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Patrick Zelinski (Lead Composer)

Composer, Producer, Multi-Instrumentalist

SHORT BIO FOR PAT ZELINSKI

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Patrick Zelinski works professionally in the music industry as a composer, performer, producer, audio engineer, sound mixer, and instructor. His broad musical scope and obsession with sound has helped him assemble an impressive portfolio of work that's been featured in films and commercials across Canada. Over the past 15 years he has studied many styles of music and plays a vast array of instruments. Patrick performs regularly as a solo artist and enjoys touring with the indie folk band Arcadian Suns.  His passion and love for cinema and film making has played a pivotal role in his life and career as a musician. He is always creating new sounds and sonics in his pursuit of creating music without boundaries.

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BELOW IS AN IN DEPTH LOOK AT THE GENRES OF SOUNDTRACKS THAT PATRICK SPECIALIZES IN AS WELL AS A BRIEF DESCRIPTION AND HIS EDUATION IN THOSE FIELDS:

(Guitars, Orchestration, Dobro, Lap Steel, Piano, Modular Eurorack, Synths, Soundscapes,Organ, Mellotron,Vibraphone/Bells, Percussion)

GUITAR/SOUNDSCAPES

The use of guitar is often used in indie films especially for ambient textures like in the films of Jim Jarmusch but also acoustically in the soundtracks by Gustavo Santaolalla. Mixing guitars with effects and feedback can lead to a vast array of sonic possibilities.
 

EDUCATION

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  • Classical and Jazz guitar - Mount Royal University

  • Slide Guitar - Studied with Ellen Mcilwaine

  • Dobro and Lap Steel - Studied with Charlie Hase

  • Lead guitarist in Arcadian Suns

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ORCHESTRA SCORE

Patrick can write a film score using Sibelius and use samples or a mellotron to capture the sound. If budget allows we have access to performers where we can record real orchestral instruments in the studio to bring the score to life. We also can add just a cello or any other instrument to a piece of music. If we compose any music for orchestral instruments you will receive a copy of the notation and orchestration of the score.

EDUCATION

 

  • Hollywood film scoring at Ludwin Music

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PIANO/KEYS/SYNTHS

Piano music can often times be minimalistic in film scores such as in the Werckmeister Harmonies Soundtrack by Mihaly Vig. Analogue Synths are also trending in television themes and in films.

Patrick currently plays and operates a variety of keyboards such as Moogs, Mellotron, Fender Rhodes, and a large variety of analogue synths.

EDUCATION

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  • Classical piano - Royal Conservatory of Music

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EURORACK/ELECTRONIC

The use of Modular synths/euroracks are the ultimate sound shaping tool and are a staple in film music.

EDUCATION

 

  • Electronic Music production- Studied at AB records

  • Eurorack synth/electronic music performance - Studied in the UK with Jack Opus

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DRUMS/BEATS

At Active Light we can mic up and record acoustic drum kits and we have session drummers to track the parts. Patrick also plays a vibraphone and a glockenspiel to get some great melodic percussion. If on a budget we also have the Loop Loft library to get acoustic drum sounds without miking up a kit. For electronic drums we use an Elektron Digitakt to sequence drum samples. We also use Ableton, vsts, and eurorack modules for creating percussion.

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AMBIENT

Ambient and drone music is often used in films and documentaries. Ambient music evokes an atmospheric, and unobtrusive quality that blends really well with moving images.

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FIELD RECORDING

A big part about creating sound for a film lies within putting textures and sound effects throughout that aren't part of the musical score. Just watch Brian De Palma's Blow Up to see this kind of work in action. We are passionate about field recording and manipulating recorded samples to create our own custom sounds that can be choreographed directly to your film.

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TESTIMONIALS

Pat is a captivating composer with an original, unique and creative voice of his own. He is a serious artist who cares deeply about his craft and brings an exceptional work ethic and communication to the projects he composes and collaborates on.

Norman Ludwin - Hollywood film orchestrator "Jurassic World, Inside Out"

Sonia Deleo - The Fig and The Flame

TESTIMONIALS

Working with Patrick felt very open and collaborative. I had such a specific style of music and tone I was going for. He did what any great collaborator does: takes the initial direction and brings his own ideas to it, to create something valuable. I particularly enjoyed how his knowledge and use of traditional instruments, and methods of creating unique sounds worked together to get the score to it’s most compelling place. His work on my film, left the audience with the emotion of its sound resonating in their minds long after the film ended.

BRETT FERSTER / FILM DIRECTOR / THE LIGHT FACTORY

Pat is a captivating composer with an original, unique and creative voice of his own. He is a serious artist who cares deeply about his craft and brings an exceptional work ethic and communication to the projects he composes and collaborates on.

NORMAN LUDWIN / HOLLYWOOD FILM ORCHESTRATOR / JURASSIC WORLD, INSIDE OUT

Every once in a while you meet a person who you know, without a doubt, is doing exactly what they were put here to do. Pat is one of them, and being in the studio with him is a privilege and an adventure. He hears sounds, riffs and moments in a song that many of us only wish we could come up with. He's efficient and precise as he wades neck deep into every project, searching for it's guts. Taking a song and crafting it into a multi-dimensional piece of art isn't a small task, and Pat makes it look easy.                                                                                                                

SONIA DELEO / THE FIG AND THE FLAME

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