Image: collage of Beethoven statue and photo of The Beastie Boys (credits: Maria Lupan on Unsplash and npr.org)

Quick story about musical storytelling

I’m obsessed with this video of composer Nicholas Britell explaining how he created the iconic theme tune for the best show on TV, Succession.

(Haven’t seen Succession? Stop reading right now and line up episode one. Brian Cox plays Logan Roy, a ruthless, King Lear-inspired media mogul who must choose one of his four children to inherit the top job – and all the power and wealth that comes with it. Expect Shakesperean plot twists, razor-sharp dialogue, and some of the best character writing on TV. And a killer soundtrack.)

In the video, Britell explains how he put himself in the mind of the characters to compose music they’d imagine for themselves.

(Just as we do with our readers when we're writing copy that speaks to their hopes, desires and expectations...)

There’s an opening scene where the second son, Kendall Roy, sits in the back of a limo, rapping a Beastie Boys track to psych himself up for a finance meeting, while he's escorted through busy New York traffic.

Britell gives this cringe-fest a nod in the theme tune, underscoring expansive, heavy classical chords with a hip hop beat.

He slices through the minor-key gravitas with dissonance, discord and off-beat accents, to create a sense that something is off with these individuals.

It’s a masterful musical interpretation of power plays, billion-dollar acquisitions and squabbles over frozen butter and dead raccoons. Seriously, watch it.

What has this got to do with anything?

I'm sharing this musical nerdery with you because the video reminded me of a childhood ambition of mine: to write music for films.

Yes, while other kids wanted to be dinosaur-hunters or computer hackers, I watched Jurassic Park for the first time and thought, "yup, I’m going to get paid to write music like that."

It wasn't just about the music. Did you know the T-Rex's roar was actually a slowed-down recording of a baby elephant squealing? A career that revolved around music and baby zoo animals was the dream for this 9-year-old.

Of course, it never happened.

It’s one of those careers that always seemed like it was ‘for other people’.

I didn't know any composers. I certainly didn't know a viable route from a Scottish suburb to a Hollywood film-set (although Brian Cox apparently figured it out. Maybe I should have asked him).

Long story short, I became a civil servant instead.

Sorry, Laura Dern, I let the side down.

Life finds a way.

Obviously, I'm neither a civil servant nor a famous film composer now.

My civil service career ended a few years ago when I left my job in public health to set up shop as a health copywriter. And since I haven’t touched a piano in over 10 years, it’s probably for the best that I get paid to write words, not music.

Sometimes life finds a way to bring you to a career that's a perfect fit. That's kind of how I feel about what I do now.

If you’re curious about how someone goes from planning meetings for Planning Meetings for Planning Groups (I know this concept makes sense to a few of you 😉) – to finding a niche as a health copywriter, you might like to check out my latest podcast (on Spotify or your browser).

In it, I chat to Dominic Kent, a fellow member of Content Club UK*, about my personal journey through cancer, a government career, and the rabbit hole of online health and wellness coaches that led me to where am I now.

None of that journey was planned, but somehow it all feels like a completely natural evolution. No wrong notes.

(We also talk about why having a niche is a great way to stand out as a service provider, and how to find your niche if you like the idea of specialising but can't quite pinpoint your perfect fit.)

I’d love it if you listened. And if you like it, please share, and let me know what you think.

*#ContentClubUK is a Twitter chat about content marketing, every Tuesday at 11am. All are welcome!