'“Sorry” was the first song I’ve written for myself in a long time,” Elfman explained. “It began as an obsessive choral-chant instrumental work, which at the time I called ‘alien orchestral chamber punk’ and evolved slowly into a song. I was surprised by the amount of rage I'd been storing inside myself which came bursting out as soon as I applied my voice.”
A native of Los Angeles, Elfman grew up loving film music. He travelled the world as a young man, absorbing its musical diversity. He founded the band Oingo Boingo, and came to the attention of a young Tim Burton, who asked him to write the score for Pee-wee’s Big Adventure. 36 years later, the two have forged one of the most fruitful composer-director collaborations in film history.
A four-time Oscar nominee, Elfman has scored over 100 films including: Milk (Oscar nominated), Good Will Hunting (Oscar nominated), Big Fish (Oscar nominated), Men in Black (Oscar nominated), Edward Scissorhands, Batman, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Spider-Man, Silver Lining’s Playbook and many more.
“I need to push myself into new territory with fresh challenges as much as I can and whenever I can,” Elfman said. “I am told I have a recognizable style but my greatest pleasure is when I can surprise the audience with my music.”
Throughout this year Elfman will continue to release songs on the eleventh day of the month. The number 11 has always had significance to Danny over his life, with his name Elf meaning “eleven” in German, his violin concerto was named “Eleven-Eleven”, etc.
Last Halloween, Elfman revealed “Happy”, the first solo music he has released since 1984, a dark, intensely turbulent song that showcases the unease we all feel today within a global pandemic and extraordinarily divisive times. In the “Happy” music video Elfman’s face distorts both with disgust and glee; watch it HERE.
photo: Melisa McGregor/ANTI Records
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