Paul Pilot

Last updated

Paul Pilot
Also known asPaul Wilkinson
BornNorthern Ireland
Occupation(s)Composer, producer, musician, engineer
Years active1998–present
Website paulpilot.com

Paul Pilot (aka Paul Wilkinson) is a Northern Irish composer, musician and record producer.

Contents

Pilot is known for using unusual sounds and instruments alongside more traditional band arrangements. This has been variously with found sound samples or instruments such as bowed saw or bass clarinet. Pilot has worked with bands such as Duke Special, All the Luck in the World, Athlete (band), Beth Rowley, Rue Royale, [1] and Tim Williams.

Career

Paul was first active in Irish alternative band The Amazing Pilots. After the disbandment of this band in 2007, [2] Pilot became in demand as a record producer. Notably he has worked with Northern Ireland artist Duke Special, acting as co-producer for Songs from the Deep Forest [3] (certified gold in Ireland) and Oh Pioneer [4] Paul also wrote songs for Beth Rowley’s top 10 UK record “Little Dreamer” and has toured as musician for artists such as John Grant and Buddy Miller. Working increasingly as a film composer Paul has worked on several award-winning features and docuseries.

Film score composition

Pilot wrote the original score for Laurel Canyon: A Place in Time under director Alison Ellwood for the EPIX network. The production was nominated for 3 Emmy awards. [5] Through a wealth of rare and newly unearthed footage and audio recordings, the series features an intimate portrait of the artists who created a musical revolution that changed popular culture. Uniquely immersive and experiential, this event takes us back in time to a place where a rustic canyon in the heart of Los Angeles became a musical petri dish. Featuring the music of Joni Mitchell, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, The Doors, Linda Ronstadt, Eagles (band), and many more.

Finding Oscar. The film, produced by Steven Spielberg and Frank Marshall tells the story of the search for two young boys who were plucked from a nightmare and offer the only living evidence that ties the Guatemalan government to the massacre. [6] Along with frequent collaborator John Stirratt from the US Rock Band Wilco Paul wrote the original score. The soundtrack featured a re-recording of R.E.M classic “The Flowers of Guatemala” from their Life's Rich Pageant album. Paul collaborated with R.E.M's Peter Buck and Scott McCaughey on this new version. [7] The soundtrack album was released by UK independent label Decor records.

Paul Pilot wrote the original score for Mr A and Mr M: The Story of A&M Records. [8] Directed by Frank Marshall and Ryan Suffern, this two-part docuseries takes an in-depth look at A&M's artist-focused approach, and uncovers how they discovered talent while adapting to the ever-changing music industry. Featuring the music of The Police, The Carpenters, Carole King and many more.

Paul Pilot scored comedian Russell Howard’s “Until the Wheels come off” for Netflix in 2021. Featuring the UK's popular standup with candid and personal video journals as he struggled and ultimately performed during lockdown in various settings including in New Zealand.

Paul Pilot scored the Meryl Streep Narrated Museum Town again alongside Wilco’s John Stirratt. The original score along with contributions from Big Thief, David Byrne and others soundtracks the story of the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art — an unconventional museum in the small town of North Adams, Mass — and the power of art to transform a barren post-industrial city. Jennifer Trainer, a former journalist and one of the original builders of Mass MoCA, directed the documentary. The film had its world premiere at this year's South by Southwest Film Festival. [9]

Pilot wrote the score for Bidder 70, a documentary film that in 2012 won the Moving Mountains Prize at the Telluride Film Festival [10] and was named Best American Film at the Traverse City Film Festival. [11] He also produced and recorded the live band music for the Academy Award-nominated An Education , [12] where he makes a cameo appearance as a band member in the club scene. His short film How To Make your own Paul Pilot Record was shown at the San Francisco International Festival of Short Films [13] and the Chicago International Movies and Music Festival. [14] Pilot has also worked as writer, composer, or performer on several ESPN-associated short films including Right to Play (2011), [15] The Man vs. The Machine (2014), [16] and What the Hell Happened to Jai Alai (2016). [17]

Filmography

TitleYearCreditsNotes
A & Mr. M: The Story of A&M Records2022Composer EPIX
Russell Howard: Until the Wheels Come Off Documentary2021Composer Netflix
Jazz Fest: A New Orleans Story2021Composer Sony Pictures
Laurel Canyon (documentary) 2020Composer EPIX
Museum Town 2019Co-Composer (with John Stirratt)Kino Marquee
A Final Cut for Orson 2018Composer Netflix
The Kids We Lose2018Co-Composer (with John Stirratt)Lone Wolf Media
The Last Artisan2018ComposerLatent Image Productions
Satan and Adam2018Composer Netflix
The Exhumation2016Composer RYOT Films
Finding Oscar2016Co-Composer (with John Stirratt) Kennedy Marshall executive producer Steven Spielberg
What the Hell Happened to Jai Alai2016Composer ESPN
The Sculptor of Damascus2016Composer RYOT Films
I Love Dick (TV series) Pilot Episode2016Musician Amazon Prime
Havananimal Week2015Music Producer, Musician RTE
Man vs Machine2014Co-Composer (with John Stirratt) ESPN
Final Pose2014ComposerIndependent
Running Blind the Movie2013Composer Kennedy Marshall
Bidder 702012ComposerGage and Gage productions
Estranged2012MusicianFace Films
Even Gods2011ComposerIndependent
Right to Play, 30 for 30 2011Composer ESPN
An Education 2009Musician, Music Producer BBC Films, Sony Pictures
Sesame Street, Sesame Tree2009Musician, Music Producer The Jim Henson Company

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wilco</span> American alternative rock band

Wilco is an American rock band based in Chicago. The band was formed in 1994 by the remaining members of alternative country group Uncle Tupelo after singer Jay Farrar's departure. Wilco's lineup changed frequently during its first decade, with only singer Jeff Tweedy and bassist John Stirratt remaining from the original incarnation. Since early 2004 the lineup has been unchanged, consisting of Tweedy, Stirratt, guitarist Nels Cline, multi-instrumentalist Pat Sansone, keyboard player Mikael Jorgensen, and drummer Glenn Kotche. Wilco has released thirteen studio albums, a live double album, and four collaborations: three with Billy Bragg and one with the Minus 5.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clannad</span> Irish folk band

Clannad were an Irish band formed in 1970 in Gweedore, County Donegal, by siblings Ciarán, Pól and Moya Ui Bhraonáin and their twin uncles Noel and Pádraig Ó Dúgáin (Duggan). They have adopted various musical styles throughout their history. Beginning as an acoustic folk group mainly performing rearranged traditional Irish songs in Irish, they expanded their sound with original songs in English, vocal harmonies, electronic keyboards, and elements of rock, Celtic, new age, smooth jazz, and Gregorian chant.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Penn</span> American musician (born 1958)

Michael Daniel Penn is an American musician, singer and composer. His 1989 single "No Myth" was a top 20 hit in the US and successful in several other countries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James Horner</span> American film composer (1953–2015)

James Roy Horner was an American film composer. He worked on more than 160 film and television productions between 1978 and 2015. He was known for the integration of choral and electronic elements alongside traditional orchestrations, and for his use of motifs associated with Celtic music.

<i>A Ghost Is Born</i> 2004 studio album by Wilco

A Ghost Is Born is the fifth studio album by the American rock band Wilco, released on June 22, 2004, by Nonesuch Records. It features singer Jeff Tweedy on lead guitar more than any previous Wilco album. The band streamed the album online free, and offered a five-song EP to purchasers.

Carter Benedict Burwell is an American film composer. He has frequently collaborated with the Coen brothers, having scored most of their films. He has also scored films by other directors such as Bill Condon, Todd Haynes, Spike Jonze, Martin McDonagh, James Foley, Brian Helgeland, and John Lee Hancock. Burwell received Academy Award nominations for Best Original Score for Haynes's Carol (2015) and McDonagh's films Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (2017), and The Banshees Of Inisherin (2022).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jeff Tweedy</span> American musician (born 1967)

Jeffrey Scot Tweedy is an American musician, singer songwriter, author, and record producer best known as the lead vocalist and guitarist of the band Wilco. Tweedy, originally from Belleville, Illinois, began his music career in high school with his band The Plebes along with Jay Farrar, also in the band. It became the alternative country band Uncle Tupelo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Feelies</span> American post-punk rock band

The Feelies are an American rock band from Haledon, New Jersey. They formed in 1976 and disbanded in 1992 having released four albums. The band reunited in 2008, and released new albums in 2011 and 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Minus 5</span> American pop rock band

The Minus 5 is an American pop rock band headed by musician Scott McCaughey of Young Fresh Fellows, often in partnership with R.E.M. guitarist Peter Buck.

<i>Summerteeth</i> 1999 studio album by Wilco

Summerteeth is the third studio album by the American rock band Wilco, released on March 9, 1999, by Reprise Records. The album was heavily influenced lyrically by 20th century literature, as well as singer Jeff Tweedy's marital problems. Unlike previous albums, Summerteeth was heavily overdubbed in the studio with Pro Tools. Tweedy and Jay Bennett wrote most of the album in the studio, a contrast to the band's previous albums, which were often recorded live by the entire band with minimal overdubs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The National (band)</span> American indie rock band

The National is an American rock band from Cincinnati, Ohio, formed in Brooklyn, New York City, in 1999. The band consists of Matt Berninger (vocals), twin brothers Aaron Dessner and Bryce Dessner, as well as brothers Scott Devendorf (bass) and Bryan Devendorf (drums). During live performances, the band is joined by longtime touring members, Ben Lanz and Kyle Resnick. Carin Besser, the wife of Berninger, is not a band member but has written lyrics for the band alongside her husband since its 2007 album Boxer.

<i>A.M.</i> (Wilco album) 1995 studio album by Wilco

A.M. is the debut studio album by the American rock band Wilco, released on March 28, 1995, by Sire Records and Reprise Records. The album was released only months after the breakup of Uncle Tupelo, an alternative country band that was the predecessor of Wilco. Prior to its release, there was debate about whether the album would be better than the debut album of Son Volt, the new band of former Uncle Tupelo lead singer Jay Farrar.

<i>Kicking Television: Live in Chicago</i> 2005 live album by Wilco

Kicking Television: Live in Chicago is a live album by Chicago alternative rock band Wilco, released on November 15, 2005, by Nonesuch Records. The album consists of material from four live shows at Chicago's Vic Theater recorded May 4, 2005 to May 7, 2005. Although the band filmed the concerts, they decided not to release the footage as a DVD. It was the band's first album with an expanded lineup featuring Nels Cline and Pat Sansone.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blue Mountain (band)</span>

Blue Mountain is an American alt-country/roots rock band formed in 1991 in Oxford, Mississippi, by Cary Hudson and Laurie Stirratt, who is the twin sister of John Stirratt, the bass player for the like-minded Americana band Wilco.

<i>I Am Trying to Break Your Heart: A Film About Wilco</i> 2002 American film

I Am Trying to Break Your Heart: A Film About Wilco is a 2002 black-and-white documentary film by director/photographer Sam Jones, following the American alt-country rock band Wilco through the creation and distribution of their fourth studio album Yankee Hotel Foxtrot. The film, distributed to theaters in the United States through Cowboy Pictures, was released on July 26, 2002, three months after the album's retail release.

The Autumn Defense is an American band composed of multi-instrumentalists John Stirratt and Pat Sansone.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mica Levi</span> English musician

Micaela Rachel "Mica" Levi, also known by their stage name Micachu, is an English musician, composer, producer, singer, and songwriter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Neil Davidge</span> British composer (born 1962)

Neil Davidge is an English record producer, songwriter, film score composer and musician. Once an associate of dance producers DNA, he is best known as the long-term co-writer and producer for trip hop collective Massive Attack. In 1997, he also produced the Sunna album One Minute Science. During that time he has established a career as a film score composer including projects such as Push, Bullet Boy, Trouble the Water, and additional music for Clash of the Titans.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Split Single (band)</span> Musical artist

Split Single is the American indie rock solo project of Evanston, Illinois-based musician Jason Narducy.

<i>Ode to Joy</i> (Wilco album) 2019 studio album by Wilco

Ode to Joy is the eleventh studio album by the American rock band Wilco, released on October 4, 2019, by dBpm Records. The release has received positive reviews.

References

  1. "Rue Royale". A Badge of Friendship. 30 September 2013. Retrieved 8 December 2013.
  2. "_THE AMAZING PILOTS [1998–2007]". Paulpilot.com. Retrieved 24 November 2016.
  3. "Songs From The Deep Forest". Dukespecial.com. Retrieved 24 November 2016.
  4. "Oh Pioneer". Dukespecial.com. Retrieved 24 November 2016.
  5. "Laurel Canyon: A Place in Time".
  6. "Finding Oscar". IMDb .
  7. "Finding Oscar Soundtrack (2017)".
  8. "Mr. A & Mr. M: The Story of A&M Records". IMDb .
  9. "SXSW Film Review: Museum Town".
  10. "2012 Moving Mountains Prize". Mountainfilm.org. Retrieved 24 November 2016.
  11. Viebrock, Susan (12 August 2012). ""BIDDER 70" WINS "BEST AMERICAN FILM" IN TRAVERSE CITY". Tellurideinside.com. Retrieved 8 December 2013.
  12. "An Education". IMDb. Retrieved 8 December 2013.
  13. "SF Shorts". SF Station. Retrieved 8 December 2013.
  14. "_HOW TO MAKE YOUR OWN PAUL PILOT RECORD". Paulpilot.com. Retrieved 24 November 2016.
  15. "_RIGHT TO PLAY [30 FOR 30 / ESPN FILMS] 2011". Paulpilot.com. Retrieved 24 November 2016.
  16. "_MAN VS MACHINE [FIVETHIRTYEIGHT/ ESPN] 2014". Paulpilot.com. Retrieved 24 November 2016.
  17. "_WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED TO JAI ALAI [30 FOR 30] 2016". Paulpilot.com. Retrieved 24 November 2016.