Graeme Revell

2.1. Early Life and Education

Revell was born in Auckland, New Zealand, on October 23, 1955. He attended Auckland Grammar School and later pursued higher education at the University of Auckland, where he earned degrees in both economics and political science. Beyond his academic pursuits, Revell also received classical training as a pianist and French horn player, demonstrating an early aptitude for music. His vocational experiences included working as a regional planner in both Australia and Indonesia. Notably, he also served as an orderly in an Australian psychiatric hospital in the late 1970s, an experience that would directly influence the formation of his groundbreaking musical project.

2.2. Formation of SPK

While working as an orderly in a psychiatric hospital in Australia, Graeme Revell's interest in music therapy led him to form a unique musical collaboration. He met and connected with a patient named Neil Hill, and together they founded SPK. This band emerged as one of the pioneering groups in industrial music, reflecting Revell's experimental approach to sound and his desire to explore the therapeutic and disruptive potential of music.

3.1. SPK (Band)

Graeme Revell was a founding member and leader of the industrial music band SPK, where he played keyboards and percussion. The band was known for its innovative and often challenging sound, which ranged from extreme and abrasive to beautiful and academic. SPK gained a reputation for its provocative live performances, including wild stage stunts, such as an incident where an audience member was accidentally set on fire with a flamethrower. The band's single, "In Flagrante Delicto," later became the basis for Revell's first film score, Dead Calm.

3.2. Film Score Composition

Revell's transition to film score composition marked a significant turning point in his career. His breakthrough came in 1989 with the score for the Australian film Dead Calm, which earned him an Australian Film Industry award. This success caught the attention of Hollywood agent Richard Kraft, who sought him out. Following this, Revell relocated to Hollywood and began a prolific career in the film industry. His work demonstrates remarkable versatility, ranging from orchestrating for an 85-piece orchestra for films like Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie to incorporating diverse global sounds such as Tuvan singers and Armenian stringed instruments for The Crow, and blending brassy jazz with hip hop rhythm loops for Fled, starring Laurence Fishburne and Stephen Baldwin. He has scored numerous well-known films, including The Crow (1994), Street Fighter (1994), From Dusk till Dawn (1996), The Craft (1996), The Saint (1997), The Negotiator (1998), Bride of Chucky (1998), Titan A.E. (2000), Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001), Daredevil (2003), Freddy vs. Jason (2003), and Sin City (2005).

3.3. Musical Style and Influences

Graeme Revell's musical style is predominantly electronic and computer-based, yet he frequently integrates classical instruments and full orchestral arrangements into his compositions. This approach is often compared to that of contemporary composers like Hans Zimmer and Mark Isham. Throughout his career, Revell's orchestral scores have evolved, showing influences from composers such as Bernard Herrmann and Ennio Morricone. He has stated that he always conceives of visual images when composing, which facilitates his dramatic shifts in style-a characteristic he believes is more suited to film scoring than a long-term rock career. Revell aims to "bring a dose of class to Hollywood," striving for authentic musical expression rather than quickly synthesized sounds, and consciously avoids sounding like other composers. He is also noted for occasionally re-using musical themes across different films.

3.4. Collaborations

Throughout his career, Graeme Revell has engaged in significant collaborations across various musical and cinematic projects. He frequently works with director David Twohy, having scored films within the Riddick franchise, including Below (2002) and Riddick (2013).

In 1997, Revell partnered with Roger Mason to produce Vision II - Spirit of Rumi, a non-film music album released through Angel Records. For this project, they co-produced, provided instrumental accompaniment, and set 11 poems by the 13th-century Persian poet Jalāl ad-Dīn Muhammad Rūmī to music. The album featured vocals from artists such as Noa, Lori Garson, Esther Dobong'Na Essiene (also known as Estha Divine), and the late Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan.

Revell has also contributed his expertise to rock bands, assisting Evanescence with most of the string arrangements for their debut album, Fallen, released in 2002-03. He has also provided string arrangements for other bands including Ludus, Stefy, Biffy Clyro, and The Wombats. Following the success of his soundtrack for Red Planet, which featured the voice of French singer Emma Shapplin, Revell collaborated with her on her album Etterna, producing all of her songs.

In terms of sound design, Revell has been assisted by Brian Williams, who is known for creating dark ambient music under the pseudonym Lustmord. Revell was also interviewed for the independent documentary Finding Kraftland.

4.1. Theatrical Films

Revell has composed scores for a wide array of theatrical releases, reflecting his prolific career in Hollywood.

4.2. Television Films

4.3. Television Series

4.4. Video Games