I suppose the fact that I am an aggressive rock guitarist, and I enjoy writing melodic orchestral music might make my style a little different, however this question is better answered by others.
Q: How were you treated in South Africa?
Student, 11th Grade, Bronx, NY
Rabin: During my time in South Africa, non-whites were treated extremely badly, so even though being white gave me enormous advantage and privilege, I was very aware and unhappy with the status quo.
Q: What other kinds of music do you listen to?
Torre, 11th Grade, Bronx, NY
Rabin: I try to listen to everything, but I really enjoy classical music.
Q: Have you won any awards in music? Which one would you like to win?
Diana, 11th Grade, Bronx, NY
Rabin: I have won a number of awards including Grammies, but without sounding too cliched, being happy with the music I write is most important to me.
Q: How were you able to draw an audience into a film through your music?
E, 11th Grade, Bronx, NY
Rabin: Good question, music, if successful, should provide atmosphere, emotion, tension, suspense, the list is endless. It should also provide themes that attach themselves to characters.
Q: How does it feel to play music and become a world success?
Greg, 12th Grade, Bronx, NY
Rabin: It feels great, but the greatest feeling is when I feel I've written something that I'm very pleased with.
Q: What was it like to participate in such movies as Armageddon, Enemy of the State & Deep Blue Sea?
Y, 11th Grade, Bronx, NY
Rabin: Every film has been a very different experience,…what I like most about writing for film, is that musically, every film has been a totally different style, and that is what is very liberating and challenging at the same time.
Q: How hard is it to make it into the music business as a songwriter?
Joseph, 11th Grade, Long Island
Rabin: Being a songwriter can be very disheartening,…you write something that you like. You send it to publishers and record labels, and it is rejected unanimously. This happened to me on "Owner of the lonely heart" (which went on to be #1 around the world).
Q: I want to become a singer; can you give me some pointers?
Nicola, 10th Grade, Long Island
Rabin: The best advice I can give is to sing along with your favorite artists, and to find a good vocal coach who can help.
Q: How do I access a song called the Element, which sings the list of elements?
Maryann, 6th Grade, Long Island
Rabin: I guess a college or library…I really don't know…
Since scoring recent blockbusters like ARMAGEDDON,
ENEMY OF THE STATE, DEEP BLUE SEA, and the upcoming GONE IN 60
SECONDS, Trevor Rabin has consolidated a position in the first rank of
popular film composers. His ability to draw an audience into a film through his music is
unsurpassed.
Rabin was born in Johannesburg, South
Africa, where he studied classical piano and was trained as a conductor and arranger. His
family was heavily involved in anti-apartheid activities and Trevor's first professional
band performed original anti-apartheid songs. In fact, his father's first cousin, Sidney
Kentridge, is the lawyer who pressed charges against the South African government on
behalf of Steven Biko's family after his death. Rabin later founded a band called Rabbit,
which became the most popular South African rock band in history.
Rabin is part of a new group of film
composers who hail from the world of rock music. A member of the rock group YES from
1983 to 1995, Rabin played guitar for the group and wrote most of the material on the group's
best-selling album 90125, including the number one single "Owner of a Lonely
Heart."
His first work in film was composing
additional music for Joel Silver's production of Fair Game and is attributed with
providing music for many other films. Album producer, musician, and film composer, Trevor
Rabin is a man of extraordinary talent and experience.
