I just launched a Kickstarter for my new album of original songs.
They're some of my most personal songs yet, about lost relationships, anxiety, and the search for meaning in life.
Kickstarter for New Album: “2020”
Tag: Charlie McCarron Music
Stories I Didn’t Know
I recently scored the feature documentary Stories I Didn't Know. It's a heartfelt journey of Irish-American woman Rita Davern coming to terms with her ancestors buying land that was sacred to the Dakota people of Minnesota.
Demon’s Hymn 2: Prelude of Night
I just finished a retro video game score for Demon's Hymn 2: Prelude of Night. Will Tice of unTied Games decided to take on the LOWREZJAM challenge again this year and make this 64x64 pixel sequel to the original Demon's Hymn. It's an incredibly ambitious game for just 2 weeks of work. For my soundtrack, I started with the same sound palette of church organ and ghostly synths as the first game, and I introduced more orchestral (but bitcrushed) instruments like French horn and alto flute.
Film Scores on TPT
Two films I scored will be airing on Twin Cities Public Television in September as part of their MNTV lineup: "This is Home" by Jason P. Schumacher and "Beneath the Ink" by Cy Dodson (I co-scored this with Stephen Letnes).
“Balitúk” Chosen for Banaue IMCC Fellowship
I just received some very exciting news. I wrote an orchestral piece for the Banaue International Music Composition Competition, and I found out I'm a semi-finalist! As one of the 20 composer-fellows chosen from around the world, I get to travel to the Philippines for a composer immersion program in July. My piece, Balitúk: the Divided Child, will be rehearsed with a full orchestra and traditional Ifugao instruments from that region.
“Vines” for Flute, Clarinet, Violin, Cello, and Piano
Last night I got to hear a wonderful performance of a new quintet composition of mine. I wrote it in hopes that I'll be picked for a trip to Cuba through the American Composers Forum. The ensemble Third Sound is going to perform pieces from a few lucky composers, who will also travel to Cuba.
How to Layer Guitars Like a Delicious Cake
This week I've been working on a 30-second track for a contest hosted by UniqueSound. A music supervisor at the ad agency TBWA will be taking a listen to each entry, and one person will win $200. The challenge is basically to write music that could be used in a commercial, with the following style guidelines: indie pop, dreamy, electro, and ambient. Oh, and the track also has to "start mind-blowing" and have an "emotional explosion" ending. Since there was no video element to this challenge, I just had to picture blobs of brain and heart flying everywhere to capture the feelings they suggested.
Newton’s Third Law, a Cello and Piano Duet
Last week, my friends Franco Holder and Charles Asch recorded this cello and piano duet I wrote for them. They're incredible performers, and they make this sound like the best composition I've written.
“Kagome Kagome” for Student Flutists
In our latest composing quest, we were challenged by the Minnesota Suzuki Flute Teachers Association to write flute choir pieces that could be played by beginner, intermediate, and advanced students at the same time. I thought that was a cool challenge, and I decided to start with the Japanese children's song "Kagome Kagome," which means "bird in a cage."
The Animal Song (aka The Battle for Life)
I just finished a song and animation for the latest SpinTunes songwriting challenge. Animating this brought me back to my childhood dream of becoming a cartoonist. It also reminded me of how much The Far Side has had an impact on me; the baboon I drew seemed especially Gary Larson-style.