Will Bates has taken a thrilling detour from his film score roots with his latest release, The Pirate Album. The album’s origin story is as eclectic as the music itself. The album’s journey wasn’t smooth. The Pirate Album was repeatedly shelved as Bates prioritized other film compositions. Over eighteen months, the project evolved slowly, with each return to the sketches adding new layers. A turning point came when Lucy Alper, a music supervisor from Bates’ production company Fall On Your Sword, secured a sync for one of the tracks, sparking the final creative push needed to complete the album.
While working on a film score, Bates rented a massive fifteen-foot balafon without consulting the director. Joined by his friend, percussionist Mathias Kunzli, and six other balafons, the project seemed promising. However, the director was unimpressed, leading to an amicable parting of ways and leaving those beautiful balafon tones behind. Determined not to let the sketches go to waste, Bates reclaimed them and planted the seeds for The Pirate Album. With a rich background in bands spanning dance music, indie-rock, and jazz, Bates had spent the last decade focused on film scoring. This project marked his return to creating music purely for its own sake.
To bring his vision to life, Bates enlisted a stellar group of collaborators from his TV and film network. First on board was his childhood friend, London-based jazz musician Quentin Collins, known for his trumpet work with Kyle Eastwood. Next came New York-based drummer and percussionist Spencer Cohen, a fifteen-year veteran of Bates' projects. Together, they began transforming the sketches into songs, aiming for a sound somewhere between Eden Ahbez and Talking Heads.
Now, The Pirate Album is here, a testament to Bates’ unwavering creative spirit. The nine tracks are beautifully diverse and sonically striking, showcasing Bates’ ability to craft captivating soundscapes. The production quality of each track is sensational, with every note and beat meticulously polished. The album feels like a cohesive journey through Bates’ musical world, offering listeners a rich tapestry of sounds and emotions. From the opener 'Superman Hits The Pulsar', which bursts into life with the balafon tones and funky synths fuelling the track to the concluding gentle, sweeping tones of synths and saxophone in 'Handshake From A Great David', 'The Pirate Album' is a refreshing release this year. Will is offering up something new to the music scene and, after your first listen, you'll be so glad he did.
Reflecting on the release, Bates shared, “I know how lucky I am to have a career in film music, being able to make music every day. But it’s been a long time since I worked on music that isn’t against picture, and any insecurities I may have had about it were quickly cast aside with the help of my collaborators.”
Will Bates, the son of two Hammer Horror actors, began his eclectic musical journey as a jazz saxophonist in London. He spent his youth playing in bars, performing on a BBC1 game show, and earning a music degree. Shifting towards composition and production, Bates worked with artists like Roy Ayers, Steve Hackett, and Pussy Riot. In 2003, he moved to New York and started composing for Amber Music. In Brooklyn, Bates formed The Rinse, a pop-punk band, and later co-founded Fall On Your Sword with producer Lucy Alper. Known for its viral video art project, the company thrived in Brooklyn before relocating to Los Angeles in 2018. Bates also collaborated with Electric Six frontman Dick Valentine on two albums under the name Evil Cowards. As a film and TV composer, Bates has scored projects for directors like Mike Cahill, Alex Gibney, and Craig Gillespie. His recent work includes Immaculate and Blackout, and TV credits span series such as Anne Rice's Mayfair Witches, The Devil in Ohio, and Unbelievable. With The Pirate Album, Will Bates returns to his roots, delivering a collection that showcases his versatility and passion for music.
Listen to Will Bates on SPOTIFY | APPLE MUSIC