DOBBY scores for the screen with 'SPRING'

Rapper, composer, producer and drummer Rhyan Clapham, who performs as DOBBY, immersed himself into the art and business of screen composing in April and May this year as the inaugural participant selected for the NATSIMO Screen Composer Intensive. The program is a joint initiative of The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Music Office (NATSIMO), in partnership with the Australian Guild of Screen Composers (AGSC).

The initiative was developed to create a pathway to employment opportunities as a screen composer for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander music creators and increase representation in the sector.

With the focus of the intensive being exposed to the world of screen composition and spending time observing and learning from the best in the business in the workplace, the creative outcome resulted in Rhyan’s wonderful composition, 'SPRING', unveiled today on DOBBY's YouTube.

'SPRING' arrives on the heels of DOBBY's signing with Sony Music Publishing and moderating the keynote conversation with American hip-hop composer and producer Che Pope at BIGSOUND.

Supported by the AGSC, Rhyan's immersion saw him being mentored with screen music luminaries including APRA board member Amanda Brown (Underbelly: Vanishing Act) and Antony Partos from Sonar Music (Mystery Road), as well as working alongside the prolific composer, orchestrator and arranger Jessica Wells (Jigsaw Music). Throughout the program Rhyan was based out at Church Street Studios and spent time with the studio team at AFTRS.

"The NATSIMO Screen Composer Intensive has been invaluable for me as I enter the next stage of my career. I have learned so much in such a short time, and gained new relationships with incredible musicians within the industry," said Rhyan.

"The outcome of this intensive has resulted in my music to the animated short “SPRING”, something I’m so proud to add to my artistic portfolio. The Composer Intensive has equipped me with the tools needed to enter the screen composition world confidently and with a strong sense of community support and guidance.

"My biggest love and respect to Leah Flanagan and Jacob Ridgeway at NATSIMO / APRA AMCOS for creating this opportunity and bridging the gaps in access and opportunity between First Nations musicians and the screen cmposer industry. This is an incredibly powerful and important pathway program and I’m so grateful to have been part of it."

"The NATSIMO Screen Composer Intensive is an innovative and comprehensive program for First Nations composers and musicians who wish to work in music for film and television. It was an honour for me to be a mentor in this important project and a privilege to get to know talented composer Rhyan Clapham, aka DOBBY," said Amanda Brown.

Leah Flanagan, Director, NATSIMO, said, "This first program turned out to be an incredible success, due to our generous partners who have donated so much of their time and resources to develop this bridging course for songwriters and instrumentalists looking to expand their skills into the world of composition for film and television.

"Rhyan’s natural musicianship and engaging personality were a perfect fit for this first iteration of the initiative and we look forward to delivering specific programs to ensure we see our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander music creators becoming more active in the film sector. It is imperative that Indigenous voices to be the soundtrack to Indigenous stories."

Next for DOBBY is the official release of ‘WARRANGU; River Story’ - a collection of cultural knowledge of three rivers that form the surrounding tribal boundaries in Brewarrina, NSW.

The NATSIMO Composer Intensive, supported by the AGSC and APRA AMCOS will continue in 2023 with Expressions of Interest and more information to come in the following months. Please contact [email protected] if you wish to sign up to the NATSIMO monthly newsletter to be first in the know about programs and initiatives.