Composing a life
Nashville's beating heart just got a fresh jolt! With the pulse of percussion in his veins and a cinematic symphony in his soul, Mitch Watson is ready to “seize the score” with his new production company, Rare Spike Music. A film composer with a passion for shaping sound into a sublime cinematic experience, Mitch’s goal is to create musical masterpieces that bring your visions to life.
Mitch's musical journey began at an early age under the wing of his now lifelong mentor and friend, multi-platinum artist, Earl Talbot (Poi Dog Pondering, The Drum School, Harpo Productions, the Nomads). Drawn to percussion by his innate knack for keeping time, Mitch not only developed a deep understanding of rhythm, melody and percussion techniques, he benefited from being introduced to Earl’s vast network of talented associates including sound engineers, performers and composers. This early exposure opened Mitch’s ears to the vast array of potential career paths available to him.
As a member of School of Rock’s house band and a drummer in his high school concert and marching bands, Mitch’s weekends were spent juggling drumsticks, guitar picks and vocals. Fortunate to have been raised just outside Chicago, Mitch not only performed in sonorous auditoriums and theaters, he also rocked out on the gritty stages of iconic music venues like Reggie's Rock Bar, Empty Bottle, Lincoln Hall, and Subterranean—all the while cultivating a deep appreciation for the architecture of acoustics and the ability of sound to inform the audience’s experience.
Hungry to explore the language of music further, Mitch made his way to the University of Akron to study under the tutelage of Distinguished Professor, Dr. Larry Snider. “Doc's” program, a haven for experimentation, opened Mitch's ears to the endless possibilities of sound. Under his guidance, with additional encouragement from Director of Bands, Dr. Galen S. Karriker, Mitch discovered the power of unique instruments and unorthodox techniques, their ability to reshape a melody, paint emotions, and whisper untold stories. Soon, this became Mitch’s obsession. Halfway through his Percussion Performance degree, Mitch also added Music Composition to his plate, and under the guidance of renowned international composers Drs. Robert Brownlow and James Wilding, he flourished.
Finally, a post-grad professional certificate in Composing and Orchestrating for Film and TV from Berklee Online elevated Mitch’s film scoring prowess. An intensive program, taught by seasoned film composition veterans Patrick Kirst, Ben Newhouse, and Vicente Avella, the curriculum honed Mitch’s ability to craft scores that breathe life into cinematic narratives. Fresh out of the program, it is the most recent, but by no means last stop on what Mitch hopes to be a lifelong journey of continuous learning and collaboration about composition and scoring to media. Join Mitch on this journey and together you can seize the score!
