Brian Reitzell Quotes

Powerful Brian Reitzell for Daily Growth

About Brian Reitzell

Brian Reitzell, born on April 17, 1963, in San Francisco, California, is an acclaimed composer, musician, and record producer known for his versatile work spanning various genres. Raised in a family of musicians, Reitzell began playing drums at the age of six, eventually mastering multiple instruments. Reitzell's formative years were heavily influenced by the burgeoning San Francisco punk scene of the 80s, where he played with local bands like the Flesh Eaters and the Redd Kross. However, it was his move to New York City in the early 90s that truly propelled his career. In New York, Reitzell found success as a session musician and producer, working with artists such as Lou Reed, U2, and Sinead O'Connor. His breakthrough came when he joined the band Failure, serving as their drummer for their 1996 album " Fantastic Planet." Reitzell is perhaps best known for his film scoring work. He has composed music for numerous films including "Lost in Translation," "The Virgin Suicides," and "Velvet Goldmine." His unique blend of electronic and organic sounds, coupled with his ability to capture the emotional essence of a story, has earned him critical acclaim. In addition to film scoring, Reitzell continues to work as a record producer, most notably with the band Sia on her album "Some People Have Real Problems." His recent works include composing for the TV series "Hannibal" and "13 Reasons Why." Brian Reitzell's career is a testament to his versatility as an artist, blending elements of rock, electronic, and classical music to create a unique sound that resonates across multiple mediums.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"Music has always been my compass."

This quote suggests that music serves as a guiding force or direction in Brian Reitzell's life. It implies that music plays an essential role in navigating his experiences, emotions, and personal journey, much like a compass directs a traveler on their path. Music might help him understand the world around him, express himself, find inspiration, and make sense of his feelings and beliefs.


"The role of a composer is to create an emotional landscape."

Brian Reitzell's quote underscores the significance of a composer's role in shaping the emotional context within music. By crafting melodies, harmonies, and rhythms, composers construct an auditory landscape that can evoke a range of emotions in listeners. This "emotional landscape" is not just a backdrop for other creative works, but it serves as an integral part of the storytelling, setting the mood, and resonating with the audience on an emotional level. The composer's work thus becomes a powerful tool for stirring emotions and fostering connections between artists and their audience.


"Inspiration comes from everywhere and anywhere."

This quote by Brian Reitzell signifies that creativity and inspiration are not limited to any specific source or environment; they can emerge spontaneously, in any place, or at any given moment. Essentially, it suggests that one should be open-minded and attentive to potential sources of inspiration which may be present in the world around us, whether obvious or seemingly mundane.


"Collaboration is about finding common ground and building something beautiful together."

This quote emphasizes the importance of collaboration in achieving a common goal, specifically highlighting that it involves identifying shared values or interests (finding common ground) and working together to create something remarkable (building something beautiful). Essentially, Brian Reitzell suggests that successful collaboration requires understanding, empathy, and teamwork.


"Every note, every sound, every silence has a purpose and a meaning."

This quote highlights the intentionality behind every musical element - notes, sounds, and silences. It suggests that each aspect in music serves a specific purpose and carries a deeper meaning. The rhythm, melody, harmony, and pauses are not random, but carefully chosen to evoke emotions, tell stories, or create atmospheres. In essence, this quote encourages us to appreciate the deliberate craftsmanship behind music, understanding that even the smallest components contribute to the overall impact of a composition.


'Lost in Translation' was a year of my life, if not more, and then 'Marie Antoinette' was about three years of my life.

- Brian Reitzell

My Life, Marie Antoinette, Translation

I only want to make enough money to make more music.

- Brian Reitzell

Music, Money, More, Enough Money

One of my first favourite records of all time, as a kid, was 'Tommy' by the Who. Now that wasn't really a soundtrack, but it was.

- Brian Reitzell

Kid, Records, Soundtrack, The Who

My dad had a candy-apple red sparkle drag boat with a giant hemi engine in it that he raced professionally. The sound of that engine was the most incredible sound ever.

- Brian Reitzell

Sparkle, Sound, Dad, Engine

I know this as a musician: When you nail something, and you get so much attention for it, you want to strip that away and prove, mostly for yourself, that you don't need that.

- Brian Reitzell

Prove, Away, Mostly, Much Attention

An orchestra can add some class, a historical vibe, but I believe you can get the same emotion from pottery wheels.

- Brian Reitzell

Some, Vibe, Add, Orchestra

With 'Hannibal,' it's like reactive scoring so I don't get ahead. I don't read a script; I don't want to know what's going to happen until its happening in front of me and I'm able to have an instrument in my hands that I'm playing to make some kind of a map, some sort of tonal map, that I can then build on.

- Brian Reitzell

Hands, Some, Ahead, Map

I'm not a sports fan, but I remember watching highlights with post-rock guitar instrumental music over these slow-motion shots of football players. It's triumphant, and it's emotional, and that's what sports are for.

- Brian Reitzell

Watching, I Remember, Fan, Highlights

When my parents got divorced, I wanted to spend my time laying in the garage listening to the washer and dryer. Loud, immersive, changing. It was music to me.

- Brian Reitzell

Listening, Loud, Laying, Divorced

The movie I worked on that had the most problems and interference came from the smallest indie movie I've ever done. I couldn't believe what the director had to go through; he was destroyed.

- Brian Reitzell

Through, Movie, Indie, Interference

'Hannibal' is not reality; the whole show is not reality. It's heightened reality: they want music the entire time.

- Brian Reitzell

Music, Want, Show, Hannibal

With 'Hannibal,' I just really want people to feel something.

- Brian Reitzell

Want, Feel, Just, Hannibal

I always liked the stress, the real high-stakes, get-the-orders-out line-cook job, as well as the ordering of the produce and everything - it's really similar to making music for a show like 'Hannibal.' It's like cooking; it's just like owning a restaurant.

- Brian Reitzell

Show, Ordering, Liked, Hannibal

I've put a lot of records out and a lot of soundtracks, and 'Hannibal' is kind of a special one.

- Brian Reitzell

Special, Records, Lot, Hannibal

With 'Hannibal,' it's almost like the music is part of the furniture, so as a character goes from one room to another room, or we go from one place to another or whatever, the music is just going with it the whole time the same way that the audience is sort of tracking it and following along.

- Brian Reitzell

Another, Part, Almost, Hannibal

I'm always full of ideas. I just haven't stopped doing what I did as a teenager. Now I just happen to get paid for it!

- Brian Reitzell

Happen, Always, Stopped, Teenager

To me, 'Auto Music' wasn't work. It was in-between work.

- Brian Reitzell

Work, Music, Auto, In-Between

Indie movies can be a lot more stressful than studio pictures. The stakes are just as high whether you're talking $3 million or $40 million.

- Brian Reitzell

More, Indie, Studio, Stressful

Bronze makes the most complex waveforms of any substance known to man. It creates these vibrations that will just crack your skull.

- Brian Reitzell

Will, Substance, Makes, Bronze

My favourite scores, they have very little music. I don't ever want to notice the music coming in. I just want it to suddenly be there and feel something.

- Brian Reitzell

Want, Very, Scores, Notice

There's nothing worse than being stuck with a bad song.

- Brian Reitzell

Song, Bad, Nothing, Stuck

I think that this television medium, or whatever we call it now, is a really great frontier to turn people onto music - to new music or old music. It's a great platform where you've got people's ears, and you can throw something at them. I like to use it to the fullest that I can.

- Brian Reitzell

I Think, Medium, Use, New Music

I think for a horror experience to be really scary, something has to be a bit of a shock and a surprise. It's like something you've never experienced before.

- Brian Reitzell

Surprise, Think, I Think, Experienced

The library companies have made it so that music is so cheap to license. They do sound-alikes of every band, and it makes it harder for the actual bands to get any decent paychecks for licensing.

- Brian Reitzell

Made, Makes, Actual, License

NBC has not once given me a music note. I get the freedom to do what I want, and that's kind of amazing.

- Brian Reitzell

Kind, Note, Given, NBC

Every continent on Earth has a form of bullroarer - it's the oldest instrument known to man.

- Brian Reitzell

Continent, Form, Known, Oldest

'Loveless' was a really big record for me. It was what was keeping me alive when I was still touring with Redd Kross.

- Brian Reitzell

Big, Alive, Still, Touring

I really don't like the way most movies and TV shows are supervised - I hate when there's someone singing over dialogue, songs just thrown in there.

- Brian Reitzell

Singing, Over, TV, TV Shows

I love collaborating because I come from the world of being in bands.

- Brian Reitzell

Love, World, I Love, Collaborating

I approach horror music differently than anything else. The very first time I watch an episode, I want to be playing an instrument to it so I can get that shock into the show.

- Brian Reitzell

Want, Horror, Very, Shock

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