Benson Taylor

Mark Davison, FRSA (born 10 September 1983), known professionally as Benson Taylor,[3] is an English composer, record producer, electronic musician and humanitarian[4] who is best known for producing music for film. His style of music has a British influence, often working a classic film score sound amongst electronics, and other musical settings.[5][6]

Benson Taylor

FRSA
Taylor speaking with actor Jodie Whittaker at a fundraiser in 2014.
Born
Mark Davison

(1983-09-10) 10 September 1983
Bradford, West Yorkshire, England
NationalityBritish
Alma materUniversity of California, Los Angeles
OccupationComposer, songwriter, remixer, DJ,[1] record producer, label owner
Children2
Musical career
Genresalternative rock, film score, electronic, dark ambient, classical, hip hop, Post-industrial, experimental music, ambient
InstrumentsPiano, synthesizers, music sequencer, trumpet, drum machine, bespoke electronics
Years active2009–present
LabelsUniversal Music, EMI Music Publishing, Transgressive Records, Sony/ATV, Decca
Associated actsBat for Lashes, David Bowie, The New Mastersounds, Pulled Apart By Horses, The Hallé, Meshell Ndegeocello,[2] Temples, Ken Duro Ifill, CeeLo Green, Sami Yusuf
Websitebensontaylor.com

Taylor won the "Best Original Music" award at the 2014 Monaco International Film Festival. In 2018, he scored and produced the music to Mathew Cullen's thriller adaptation of the Martin Amis novel, London Fields, starring Billy Bob Thornton, Amber Heard, Cara Delevingne, Theo James and Johnny Depp.[2][7][8]

In November 2016, Taylor was awarded an honorary doctorate for services to humanitarian causes & music.[9][10][11]

He founded A Remarkable Idea in 2017, a sub label of Universal Music, located in Santa Monica, California. Taylor has collaborated and produced artists for the label, including Mercury Prize-nominated Maxïmo Park and Kele Okereke, Bloc Party, Pulled Apart by Horses, Robot Koch, Lack of Afro, MOBO-winning Kairos 4Tet, Benoît Pioulard, Bo Ningen, Menace Beach, and The Halle Orchestra.[12][13]

Taylor is an goodwill ambassador for the UK aid agency CAFOD, part of Caritas Internationalis,[14][15] and a goodwill ambassador for the Cambodian Children's Trust.[16] He is patron of the British charity, Music and the Deaf. In 2016, Taylor was appointed the first ambassador of the music conservatoire, Leeds College of Music in the United Kingdom.[17]

Life and career

Born in Brontë Country, Bradford, and educated at Bradford Grammar School in the United Kingdom,[18] Taylor later studied composition at the University of California, Los Angeles. After leaving UCLA in 2009, he mentored with American composer, Mark Mancina, and studied privately with orchestrator, Hummie Mann.[19][20]

He began writing music at a young age, whilst working as a radio producer, and before that at the British supermarket chain, Morrisons.[21] He later launched a studio in England and has since written scores for television shows broadcasting worldwide, including Brooklyn Rules, Two and a Half Men, 30 Rock, 90210, and The Big Bang Theory, as well as producing music for the Super Bowl between 2010 and 2014.[22] Taylor's music has been widely used across international advertising campaigns, including Nissan in 2017,[23] McDonald's in 2018,[24][25] Jose Cuervo's 2015[26] campaign and a collaboration in 2011 with CeeLo Green for the Las Vegas Tourist Board.[27][28]

In 2011, Taylor made his London West End theatre debut co-composing the electronic music for Derek Bond's production of the play Many Moons.[29][30]

In June 2013, music publishers Fairwood Music announced that they had added Taylor to their roster of artists which includes David Bowie, U2, Cat Stevens, The Average White Band, Bob Marley, and J.J. Cale. Taylor told British magazine Music Week, "I'm extremely humbled to join their roster, amongst some of the most recognised talents in the world. Here's hoping some of it will rub off on me!"[31][32]

In 2016, Taylor produced soundtracks for US talk shows, including, Late Night With Seth Meyers[33] and Jimmy Kimmel Live. He has twice contributed music to the Netflix produced series, Orange Is the New Black. Taylor's music has also appeared in the sixth series of Justified, the first series of How to Get Away with Murder, the second series of Ray Donovan, and in the 2015 Kroll Show.[34][35]

Taylor scored and produced the music to Mathew Cullen's thriller, London Fields in 2015, starring Billy Bob Thornton, Theo James, Cara Delevingne, Amber Heard and Johnny Depp. Due to legal problems between the director and producers, the film was not released until September 2018, three years after Taylor had finished the musical score.[36][37][38] As well as writing the musical score, Taylor collaborated with Toydrum and Bat for Lashes to cover Patsy Cline's "Walkin' After Midnight", and also with James Bagshaw from the British band Temples, covering "How Do You Sleep" from John Lennon's Imagine album, both tracks were recorded specifically for the film.[39][40]

Taylor presenting "Best Actor" to Eddie Redmayne at Pöff in Tallinn in 2014.

In November 2014, Taylor was a Grand Juror at the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival alongside director Tomasz Wasilewski.[41][42][43]

Taylor is a professional member of the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors.[44] He was styled as the "New Sound of Hollywood" by MovieScope magazine in its 24th issue in 2011.[45]

He is a guest DJ on NTS Radio.[1]

Business ventures

In 2017, Taylor founded A Remarkable Idea, a music label based in Santa Monica in Los Angeles, and in London. The label produces music for film, television and video games. Taylor has collaborated with artists for A Remarkable Idea including Maxïmo Park and Kele Okereke of Bloc Party, Pulled Apart by Horses, Robot Koch, Lack of Afro, Kairos 4Tet, Bo Ningen, Benoît Pioulard and The Halle orchestra.[12] Taylor previously ran his label, Insidious Music which is now defunct after being sold.[46]

The label has licensed music to television shows such as Grey's Anatomy, House, Revenge, Unusual Suspects, Breaking Bad, Masterchef, Gordon Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares, White Collar, The Oprah Winfrey Show, 24 and NFL on Fox.

In October 2019, Transgressive Records released Taylor's song Is This Thing On? with the band Pulled Apart By Horses[47][48]

In March 2014, through his publishing company, Taylor licensed a large catalogue of musical works in partnership with Peter Gabriel's CueSongs, and a smaller subsidiary of the catalogue to the Japanese national broadcaster, Nippon Hōsō Kyōkai. Taylor said in an interview with WQXR-FM that it was his intention for the catalogue to grow, and to further develop collaborations with artists around the world, specifically in the middle and far east.

He frequently records with the British orchestra, The Hallé, and they regularly perform his works in concert.[49] As part of his commercial recordings in 2015, he developed a short term education programme for students.[50][51]

Personal life

Taylor splits his time between Tuscany, New York City and Los Angeles. He is married and has two children.[27][14]

He is a Roman Catholic.[14][52]

Humanitarian and activism work

Taylor supports several charities globally,[53] including and was one of the founding committee members of the homeless charity Emmaus UK in Bradford, England. He is also a goodwill ambassador for the Cambodian Children's Trust in Battambang, which works towards freeing children from severe poverty, and alongside the Cambodian government to end orphan tourism.[54][55] Taylor is the patron of the charity, Music and the Deaf, based in Britain.

Taylor being interviewed with newscaster Nina Hossain, reality TV star Matthew Burton and Doctor Who actress Jodie Whittaker, at a Children's Hospice Charity Fundraiser in 2014.

Alongside Patrick Stewart, Lena Headey and Jodie Whittaker, in 2017, Taylor took part in a photography exhibition in Huddersfield raising awareness around the downgrading of services at Huddersfield Royal Infirmary. He spoke of his children being born there.[56][57]

Taylor is a known supporter of the NGO Médecins Sans Frontières, and the United Nations Refugee Agency,[58] producing music to support their awareness campaigns. He has worked alongside the World Food Programme for several years promoting zero hunger in Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Cambodia, and on the African continent. In June 2018, he travelled to the Bidi Bidi Refugee Settlement in Uganda with the WFP to raise awareness for World Refugee Day. Whilst in Uganda, he worked alongside refugee musicians from South Sudan.[4][59][60]

Taylor speaking with South Sudanese refugees at the Bidi Bidi Refugee Settlement in Uganda with the United Nations World Food Programme.

He is an ambassador for the international aid agency for the catholic church, CAFOD,[61] working to raise global awareness and fight poverty and injustice in communities across Africa, Asia and Latin America.[14]

In 2016, he was appointed the first ambassador of the music conservatoire, Leeds College of Music in the United Kingdom.[17]

On 26 June 2018, Alzheimer's Research UK released an educational film produced by Aardman Animations. The film was narrated by Simon Pegg and the music was produced by Taylor. It went viral that morning after being shared by the actor Stephen Fry, former British prime minister, David Cameron, Jeff Bridges, Richard Branson, film director Ron Howard and actors Andy Serkis & Bryan Cranston.[62][63][64][65][66][67][68]

Recognition and honors

In 2014, Taylor became a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts in London, and in November 2016 was also honoured with an honorary degree from University of Bradford for his services to humanitarian causes.[11][55][69][70]

Musical works

Film scores
Year Title Role Director Studio(s)
2007 Brooklyn Rules Composer
(Additional Music)		 Michael Corrente Southpaw Entertainment
The Weinstein Company
2009 Hellbilly 58[71] Composer
(Additional Music)		 Russ Diaper Sledge Films
2010 Cocaine Saints Composer Matt Reiker Reiker Respect Entertainment
Miramax
2014 Fear of Water Composer Kate Lane KL Dream Pictures
M4West Media
2014 Dark House Songwriter Victor Salva Charles Agron Productions
Paladin
2014 The Perfect Dictatorship Writer "Team Earth" Luis Estrada Bandidos Films
2018 London Fields Composer Mathew Cullen Muse Productions
Lionsgate
2020 Chick Fight Composer Paul Leyden Yale Productions
Idiot Savant Pictures

Recent TV scores
Year Title Role Director Studio(s)
2013 The Big Bang Theory Composer: Additional music Mark Cendrowski Chuck Lorre Productions
Warner Bros. Television
2013 Super Bowl XLVII Composer: Additional music Mike Arnold CBS Sports
2013 Orange Is the New Black Songwriter Michael Trim Lionsgate Television
Tilted Productions
2014 Super Bowl XLVIII Composer: Additional music Hamish Hamilton Fox Sports
2014 Justified Composer
(Song Placement)		 Tucker Gates The Mark Gordon Company
2014 Ray Donovan Composer
(Song Placement)		 Michael Dinner FX Productions
Timberman-Beverly Productions
Nemo Films
2014 How to Get Away with Murder Songwriter Laura Innes ShondaLand
ABC Studios
2015 Kroll Show Composer Jonathan Krisel Good At Bizness Inc.
2016 Luke Cage (TV series) Writer "Getting Lost" Paul McGuigan Netflix
Marvel Television
2017 Greys Anatomy Writer "Time" Geary McLeod ShondaLand
2017 Suits Songwriter "Nippit" Maurice Marable NBCUniversal
2017 Young Sheldon Composer Michael Zinberg Chuck Lorre Productions
Warner Bros. Television
2018 13 Reasons Why Composer
Songwriter "Let It Go"		 Michael Morris Paramount Television
Netflix
2018 Maniac Songwriter Cary Fukunaga Anonymous Content
Netflix
2019 Succession Songwriter Kevin Bray Warner Bros. Television
2019 Broad City Composer
(Song Placement)		 Abbi Jacobson Paper Kite Productions
Comedy Partners
2019 1994 Songwriter "Question Everything" Stefano Accorsi Sky Italia
Sky Cinema 1

Video games
Year Title Role Studio(s)
2009/10 CSI: Deadly Intent[71] Additional Music Composer CBS Television Network
Ubi Soft
2009 Football Manager 2010 Composer Sports Interactive
Sega

Awards and honours

In November 2016, Kate Swann awarded Taylor with an honorary doctorate from the University of Bradford for his services to music and humanitarian causes.

Taylor was honoured with a Fellowship of the Royal Society of Arts in 2015.[11][55][72]

He won Best Original Music for his score to Fear Of Water at the 2014 Monaco International Film Festival[9] as judged by film director Roland Joffé.

YearWorkCategoryFestival/EventResults
2014Fear of WaterBest Original MusicMonaco International Film FestivalWon

See also

References
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  2. Meena Shamaly. "Benson Taylor Interview". Filmsandgamecomposers.com. Retrieved 3 October 2015.
  3. "Benson Taylor's Age". IMDb.com. 28 August 2015. Retrieved 29 August 2015.
  4. "United Nations Support". Twitter. Retrieved 3 January 2017.
  5. "Fired Earth Music Interviews "Spirited" Composers". APM Music. 23 April 2012. Archived from the original on 4 May 2012. Retrieved 7 February 2013.
  6. "Q&A with composer Benson Taylor". Future Composer. 12 March 2014. Archived from the original on 13 April 2014. Retrieved 12 March 2014.
  7. "Benson Taylor to Score London Fields". Film Music Reporter. 9 June 2014. Retrieved 13 April 2015.
  8. "London Fields Movie at TIFF 2015". Toronto International Film Festival. Archived from the original on 9 September 2015. Retrieved 9 September 2015.
  9. "Angel Film Awards - Monaco International Film Festival 2013". Monaco Film Festival. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
  10. "Benson Taylor receives Honorary Doctorate". Telegraph & Argus. Ricky Memo. Retrieved 23 November 2016.
  11. "Benson Taylor receives Honorary Doctorate". Telegraph & Argus Bradford. Retrieved 2 December 2016.
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    - "Universal Music Signing". Lauren Sampton. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  13. "A Remarkable Idea & Universal Music Publishing Group". Simon Davies. Retrieved 19 November 2017.
  14. "Composer Benson Taylor appointed celebrity ambassador". CAFOD Aid Agency. Retrieved 8 March 2017.
  15. "Our celebrity ambassadors". CAFOD. Retrieved 25 March 2017.
  16. "Benson Taylor Becomes Goodwill Ambassador". Cambodian Children's Trust. 4 November 2014. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 4 November 2014.
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  18. "Notable Old Bradfordians". Bradford Grammar School. Retrieved 7 October 2014.
  19. "Benson Taylor Award Winning Film Composer". Jamsphere.com. Retrieved 2 May 2015.
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  21. "News - Diocese of Leeds". Dioceseofleeds.org.
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  23. Roveet Amun. "NISSAN SENTRA 舒適鑑賞篇 完整版". YouTube. Nissan. Retrieved 21 April 2019.
  24. Felipe Ascacibar. "McDonald's - "Lucky summer"". Ad Forum. Retrieved 22 September 2018.
  25. "McDonald's - Lucky Summer". YouTube. Retrieved 23 September 2018.
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  37. Buchanan, Kyle (5 June 2018). "Watch the NSFW Trailer for the Controversial Amber Heard–Johnny Depp Movie London Fields". Vulture. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
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  40. "British Council Film: London Fields". British Council.
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  48. "BENSON TAYLOR on Twitter: "I made a tune with my brothers. Check it out". Twitter.com. 29 October 2019. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  49. "Benson's Concert". twitter.com.
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  57. Hemingway, Olivia (13 September 2017). "HRI photography series and stories:". Oliviahemingway.wordpress.com.
  58. Taylor, Benson (27 October 2018). "I did some music in support of @UNHCRUSA. Please watch and share. #WithRefugees …". Twitter.com.
  59. "Composer Benson Taylor joins the United Nation's World Food Programme to highlight World Refugee Day". Thelondoneconomic.com. 20 June 2018.
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  64. "AlzheimersResearchUK (@ARUKnews) - Twitter". twitter.com.
  65. "Huge thanks to @_bensontaylor for composing and kindly donating the soundtrack to our latest dementia awareness film #DementiaUncovered …". AlzheimersResearchUK. 26 June 2018.
  66. Bridges, Jeff (11 July 2018). "Dementia takes so much from us. We must support research to beat the diseases that cause it. Help @ARUKnews by watching and sharing this film they made with @SimonPegg and @ricoheurope. #DementiaUncovered". Twitter.com.
  67. Serkis, Andy (9 July 2018). "Dementia affects so many families around the world, yet many people don't truly understand what it is. This film from @SimonPegg, @ARUKnews and @ricoheurope can help change this. Please watch and share #DementiaUncovered". Twitter.com.
  68. Cranston, Bryan (2 July 2018). "One in three people born today will develop dementia. That's really shocking. We must support @ARUKnews and their research. Please watch and share this film they made with @ricoheurope and the wonderful @SimonPegg #DementiaUncovered". Twitter.com.
  69. Stephan Lurie. "Taylor enters Royal Society". Thepost.com.com. Archived from the original on 25 April 2015. Retrieved 25 April 2015.
  70. "2016 Benson Taylor receives Honorary Degree from Bradford University". Twitter. Brian Lesser. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  71. "Benson Taylor Game Scores on IMDb". IMDb.com. 2010. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
  72. "2016 Benson Taylor receives Honorary Degree from Bradford University". Twitter. Brian Lesser. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
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