Jesper Mejlvang - Composer
About
Composer for film and television and a music producer
I remember a watershed moment from my childhood.
My mother had bought an old piano. The piano tuner had just finished tuning it and the instrument was now standing all by itself in the living room, disassembled with all the piano strings visible. I was about six years old and I cautiously laid my hands on the keys for the very first time – and a wonderful sound suddenly flowed through my ears. I had not yet learned to play the piano at the time, so I didn’t know what I was doing, but I was utterly fascinated and absorbed by the sound emanating from the instrument. It was like a door had opened up to a brand-new universe, revealing an infinitely deep and colourful world which could encompass everything – joy, pain, grief, euphoria – at one and the same time.
Whenever I compose music, I strive to express in my works just a fraction of the feeling from that experience. I try to unlock that door – and keep it ajar.
In my world, there is no language more powerful than music and there is no better way to communicate an emotion. Music does something to us and touches us, regardless of whether we are aware of it. Nothing can warm a cold heart or make us forget our loneliness like music can. Music can be an angel or a demon, light or dark, soft and hard, or beautiful, horrifying, shrill, or warm – so a composer’s job is to select the sound that best describes the state of mind or emotion he or she wants a work to impart. My passion is music, nothing is more important – it’s that simple.
Curriculum Vitae
— B. 24 February 1963, in Virum, Denmark
— Started down my musical path in life at an early age with singing, flute and piano lessons in the first grade.
— Graduated from Holte Upper Secondary School, majoring in Music and Languages.
— Attended Berklee College of Music Boston, Massachusetts, USA, Performance Major
— Attended the Rhythmic Music Conservatory, Copenhagen
— Attended the Berklee College of Music, Boston, Massachusetts, USA, Music for Film & TV Major
Composed my first piece of music at the age of 10 and started my first band in sixth grade.
In the Studio
Ever since I started to experiment with two cassette tape recorders and a microphone in my early teens, I have always been interested in the listener’s experience in front of the loudspeaker.
During my professional career, I have fortunately had plenty of opportunities to work with this aspect of the creative process as well. This resulted in the construction of a number of my own studios over the years. The first was in the basement of my childhood home and had egg cartons on the ceilings. The size of the studio gradually increased until today with the current ultimate music and sound workshop venue known as Baltic Recording Studio.
Since 2001, this studio has been the setting for my creative endeavours and over the years has become one of the best studios in Denmark – with an unobstructed panorama of the Baltic Sea and all the equipment a sound nerd could ever dream of. In the studio, we record and mix the various productions, and all of my compositions are mixed in both stereo and 5.1 surround sound. The studio features a Bösendorfer concert grand piano and a live recording room with enough space for a small symphony orchestra – with sound and inspiration.
Contact
Jesper Mejlvang
Baltic Recording Studio
Tuevej 7
Isle of Bornholm
3740 Svaneke
Denmark
Phone: +45 4054 6440