NICK HORSTEN
COMPOSER | ORCHESTRATOR | PRODUCER | GUITARIST
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THE LITTLE MATCH GIRL
MARRY ME
JÖRMUNGANDR
SOMATIC
ABOUT ME
Hey, I'm Nick and I have a huge passion for motion pictures and interactive media. As a composer for the screen, I fully express my ability as a storyteller through music.
My compositional style has been described best by Andy Hill as a "visceral style that rips the 'polite' surface from orchestral instruments and allows them to go right to the emotional core." My style has only developed out of a desire to deliver the best results that strengthen the story, themes, characters and gameplay I have written for.
I believe in the magic of music and it's ability to move us deeply. To make us feel joy, pain, loss, excitement, fear and nostalgia. It truly is a beautiful thing when the right combination of notes and sonorities enters our ears.
Anyway, that's enough about me. Keep on scrolling for more of my music or drop me a line if you would like to work together or if just want to hang out and play some ping pong!
MORE MUSIC
MILK
MUSIC FOR TRAILERS
For the last two years I've had the pleasure of working for Sencit Music, an awesome trailer music company. I initially struggled writing music for trailers, the specific structure, the various edit stops, and the simplicity was something I could not wrap my head around. I have now learnt that it is in it's simplicty that trailer music is so impactful, less is more as they say. I am now very proud of the work I've produced for Sencit. Below are some select cues.
MUSIC FOR VIDEOGAMES
I am a huge gamer. I love being fully immersed in an interactive story that can grip you in a totally different way to a book or film. In 2021 I was lucky enough to study under one of my idols, Mikolai Stroinski. He is an amazing, multi-award winning composer and an all-round great person. After completing my MFA, I was able to work with Mikolai. Here are some cues demonstrating my compositions for interactive media.
ABOUT MY WORK
THE DRAGON'S BACK
I have always loved fantasy books, films and games especially that of Tolkien's world. The Dragon's Back is just that, an epic fantasy orchestral piece. Inspired by the majesty and lore of the Drakensberg/uKhahlamba mountain range, meaning Dragon Mountain and Barrier of Spears respectively. While hiking up to Tugela Falls in 2019, the escarpment looked as if it were the spine of a giant dragon. I imagined then this slumbering giant waking up beneath me and The Dragon's Back depicts that journey. This 110-piece orchestral composition was written as part of my MFA in Music for Motion Pictures and Contemporary Media at the Film Scoring Academy of Europe.
MILK
The composition "Milk" was specifically crafted to accompany a poignant scene where two lovers, separated for a long time, finally reunite. The emotional distance between them is portrayed beautifully as one of them struggles to recall the other's preference for tea, whether it be with or without milk.
MARRY ME
I wrote 'Marry Me' while I was studying in Bulgaria for a offbeat but beautiful romantic short film. There is a line in there that I will alawys remember. "Next time your mother wants to give you love advice, tell her that you want to be with someone that makes you feel alive." Althougth written for this film, this piece has always been for my wife, Hannah, or as I sometimes refer to her as, my second set of ears.
SOMATIC
---Somatic
/səˈmatɪk/
relating to the body, especially as distinct from the mind---
---Somatic Nervous System
the portion of the vertebrate nervous system which regulates voluntary movements of the body.---
Inspired by MRI machines, back pain, muscular spasms and tinnitus.
