Batu Sener

[LSH 1,098]

I'm (perhaps pre-emptively, but it'll pay off) creating a discussion about this John Powell apprentice.

 

His contributions to some of Powell's recent scores must be significant. I only say this because his recent Ice Age score is absolutely lovely and the best impression of Powell I've ever heard.

 

I'm looking forward to hearing more from this guy. I mean, in lieu of Powell, he's obviously the next best thing (which is so strange to say for someone so 'fresh' on the 'scene'). 

 

I genuinely want to hear more from him. And perhaps his own style will permeate eventually. He's clearly talented. I'm sure there's more there within him.  

 

As others have said, his theme for Zee in the new Ice Age film is pure Powell. The most Powell thing I've heard that wasn't written by the guy himself. 

 

 

I think this guy is gonna go far. Powell, as a mentor, must be behind him.

[SilverTrumpet 645]

Didn't I read somewhere that he wrote Corellia Chase from Solo? That's a hell of a track.

[Edmilson 10,488]

1 hour ago, SilverTrumpet said:

Didn't I read somewhere that he wrote Corellia Chase from Solo? That's a hell of a track.

I think it was more of a "Powell + Batu combo", right? Either way, if Batu did this cue on his own, congratulations to him, it might be the best action cue of that score.

[Will 2,329]

I doubt Sener had a particularly major role in writing "Corellia Chase," given that Powell posted the sheet music for that cue on YouTube without giving credit to Sener. 

 

In any event, I completely agree about the two Ice Age scores. Gorgeous stuff: 

 

 

Some great action writing in here as well: 

 

 

See also: 

 

 

[LSH 1,098]

14 hours ago, Edmilson said:

I think it was more of a "Powell + Batu combo", right? Either way, if Batu did this cue on his own, congratulations to him, it might be the best action cue of that score.

 

Yeah, I'm pretty sure it's a co-credit.

 

Not sure how reliable this website is but that cue appears to credited to both of them.

 

https://hans-zimmer.com/discography/229/project/3306

[Luka 279]

Sener just posted this in his Instagram stories! Probably from Harold and the Purple Crayon?

 

 

[Luka 279]

And a new one: 

 

[Jay 42,398]

Sony Pushes ‘Harold And The Purple Crayon’ To 2024

[PrayodiBA 865]

Wow, I just very late to acknowledge this beautiful music tease for Ataturk, due for release this October. 

 

Hear at this partcular part onwards:

 

Batu Sener doesn't need to go "Powell" on this solo oeuvre, especially for this series.

But based on the music above, Powell's tune progression & harmony has in fact rooted in at Sener's head 😍😍

 

And thus, we must be glad that we got a full Powell successor on our hands

(now that Powell is on his slowing down pace)

[Luka 279]

The Part 1 album from Atatürk is out.

What do you guys think?

 

After a first listen, I feel like there a some really good things in there.

I can start to hear Sener's style… Especially if we compare it to his "Lugano Impressions", which is a really good Cello and Piano short album. After all, Charles Tyler is the solo cellist on both projects.

Unfortunate that the show will only come in 2024 on Disney+, but I'll certainly listen to the music a couple times until then.

 

 

All in all, I'm just very happy Sener has quite a big project on his own. I think he has a bright future as a composer ahead of him!

[thestat 496]

Listened to a lot of this as am impressed by Sener's work with Powell. Here - not sure. It is standard bio music, some interesting progressions and colours, but really, it's not anything to write home about. Sener did the job - the score functions - a release came out - okay.

[Luka 279]

[Jay 42,398]

Harold and the Purple Crayon OST album drops Friday August 2nd, the same day the film opens

 

https://5catstudios.com/listen 

[Thor 9,308]

I thought Batu Sener was the name of that tiny, cute mechanic in the new STAR WARS films.

[Edmilson 10,488]

His name does sound like the name for a Star Wars character 

 

"We must confer with Master Batu Sener about the dire situation in Utapau..."

[Tom Guernsey 3,273]

2 hours ago, Edmilson said:

His name does sound like the name for a Star Wars character 

 

"We must confer with Master Batu Sener about the dire situation in Utapau..."

Always two there are. A master and an apprentice. Alas John Powell just isn’t a Jedi Master name. 

[Edmilson 10,488]

Master Powell was under a Padawan under Master Zimmer, a former Jedi exiled from the Order due to his forbidden experiments with synths and power anthems. After climbing in the ranks of the Order, Powell went searching for the knowledge of the powerful Jedi High Council leader Master John Williams to study the seemingly forgotten art of the orchestral film scoring, then under attack by Zimmer's acolytes.

 

A better plot than the SW sequels! 

[Tom Guernsey 3,273]

Just now, Edmilson said:

Master Powell was under a Padawan under Master Zimmer, a former Jedi exiled from the Order due to his forbidden experiments with synths and power anthems. After climbing in the ranks of the Order, Powell went searching for the knowledge of the powerful Jedi High Council leader Master John Williams to study the seemingly forgotten art of the orchestral film scoring, then under attack by Zimmer's acolytes.

JP to HZ.... “When I left you I was but the learner. Now I am the master.”

 

1 minute ago, Edmilson said:

A better plot than the SW sequels! 

It certainly has better characters and makes more sense ;-)

[Jay 42,398]

 

 

 

[tomsmoviemadness 4,252]

https://www.qobuz.com/nz-en/album/harold-and-the-purple-crayon-original-motion-picture-soundtrack-batu-sener/zp6nueapmih1b

 

1. The Crayon Overture
2. The Real World
3. Our Old Man
4. Crash Biking
5. Help Each Out
6. Pursuits and Pies
7. Library Gary
8. Take to the Skies
9. Who’s Your Daddy?
10. Ollie’s Adventure
11. Hungarian Rhapsody
12. Pure Imagination
13. Escaping Bars
14. Closet of Whistles
15. No More Purple
16. Bottomless Pit
17. Believe in Yourself
18. Duel of the Crayons
19. More than Purple
20. Glaive of G’Garaur
21. The Crayon Suite
22. Harold’s Theme (Solo Piano) [Bonus Track]
23. Crayon Tune (Solo Piano) [Bonus Track]

1 hour 1 minute.

[Anthony 821]

I love it. So colourful. Does it sound like Powell? Only hints in tiny places. 

[tomsmoviemadness 4,252]

Agree, the score is a lot of fun!

There are definitive hints of Powell but this is the first score where I feel Sener's own vooie is coming through more. 

[Anthony 821]

Yeah. It doesn't really SOUND like Powell, but it does REMIND me of him.

 

This is the kind of score I want more of. There a definitely a few bits that remind me of Buck Wild, which I guess could be BS's sound..but I haven't heard enough from him yet to really work out what that is yet.

 

I think he's awesome, though!

[Luka 279]

2 hours ago, Anthony said:

a few bits that remind me of Buck Wild

 

To be honest, I felt like it reminded me too much of Buck Wild and Scrat Tales. I hope Sener gets to explore more ways of doing this kind of kids/adventure music in the future!  But he stays one of my biggest hopes for the future of film music and I can't wait to hear what he comes up with next.

[PrayodiBA 865]

It’s clear director Carlos Saldanha wanted John Powell first, but as a good mentor as he is, and probably too busy writing two Netflix features simultaneously and big assignment such as Wicked, he delegated this to Sener. So Powell’s signature sound, that clearly heard all over this score, is the very reason why Sener was hired in the first place.

 

Even though Sener’s own touch is more present here than in Buck Wild, it’s still a ‘Powell sound’ as a whole. I think that, maybe, is like an unwritten guarantee for Carlos Saldanha so he could be at ease knowing he would get Powell sound without hiring him. 

 

If you want to hear pure Sener’s signature sound, then you should hear his Attaturk score.
 

But honestly, come on let’s be honest, the very reason why we (or me) attracted to Sener’s works is because his association and adept mimicry of John Powell’s style, correct?

 

At this moment, Sener needs something to truly break away from ‘Powell grasp’. The successful example of ‘Powell’s graduate’ that could develop their own voice is Anthony Willis. He has frequent collaboration with director Emerald Fennel that truly propel his career. Sener needs that.

 

 

 

[Loert 2,946]

One day Batu Sener will break free from the nest just as John Powell broke free from Zimmer's. And then Batu Sener will start 6 Dog Studios and he will have his own backup composer (Powell² ?)

 

But until then he will have to play the role of Powell's "backup" composer from time to time.

 

It is written.

 

(But, mind you...being Powell's "backup", with the mentorship that undoubtedly comes with that, is quite an enviable role to have ).

[LSH 1,098]

I've only listened to the first cue. It's great. I can hear quite a lot of Powell in it!

[Tarci4096 72]

Batu Sener is at the Newman Scoring Stage. Unclear which film he's scoring aside from Ice Age 6 as his only upcoming project.

 

B

[Thor 9,308]

Batu Sener is a dog? I always thought the name sounded very STAR WARS-ish, but I suppose it kinda sounds pet dog-ish too.

[Anthony 821]

Batu Sener has created a Spotify playlist of music he's written for JP scores. It's not clear whether he wrote these full cues, or just contributed parts to them.

 

 

[Jurassic Shark 14,984]

Funny, some of the best tracks by "composer extraordinaire" (according to JWFan) John Powell are by his coffee maker. 

[Richard P 4,767]

Ah yes, unless I'm misremembering, Buck Takes The Lead came up last time Sener's contributions were discussed. A couple of HTTYD 3 tracks in there too - 'Legend Has It' has such a wonderful fable-like feel to it.

 

Someone's about to be mega disappointed that Powell didn't do a favourite track though...

[Edmilson 10,488]

1 hour ago, Richard P said:

Someone's about to be mega disappointed that Powell didn't do a favourite track though...

See, this is the extent of this additional music crap that torments me. What exactly was his role here? Did he write a full cue start to finish, based on JP's themes, of course, but still the whole thing was his work? And then Powell just listened and approved what he's done? Or did he re-wrote or rearranged a cue Powell wrote to fit changes in the editing? 

 

I'll never be comfortable with this "music written by a team" thing. Because we'll never know what the extent of the work of the other composers. Knowing that a composer I admire pretty much writed just the themes and a few key scenes and the rest of his work was just to listen to other people's music and give them feedbacks like "That's fine, let's record it!" or "Nah, it needs a little more drama, add more strings" is incredibly annoying. 

[Loert 2,946]

And the award for Cheekiest Spotify Playlist goes to...

[Richard P 4,767]

1 hour ago, Edmilson said:

I'll never be comfortable with this "music written by a team" thing. Because we'll never know what the extent of the work of the other composers. Knowing that a composer I admire pretty much writed just the themes and a few key scenes and the rest of his work was just to listen to other people's music and give them feedbacks like "That's fine, let's record it!" or "Nah, it needs a little more drama, add more strings" is incredibly annoying. 

 

The 'team' approach to scoring is itself up for debate of course, but it's clear pretty much everyone has to do it. Also see it from a mentoring perspective - if Powell comes across a composer he thinks is really good, he can give them a fighting chance in the industry and make his life a bit easier for bigger composing projects. McCreary clearly wanted to do RoP solo but he knows he has to have a team for everything else because that's the only way he can do his job.

 

It also doesn't seem that Powell is just writing themes and stepping back - rather getting some help and perhaps giving Sener a bit more to do than average to give him some experience.

[Tom Guernsey 3,273]

I kinda get those comments and it's almost depressing that, despite the extensive technology available to speed up the composing process (or at least the process of putting it down on paper/hard drive) that composers are still under pointless time pressures and so have to get people in to help. I guess we're so used to the previous generations doing things as essentially autonomous artists who just had help with the practical stuff like transcription where even orchestrators were just glorified copyists.

 

I feel some slight parallels between JP and David Arnold as a lot of Arnold's sound came from Nicholas Dodd. They seemed to have something of a symbiotic relationship. Arnold can write a banging tune (as they say) and Dodd has the technical orchestral acumen to turn Arnold's ideas into terrific scores. I'm pretty sure that JP is a more skilled orchestral composer in his own right and, while his team are able to write some terrific cues, it's JP's original ideas and concepts that are what make his stuff so good even when it is a team effort. 

[Richard P 4,767]

It's the 'perfect' image of a classically-trained composer sitting for 6 months next to a piano, and producing two hours of sweeping, thematic orchestral music, that many can't pull away from. That sort of image evokes the 90s for me - before digital editing was what it is today.

 

There was a comment some time ago from one of the bigger RCP alumni which was effectively 'that ship has sailed' WRT orchestral music giving way to textural, electronic music. Of course, he was talking complete BS but he was likely accurate when taken in context of composers being given months and months to write a score to a locked picture. Particularly an edit changing all the time, I suspect is why composers need assistants for most of the time.

 

I don't support the idea that a blockbuster drama/action film needs 10 composers to write the score (something's out of control if it comes to that, or they've been given a completely unreasonable timescale) but I do support the notion that most composers need assistance in the most frantic digital age.

[Tarci4096 72]

Ataturk is now available to stream on Amazon Prime.
https://www.primevideo.com/detail/Atatürk-I-1881-1919/0NW3E7J57ZWI35SN3S9NDOKSTG

[Once 903]

On 6/3/2025 at 5:07 PM, Richard P said:

Particularly an edit changing all the time, I suspect is why composers need assistants for most of the time.

I definitely believe this is the main reason and would also explain why additional composers are less common outside of Hollywood.

[GerateWohl 5,944]

With all these modern technology, that lowered the required skill level for performing certain tasks like editing or orchestral composition which allows more or less to develop an edit or an orchestral piece by some amsteurish trial and error approach, didn't necessarily lead to better results, but rather the idea in the industry, that they suggest, they could pay the craftsmen less, because they claim that they could give the job to some hamster walking across the keyboard to do the job and that they can request tougher timelines.

 

Technical progress isn't always a blessing. 

[Tarci4096 72]

On 13/03/2025 at 11:25 AM, Tarci4096 said:

Ataturk is now available to stream on Amazon Prime.
https://www.primevideo.com/detail/Atatürk-I-1881-1919/0NW3E7J57ZWI35SN3S9NDOKSTG

 

 

 

The Scarlet Waltz music starts at 3:32.