If there is one thing I've learned from the discipline of audio branding, it's that words are important. Many composers fluff off creative briefs from clients for a variety of reasons, and I don't blame them. Most are poorly written. My colleagues and I joke about all the rampant clichés in the biz and the very uncreative parroting of popular briefing jargon. Tracks need to have "swagger," be "disruptive," and in years past tracks needed to be "sophisticated, elegant, and cin

Occasionally I get asked the question, "Do you ever get writer's block?" My standard reply is, "No, I do not." Somedays I suck, but there's nothing that prevents that crappy idea from coming out. On the flip side, I get mostly good output from the 'ol grey matter, and I have a couple of really good tools to help me out. Some of my interns and workmates from Elias will remember these: A) Innovate. I always try to use at least one new technique or sound in every composition. It