Composer shares gift

From hip-hop to social commentary in dance form, a North Shore composer finds himself making a festival performance. Sharu Delilkan explains
Amin Payne is stepping out of his comfort zone to be dance company BackLit Production's musical director.
The Birkenhead "turn-tablist", who mainly produces hiphop music, is thoroughly enjoying stretching himself to create and mix original sound for the company's new show, The Story of Stuff.
Inspired by US thinker and commentator Noam Chomsky's famous lesson of the same name, it features seven dancers: Colette Arnold, Georgie Goater, Annabel Harrison, Mandy Leckie, Lucy Miles, Shannon Mutu and Janine Parkes.
Social issues, both serious and light, are common topics in the two year old company's shows.
Equipped with keyboard, notepad and laptop, Payne goes to most of BackLit's rehearsals to get "a feel for what I need to create. Sometimes, I compose on the spot, while other times I compose from scratch at home. I observe, discuss and then compose the music according to their movement," he says.
"They're really happy that someone is able to edit and manipulate the music around them rather than having to find suitable music.'
Payne is particularly excited that as sound engineer he will be part of the performance. "It will give me a chance to control and drop the music in at the right time and on cue."
The 25-year-old IT graduate says composing the sounds for the show is a whole new area for him.
"Writing a soundscape for a dance is almost like writing the soundtrack for amovie. It's extremely challenging and I'm loving every minute of it."
Composing and mixing music is something Payne discovered he was good at about five years ago when a friend gave him software to compose music.
"It just seemed so natural using the software, I knew I was born to do it. To me, making music is like sharing a gift with others and letting them enjoy what I have made."
The Story of Stuff, Tempo NZ Festival of Dance, Concert Chamber, Auckland Town Hall, until Oct 4. Tickets: ph 357 3355 or see www.the-edge.co.nzDetails see www.tempo.co.nz