Paul Leonard-Morgan - Composer Profile

Paul Leonard-Morgan is a BAFTA award-winning and Ivor Novello nominated composer who is rapidly becoming one of the most sought after film composers in the UK and overseas. Of late he has completed scoring the smash hit Relativity Media feature film, Limitless, directed by Neil Burger and starring Robert De Niro, Bradley Cooper and Anna Friel, (for which he received a World Soundtrack Discovery Award 2011 nomination), the UK box office topping Dredd from DNA Films, and The Number Station starring John Cusack. He also found the time to score the superb Touchpaper TV/BBC Scotland critically acclaimed one off film Murder, directed by The Killing’s Birger Larsen.

Paul was honoured by the US Olympic Committee when chosen to compose the official US Olympic Team Anthem (previously scored by John Williams). Classically trained at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, he soon developed a reputation as a composer, arranger and producer. Working with renowned and emerging Glasgow acts such as Snow Patrol, Belle and Sebastian, Mogwai and Texas, Paul developed an ongoing association with legendary producer Tony Doogan which led to him working with New York band Joy Zipper (co-produced by David Holmes). In addition, he has become long-term collaborator of Scottish songstress Isobel Campbell, having worked extensively on her earlier Mercury nominated album and it's follow up release with Mark Lanegan. Most recently he has been working with Mogwai on their 7th studio album and also working with producer Spike on No Doubt’s highly anticipated upcoming album.

Paul has worked closely with fellow Scottish composer Craig Armstrong on a number of projects, from arranging to orchestrating, and playing live. Recognition from working on a number of films with acclaimed director David MacKenzie led to Paul becoming increasingly in demand as a composer for film and TV soundtracks. His first film score, Popcorn, earned him a BAFTA and he received both a BAFTA and Ivor Novello nomination for his first major drama commission, ITV’s Fallen.

In contrast to his BAFTA-nominated high octane contemporary scores for the last 6 series of hit BBC/Kudos drama Spooks (which broadcasts as MI-5 in the US), Paul scored the orchestral soundtrack for the epic BBC series A History of Scotland and Scottish Landscapes, both of which were recorded with the award-winning 100-piece BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra. He also composed an orchestral Symphony based on the History of Scotland score, which has been toured around the UK. Other scores include the features Love Me Still (Defiant Films), Popcorn (DMS Films) and the BBC/National Geographic series Galapagos, narrated by Oscar-winning actress Tilda Swinton.

In the field of animation, Paul teamed up with indie band Arab Strap to compose the soundtrack to the BAFTA-nominated “anime machinima” film Rogue Farm. He also scored the 64-part Cartoon Network series The Imp.

In the U.S., Paul was commissioned to compose the music for the official launch ceremony of The Freedom Towers at Ground Zero. He also provided the orchestral score to the epic $15 million commercial for Chevron, shot by renowned cinematographer Lance Accord (Lost in Translation). The commercial was shot across 22 countries and has a full running time of 3 minutes. In a world first it was premiered during the entire ad break of 60 Minutes on CBS.

His debut album, Filmtales, was released in 2008 to critical acclaim and features collaborations with Isobel Campbell, Richard Colburn (Belle and Sebastian), Steve Mason (Beta Band), Esther and Jenna Gibbons (Shapeshifters). It also features the US Olympic Anthem, Glory of Pursuit.

PRESS.

“…heads are smashed, bullets rip through body parts and one larynx is memorably destroyed,
accompanied by the throbbing sounds of Paul Leonard-Morgan's bass-heavy original score…” – Variety

“…wonderfully washed out musical interludes from Scottish composer Paul Leonard-Morgan.” - The Guardian
“…a pumping industrial score from Paul Leonard-Morgan (Limitless)…” - Digital Spy

"… a cracking Tron-esque bass-thumping soundtrack…” - Sky Movies

“…a sub-thumping electro score…” - Yahoo Movies

“...Fast becoming the composer that every film and TV producer in the land wants to
score their next project...” – Music News

“Soaring strings, beats and industrial noises combine to create a sound that is
reminiscent of Massive Attack’s at their most chilled.” - The Herald

“....Filmtales is a dreamy work of vocal and instrumental tracks that feature brilliant string arrangements, haunting vocals and scintillating rhythms. A work of absolute class...” – toxic pete

“....This is an excellent release from a man who, if he continues to produce and compose to this level will no doubt pick up an Oscar one day....” – pitchinvader

“...It would be great to hear what this nascent genius can do with horn and brass ensembles on his next release...” – fair hearing

"Filmtales is an epic, kaleidoscopic journey revealing a precious talent at work" – CMU Music Network

“His arrangements are luxurious – rich and meaningful, every sonic component there for a reason and provoking some reaction from the listener” – Notion Magazine

"the sweeping strings suggest John Barry at his imperious (James Bond) best" – CMU Music Network

“lodged somewhere between Mogwai and Mozart, it’s absolutely essential.” – Notion Magazine

“...marvellous empathetic co-producer/arranger, PLM, has space to paint a finely judged chiaroscuro backdrop of strings and reach the very core of the song...” - Q Magazine

“...each track breathed an infectious beat.” - The Herald “sumptuous orchestrations.” – Uncut

“overwhelmingly lush arrangements” - The Independent

“...these were truly heart-wrenching arrangements...” - The Herald

“arrangements burnished with summery harmonies and silky strings” – Uncut

“...nothing could have been finer than these sensitive, lush string arrangements...” -
The Scotsman

AWARDS

Nominated for 2011 World Soundtrack Academy Discovery Award Winner of BAFTA for Best New Composer in 2000 Nominated for 2004 Ivor Novello Awards (Best Original Music for Television) Nominated for the Anthony Asquith (BAFTA) Award for 'Fallen' (2004) Nominated for the BAFTA Craft Award 2009 for ‘Spooks’ (Best Original Television

Film/TV Credits

DREDD	DNA FIlms Director: Pete Travis Producers: Andrew Macdonald, Allon Reich Starring: Karl Urban, Lena Headey, Rachel Wood
LIMITLESS	LIMITLESS Relativity Media Directors: Neil Burger Producer: Ryan Kavanaugh, Scott Kroopf, Leslie Dixon Starring: Robert De Niro, Bradley Cooper, Abbie Cornish, Anna Friel	Nominated for World Soundtrack Discovery Award 2011
THE NUMBER STATION	Furst FIlms Director: Kasper Barfoed Producers: Bryan Furst, Sean Furst, Nigel Thomas Starring: John Cusack
SPOOKS (MI5 in the USA)	Series 5,6, 7, 8. 9 & 10 BBC/Kudos Directors: Bharat Nalluri, Julian Simpson, Omar Madha, Kenneth Glenaan, Andy Hay, Alrick Riley, Andy Hay, Julian Holmes, Charles Beeson, Brendan Maher, Stefan Schwartz, Peter Hoar, Colm McCarthy Producers: Andrew Woodhead, Dominic Barlow, Jane Featherstone, Simon Crawford Collins, Andrew Woodhead, Katie Swinden	Nominated for BAFTA Craft Award 2008. Best Original Television Music.
POPCORN	DMS FIlms Director: Darren Fisher Producers: Rebecca Knapp, Daniel M. San	Winner of BAFTA for Best New Composer 2000
MURDER	Touchpaper / BBC Scotland Director: Birger Larsen Producers: Kath Mattock Starring Stephen Dillane, Robert Pugh, Karla Crome, Joe Dempsie
LOVE ME STILL	Defiant Films Director: Danny Hiller Producer: John Davey
SILENT WITNESS	BBC Directors: Danny Hiller, Douglas McKinnon, Ashley Pearce, Patrick Lau Producer: Nick Pitt
FALLEN	Granada Director: Omar Madha Producer: Matthew Read	Nominated for the Anthony Asquith (BAFTA) Award 2004 Nominated for Ivor Novello Award

Documentaries

SCOTTISH LANDSCAPES	BBC Scotland Directors: Bill Macleod, Tim Neil, Jane McWilliams, Andrew Thompson, Colin Murray Producer: Fiona Crawford
A HISTORY OF SCOTLAND	BBC Scotland Directors: Bill Macleod, Tim Neil, Jane McWilliams, Andrew Thompson, Colin Murray Executive Producer: Neil MacDonald Producer: Richard Downes
J.K. ROWLING: A Year In The Life	iWC Media Director: James Runcie Producers: James Runcie
GALAPAGOS	BBC Directors: Patrick Morris, Andrew Murray Executive Producer: Michael Gunton Producer: Patrick Morris

Animation

THE IMP	Red Kite Animations Directors: Wayne Thomas, Andy Janes Producers: Sue Ann Smith, Ken Anderson
ROGUE FARM	Scottish Screen Directors: Mark Bender, Garry J. Marshall Producer: Alex Jenkins	BAFTA Nominated

Recording Artists - Arrangement - Production

No Doubt - Interscope Mogwai – Rock Action Records Sharleen Spiteri – Mercury Records The Young Knives – Warner Music UK Ltd (Nominated for Mercury Prize Award 2007) Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan – V2 (Nominated for Mercury Prize Award 2006) Belle & Sebastian – Jeepster Joy Zipper – 13 Amp Craig Armstrong – Chester Novello Simple Minds – EMI Records Snow Patrol – Jeepster/ Polydor Texas – Mercury Records

Paul's Website
Paul's IMDB page
Limitless Trailer
Interview with Film Music Media