What's it like to be Brian Irvine?

A short, informal question and answer interview with Brian Irvine.

1. How and when did you get interested in composing?

My first real composing experience was when I was in P6 [primary school]. My friend Russell and I used to sit beside each other and we used to make up songs and store them in a big brown envelope underneath the desk. No music, just words and tunes in our heads. My first song was called Hobo Dancer. We were going to be pop stars but said I would never be a pop star because I had curly hair and the Beatles all had straight hair -- turned out he was right!

2. Is composing your 'day job' or do you do something else as well?

No, I am involved in making music most of the time. If it is not composing on my own, I would be working with my band [Brian Irvine Ensemble] or doing some project with a group of people. I love being involved with other people -- I am not big into isolation!

3. Where do you mostly get your ideas?

Streets, people, comics, TV, films, books, cartoons, rubbish art, my mum, jugglers, circuses, people with odd facial features, ice cream shops, angels, [David] Lynch, silence, Donaghadee, race courses, supermarkets, call centres.

4. What are you working on at the moment?

Several large-scale orchestral works as part of my job as Associate Composer for the Ulster Orchestra, an opera for Welsh National Opera, an orchestra, choir and narrator version of Tom Baker's book,The Boy Who Kicked Pigs for Scottish Chamber Orchestra, and a big music theatre project called Dumbworld.

5. Describe your typical working day.

I don't really have a typical day -- each is different depending on how much I want to work or what project I am doing. I've no routine I'm afraid!

6. What is it like hearing a new piece played for the first time?

Well good!

7. What has been the highlight of your career so far?

I have had so many great moments; I feel very blessed to have the opportunities that I have had. The highlights are that I get to work with lots of different kinds of people. Arvo Pärt once said that the greatest miracles, the greatest people, happen in secret; I get to see a lot of secrets.

8. What has been the lowlight of your career so far?

Nothing really -- how can you have a lowlight if you are involved in music? I am not sure if I actually have a career...

9. What is your greatest ambition?

To continue to be involved in making bigger, wilder, more adventurous music projects. To create as much music madness as is physically possible before I pop my clogs!

10. Which musician in history do you most admire and why?

I guess that might be Frank Zappa because of his attitude: all music is equal; all musicians are equal; there is no such thing as highbrow; if you want to make music, get some mates together and do it.

11. Which present-day musician do you most admire and why?

I admire anyone who can play an instrument well.

12. Which period of history would you most like to have lived in and why?

Now because of technology, running water, Sky TV, coffee, cinemas, iPods, [computer] notation programmes, good shoes, toothpaste...

13. What is the best thing about being a composer?

Travelling, hanging out with lots of great people, not having to wear a suit everyday, making lots and lots of noise -- it's all pretty fab!

14. What is the worst thing about being a composer?

Nothing.

15. If you weren't a composer, what other career might you have chosen?

I have a serious desire to become a bookie [bookmaker] -- a course bookie as opposed to a shop one. My dad was a bookie all his life and as kids we got to hang out a lot at racecourses, which I absolutely loved. I love every aspect of course bookmaking -- it's very clever stuff and the horse track is one of the few places that embraces all kinds of human life, from the scally on the street to high society.

16. What is your concept of heaven?

Being able to follow your imagination freely.

17. What is your concept of hell?

Having to grind everyday at something you feel is of no value, or being isolated.

18. What is your favourite food?

Depends what frame of mind I am in -- I like fish.

19. If someone gave you three months off with unlimited travel and living expenses, what would you do?

Three months off what? Keep your three months off!

20. If you could have one thing in the world that would really help you as a composer, what would it be?

Talent!