Exclusive New Interview with Nathan Johnson - DBZ Composer

[DerekPadula]

Hey guys. Here's my interview with Nathan Johnson, composer of DBZ Ultimate Uncut Editions!

http://thedaoofdragonball.com/blog/inte ... es-on-dbz/

It's the first interview he's ever done and I'm honored he said yes to being a guest.

What he said was certainly eye opening. I'd love to discuss it with you.

Thanks.

[Codarik]

Reading that interview makes me love that mans music even more.

That is pretty crazy how he got the job. Glad he had the opportunity.

Can't wait for part 2!

[Pokewhiz7]

Wow, great interview. I can't exactly say I'm the biggest fan of Nathan Johnson's score in the world, but I can't really say I hate it. I just haven't heard much of it. I've only seen a few episodes, but his score honestly struck me as a bit boring. That being said, I have watched a few other random scenes with his score, and they actually seemed alright. Maybe one day I can watch through 1-34 on the Blu-rays and watch the movies he scored to give a proper opinion. I do find it interesting how he doesn't like the Faulconer score. I can't wait for part 2.
...Okay, back to not posting!

[Gonstead]

Wow, definitely eye openers for sure!

Can't wait for Part 2!

[DerekPadula]

Thanks everyone! Part 2 is up!

http://thedaoofdragonball.com/blog/inte ... -on-dbz-2/

Nathan responds to the fans AND the haters of his Dragon Ball Z music in this interview.

[Gonstead]

Oh man, he doesn't compose anymore? Damn shame since he had potential IMO.

Anyway, thanks a lot for the interview Derek!

[DerekPadula]

Yeah, I really like his music too. He's a very talented and smart guy. But you've got to make a living and supporting a family isn't easy. I completely understand why he went back to being a lawyer.

Hope the interview was exciting for you. And thanks for requesting it again! Without you I probably wouldn't have remembered for quite some time.

[cRookie_Monster]

Awesome!

I haven't read the whole thing yet but...wow...small world...especially when you are just talking about Texas, Dallas area specifically haha..

He mentioned a certain composer:

So for the next several years while I was a lawyer I essentially went to school without going to school, and really learned to how to write music with Robert Xavier Rodriguez. He was a classical symphonic composer

Robert was friends with Bruce also. I spent weeks working with Robert. in the evenings at Faulconer's studio helping Robert create a piano recording of one of his scores (entering it on the computer). I'd come in early to work on the Cell Saga, and then spend the evening with Robert...those were some long days.

Anyway, Robert was a cool guy, a little too straight laced and traditional for my tastes but he was a nice guy.

(btw, unlike Nathan, I didn't let Robert's opinion of my music affect me in the least... I was a little more confident than that having a degree already)


[EDIT]OK finished reading the article now:

Man, yeah he had the same experience we did. I dunno if he realizes how much flak the Faulconer score got when taking over from Shuki Levy. It was the EXACT same thing...and of course we all know not everyone loves the Faulconer score ^^ I'd say it's about 50/50 hate, love.

His experience of doing about 20 episodes and then realizing he has a big enough library to just focus on specific scenes when needed sounds familiar too....and of course the wall to wall music thing.

on the copyright\album thing. Nathan should try to negotiate a deal with Funimation.

[DerekPadula]

Thanks, Scott. I forwarded your comments to Nathan because I thought he'd enjoy reading them.

I had sort of forgotten just how much people disliked Faulconer's music when it was first heard on "Season 3," along with the new voices. The audio in general was so far removed from first 2 seasons that fans were completely shocked.

I write in The Dao of Dragon Ball... "On June 1st, an editorial by Chris Psaros reviewing the latest tape was posted on DBZ Uncensored with the opening line “… Dragon Ball Z in the United States is dead. Worse than that, actually. FUNimation killed it, and is now defiling its corpse.” This was followed two paragraphs later by “Oh, the horror.”"

It wasn't exactly received very well by the hardcore fans, but the "monster truck tractor pull" audience did love it and so the rest is history.

Since Nathan, Mark and you (Faulconer included) all experienced similar things, I'm led to believe that none of you guys were really in charge of the music. It was all "made to order," so to speak, just in different styles owing to your different talents, according to FUNimation's requests.

Is that understanding correct? If so, then who was it making the orders? Barry Watson or someone else?

[cRookie_Monster]

I believe most of the time it was Barry. He was the director afterall. Sometimes after Evan Jones got more established it was Evan I think.

[DerekPadula]

Ah, right, Evan Jones. Thanks for the reminder about Evan.

I just re-read my previous message and realized how much of a jerk I sounded like. Sorry about that. That was not my intent!

Nathan replied to this thread via an email to me and said,

"I take primary blame and credit for the DBZ scores. Barry dictated the general style (including wall-to-wall scoring), but from there it was pretty much me.

Incidentally, Robert Xavier Rodriguez never saw or heard a note of my DBZ scoring, ever. He helped me develop skills as a composer and an artist, not as a composer to picture, let alone music for popular culture.

– Nathan"

[Codarik]

Did you happen to ask Nathan about his website? If it will be back up or not?

[DerekPadula]

It won't be. He's a full time lawyer now at http://spectorjohnson.com

[cRookie_Monster]

Ah, right, Evan Jones. Thanks for the reminder about Evan.

I just re-read my previous message and realized how much of a jerk I sounded like. Sorry about that. That was not my intent!

Nah, I didn't take it bad at all.

Nathan replied to this thread via an email to me and said,

I was more worried about me sounding like a jerk to Nathan!