Nicholas Poss is a film composer/sound designer based out of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. His work has accompanied films featured at Fantastic Fest, Cannes Film Festival and The Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian. Recently “Climate of the Hunter” (scored by Nicholas Poss) was included in rogerebert.com’s Best Horror Films of 2020 list. In addition to writing music for film and television, Poss is also a Music Production lecturer at the Academy of Contemporary Music at the University of Central Oklahoma.
How did you get started?
I got started doing this whole music thing by learning how to play guitar. Once I could play enough to get by, I started playing in some bands around town while at the same time writing music for small film projects. While working on a variety of projects, I attended Oklahoma City University and studied music composition.
Did you always want a career in the music industry?
I’ve wanted to work in the music industry for as long as I can remember.
What is your role in the music industry?
Currently I spend half of my time writing music for movies and the other half teaching music production courses at the Academy of Contemporary Music at the University of Central Oklahoma (ACM@UCO). It’s a great combo because when I get tired of writing music, I can work on creating educational content for my students, and when I get tired of doing that, I go back to writing music!
Most recent successes / placements / accomplishments / accolades / projects? Career highlight?
Some recent work that I’m excited about is the score I wrote for the film “Agnes” [which was filmed in Oklahoma]. “Agnes” was directed by Mickey Reece, whom I’ve had the pleasure of working closely with for years. The film just got picked up by Magnolia Pictures and will have a theatrical release in December.
What is your favorite Oklahoma music venue, music store, recording studio, etc.?
I love going to Guestroom Records. Not exactly a music venue, but I also always love going to Rodeo Cinema (both of their theaters).
Networking and connecting with others who share your dream or vision is a vital aspect to the music industry. Can you share which Oklahoma organizations (if any) have contributed to your success and are there Oklahoma organizations you would recommend others connect with for promotion or to help further their craft?
One event that introduced me to tons of the people that I work with today is the 48 Hour Film Festival. I encourage any of my students interested in film scoring to join a team every year.
How can we follow you? Best place to purchase and listen to your music (if applicable)?
At this point, if you want to hear the scores I’ve written, you’ll have to watch the movies. Some films that are currently streaming are “Climate of the Hunter” (Amazon Prime Video), “Full Out 2: You Got This” (Netflix) and “Arrows of Outrageous Fortune” (Alamo on Demand).
Please share a piece of advice for someone interested in working in the music industry.
Find the events or groups of people close to you that will introduce you to interesting new work (in my case, I’m looking for interesting new films or music). Additionally, make a habit of getting out of your house and going to shows or film premieres, so you can develop relationships with the people you want to work with.
What are some of the benefits of having a music career in Oklahoma?
Oklahoma’s film rebate has attracted a lot of investment in the entertainment industry. All the films coming into town are creating a lot of new and exciting opportunities for Oklahoma musicians.