Daniel Pemberton

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Daniel Pemberton
Born (1977-11-03) 3 November 1977 (age 47)
United Kingdom
GenresFilm score, video game score, electronic, ambient, rock, jazz, funk
Occupation(s)Composer, songwriter
InstrumentsPiano, keyboards, synthesizer, guitar, percussion
Websitedanielpemberton.com

Daniel Pemberton (born 3 November 1977) is an English composer and songwriter. Primarily working in film, television, and video games, he is best known for composing the scores for the film Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and its sequel Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, the latter of which earned him a number of award nominations, including at the Golden Globes and the Critics' Choice Awards. He has also received recognition for his work in films such as Steve Jobs, Motherless Brooklyn, The Trial of the Chicago 7, Being the Ricardos, and The Rescue, as well as the LittleBigPlanet series of games.[1][2] For The Trial of the Chicago 7, Pemberton was nominated for the Ivor Novello Award for Best Original Film Score as well as Academy Award for Best Original Song alongside Celeste for the song “Hear My Voice”.[3]

Life and career

In 1994, at the age of 16, Pemberton recorded his debut album, Bedroom, on a multitrack cassette recorder, which caught the attention of ambient musician Pete Namlook and was released on the latter’s Fax label as part of its sub-label series.

This album impressed TV director Paul Wilmshurst who asked 17-year-old Pemberton to score a TV documentary he was working on.[4] Following this, he became a very in-demand composer for British television [5] eventually segueing into feature film [6] with his debut score of The Awakening from director Nick Murphy.

In 2013, Pemberton completed his breakthrough score of director Ridley Scott's film The Counselor, which was recorded at Abbey Road Studios in London.[7]

In 2021, he was named "Film Composer of the Year" by the World Soundtrack Awards[8] and International Film Music Critics Association.[9]

Pemberton was originally named the "Discovery of the Year" in 2014 at the World Soundtrack Awards[10] and nominated as "Film Composer of the Year" in 2016, 2019, 2021, 2022 and 2023.[11]

Pemberton has been nominated for an Academy Award,[12] won an Emmy Award[13] and been nominated four times for a Golden Globe award and three times for a BAFTA Award. In 2021 he was nominated for the Academy Award For Best Original Song and Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song[14] for the song "Hear My Voice" from the film The Trial of the Chicago 7 which was performed and co-written with Celeste. Pemberton and Celeste performed the song during the 2021 Oscars Ceremony from the roof of the newly opened Academy Museum in Hollywood.[15] A new arrangement of the song was also used as a central part of the Opening Ceremony of the 2022 Commonwealth Games[16] featuring a 1,000-piece choir and guitar solos [17] from Black Sabbath founder Tony Iommi.

In 2016 his score for Steve Jobs was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score.[18] In 2017 he was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song[19] for the song Gold from the film of the same name which he co-wrote with Iggy Pop, Danger Mouse and the director Stephen Gaghan. In 2019 his score for Motherless Brooklyn was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score.[20] He won an Emmy for his work on the acclaimed Paralympic documentary Rising Phoenix creating a score and song working alongside numerous musicians and artists with disabilities.[21]

Pemberton's other notable works include the Ridley Scott-directed The Counselor (2013) and All the Money in the World (2017); the Danny Boyle-directed Steve Jobs (2015) and Yesterday (2019); the Guy Ritchie-directed The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (2015) and King Arthur: Legend of the Sword (2017); the Aaron Sorkin-directed Molly's Game (2017), The Trial of the Chicago 7 (2020), and Being the Ricardos (2021); Cuban Fury (2014); the French film Mal De Pierres (2016); the score to the American 2018 animated film Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, as well as the score to its 2023 sequel Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse; Ocean's 8 (2018); Enola Holmes (2020); and The Rescue (2021), for which Pemberton won a Critics' Choice Award for Best Score.[22]

Earlier work includes The Awakening (2011); the live-action short Ghost Recon: Alpha (2012), directed by Francois Alaux and Herve De Crecy and edited by Pietro Scalia; Blood (2012); and In Fear and the television film Complicit (both 2013). Pemberton also scored director Gareth Edwards' breakthrough sci-fi short film Factory Farmed.[23]

Pemberton has also composed title tunes and incidental music for several award-winning television series including The Game, Prey, Ambassadors, Peep Show, Desperate Romantics, Space Dive, Occupation, Prisoners' Wives, Black Mirror, My Mad Fat Diary, Suburban Shootout, Hell's Kitchen, Great British Menu,[24] Hiroshima, Bad Lads' Army, That'll Teach 'Em, George Orwell: A Life in Pictures, The Yellow House, Monster Moves, Dirk Gently, Napoleon[25] and the first series of the 2010 revival of Upstairs Downstairs. He also has composed music for video games such as LittleBigPlanet, Kinect Adventures, LittleBigPlanet 2, The Movies and Trackmania Turbo. Using the alias The Daniel Pemberton TV Orchestra, some of his television themes were released on the album TVPOPMUZIK in 2007, while his video game work—primarily that from LittleBigPlanet—was released on the album LittleBIGMusic.

For the 2020 Paralympics documentary film Rising Phoenix as well as working with disabled musicians on the score Pemberton also collaborated with disabled rappers Toni Hickman, Georgetragic and Keith Jones to create the end credits song "Rising Phoenix".[26] which was also used in the closing ceremonies of both the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Pemberton has also co-written songs such as "Jokes on You", the title track performed by Charlotte Lawrence from the film Birds of Prey; "Good Tonight" performed by Anthony Ramos and "Brand New Day" performed by the Heavy from the animated Dreamworks feature film The Bad Guys; and the title theme "Come With Me" performed by Yola from the second Netflix series of Green Eggs And Ham. He co-wrote and produced the end titles song "Time" from the movie Amsterdam with Drake and performed by Giveon[27] which was shortlisted for the 2023 Oscars. [28]

In 2022 Pemberton co-wrote and produced the title song "Strange Game" with Mick Jagger[29] for the Apple TV series Slow Horses.

Film scores

Film

Year Title Director(s) Studio(s) Notes
2009 Enemies of the People Rob Lemkin
Thet Sambath
Old Street Films
International Film Circuit
2011 The Awakening Nick Murphy StudioCanal
BBC Films
2012 Blood Momentum Pictures
BBC Films
2013 In Fear Jeremy Lovering StudioCanal
The Counselor Ridley Scott Scott Free Productions
20th Century Fox
2014 Cuban Fury James Griffiths StudioCanal
Big Talk Productions
2015 The Man from U.N.C.L.E. Guy Ritchie Guy Ritchie/Lionel Wigram Films
RatPac-Dune Entertainment
Davis Entertainment
Warner Bros. Pictures
Steve Jobs Danny Boyle Universal Pictures
Legendary Pictures
Scott Rudin Productions
The Mark Gordon Company
Entertainment 360
Decibel Films
Cloud Eight Films
Nominated – Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score
2016 From the Land of the Moon Nicole Garcia StudioCanal
Gold Stephen Gaghan The Weinstein Company
Dimension
Nominated – Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song
2017 King Arthur: Legend of the Sword Guy Ritchie Warner Bros. Pictures
Village Roadshow Pictures
Weed Road Pictures
Safehouse Pictures
Ritchie/Wigram Productions
RatPac-Dune Entertainment
Mark Felt: The Man Who Brought Down the White House Peter Landesman Sony Pictures Classics
Scott Free Productions
Molly's Game Aaron Sorkin STXfilms
All the Money in the World Ridley Scott Imperative Entertainment
Scott Free Productions
RedRum Films
TriStar Pictures
2018 Ocean's 8 Gary Ross Warner Bros. Pictures
Village Roadshow Pictures
Replaced Nicholas Britell
Scarborough Barnaby Southcombe Embargo Films
Poisson Rouge Pictures
Kaleidoscope Entertainment
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse Bob Persichetti
Peter Ramsey
Rodney Rothman
Columbia Pictures
Sony Pictures Animation
Marvel Entertainment
Arad Productions
Lord Miller Productions
Pascal Pictures
2019 Yesterday Danny Boyle Universal Pictures
Motherless Brooklyn Edward Norton Warner Bros. Pictures Nominated – Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score
2020 Birds of Prey Cathy Yan DC Films
Warner Bros. Pictures
Enola Holmes Harry Bradbeer Legendary Pictures
PCMA Productions
Netflix
The Trial of the Chicago 7 Aaron Sorkin Paramount Pictures
Cross Creek Pictures
Marc Platt Productions
DreamWorks Pictures
ShivHans Pictures
Netflix
Nominated – Academy Award for Best Original Song
Nominated – Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song
Rising Phoenix Ian Bonhote
Peter Ettedgui
Netflix
2021 The Rescue Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi
Jimmy Chin
National Geographic Documentary Films
Greenwich Entertainment
Being the Ricardos Aaron Sorkin Amazon Studios
Escape Artists
Nominated – BAFTA Award for Best Original Music
2022 The Bad Guys[30] Pierre Perifel Universal Pictures
DreamWorks Animation
Brian and Charles Jim Archer Focus Features (United States)
Universal Pictures (International)
See How They Run Tom George DJ Films
TSG Entertainment
Searchlight Pictures
Amsterdam David O. Russell 20th Century Studios
Regency Enterprises
Replaced Hildur Guðnadóttir
Enola Holmes 2 Harry Bradbeer Legendary Pictures
PCMA Productions
Netflix
Cameo appearance as orchestra conductor
2023 Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse Joaquim Dos Santos
Kemp Powers
Justin K. Thompson
Columbia Pictures
Sony Pictures Animation
Marvel Entertainment
Arad Productions
Lord Miller Productions
Pascal Pictures
Annie Award for Outstanding Achievement for Music in a Feature Production
Nominated – Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Score
Nominated – Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score
Nominated– BAFTA Award for Best Original Music
Ferrari Michael Mann NEON
2024 Fly Me to the Moon[31] Greg Berlanti Apple Studios
Columbia Pictures
2025 The Bad Guys 2 [32] Pierre Perifel Universal Pictures
DreamWorks Animation
TBA Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse [33][34] Joaquim Dos Santos
Kemp Powers
Justin K. Thompson
Columbia Pictures
Sony Pictures Animation
Marvel Entertainment
Arad Productions
Lord Miller Productions
Pascal Pictures
Key
Denotes films that have not yet been released

Television

Year Title Notes
2003–2015 Peep Show Broadcast on Channel 4
2004–2009 Hell's Kitchen Broadcast on ITV
2006 Great British Menu Theme music for season 1, broadcast on BBC Two
Prehistoric Park Broadcast on ITV
2009 Commanders at War Broadcast on the Military Channel
The Lost World of Communism Episode: "The Kingdom of Forgetting"
Runaway Serial, broadcast on CBBC
Best: His Mother's Son TV movie, broadcast on BBC Two and BBC Northern Ireland
Occupation Serial, broadcast on BBC One
Desperate Romantics Broadcast on BBC Two
Wildest Dreams 2 episodes, broadcast on BBC One
2010–2012 Dirk Gently Broadcast on BBC 4
2010 Upstairs Downstairs Series 1, broadcast on BBC One
2012 Public Enemies Broadcast on BBC One
2012–2013 Prisoners' Wives Broadcast on BBC One
2012 Pramface Episode: "Like Narnia But Sexy"
2013 Complicit TV movie, broadcast on Channel 4
Ambassadors Serial, broadcast on BBC Two
2014–2015 Prey Broadcast on ITV
2014 The Game Serial, broadcast on BBC Two
2017 Black Mirror Episode: "USS Callister"
2018 One Strange Rock Miniseries, broadcast on National Geographic
2019 Brexit: The Uncivil War TV movie, broadcast on Channel 4 and HBO
The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance Netflix miniseries, co-composer with Samuel Sim
Original Dark Crystal theme by Trevor Jones
2021 Welcome to Earth Disney+ series
2022–2023 The Afterparty Apple TV+ series, co-composer with David Schweitzer for season 2
2022 Slow Horses Apple TV+ series, co-composer with Toydrum
Green Eggs and Ham Netflix series, season 2 theme with Gary Go
Performed by Yola
Score composed by David Newman

Short film

Year Title Director
2008 Factory Farmed Gareth Edwards
2012 Ghost Recon: Alpha Francois Alaux
Herve de Crecy

Video games

Year Title Developer(s)
2005 The Movies Lionhead Studios
2008 LittleBigPlanet Media Molecule
2010 Kinect Adventures! Microsoft Game Studios
2011 LittleBigPlanet 2 Media Molecule
2019 Knights and Bikes Foam Sword
Double Fine Productions
2024 Concord Firewalk Studios

Discography

Soundtrack releases

References

  1. ^ "Official website biography". Danielpemberton.com. Archived from the original on 13 September 2014. Retrieved 28 September 2014.
  2. ^ "Daniel Pemberton". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. 2014. Archived from the original on 24 April 2014. Retrieved 28 September 2014.
  3. ^ Taylor, Mark (10 August 2021). "Nominations announced for The Ivors with Apple Music 2021". The Ivors Academy. Archived from the original on 29 May 2024. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  4. ^ "My Screen Life: UK composer Daniel Pemberton talks biggest mistake and 'Spider-Verse 2'".
  5. ^ Moody, Paul (10 July 2009). "Paul Morley showing off ... Daniel Pemberton". the Guardian. Retrieved 31 May 2022.
  6. ^ "The Awakening soundtrack review | Daniel Pemberton | movie-wave.net". 8 February 2012. Archived from the original on 16 December 2013. Retrieved 2 August 2022.
  7. ^ "Daniel Pemberton Scoring Ridley Scott's 'The Counselor' – Film Music Reporter". Filmmusicreporter.com. Archived from the original on 30 December 2019. Retrieved 28 September 2014.
  8. ^ "Awards". Archived from the original on 4 October 2021. Retrieved 2 August 2022.
  9. ^ Jon (18 February 2021). "IFMCA Award Winners 2020". International Film Music Critics Association. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
  10. ^ "Daniel Pemberton Named Discovery of the Year by World Soundtrack Academy". ascap.com. Archived from the original on 10 October 2016. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
  11. ^ "World Soundtrack Awards 2016". Archived from the original on 22 December 2016. Retrieved 1 July 2018.
  12. ^ "The 93rd Academy Awards | 2021". Archived from the original on 15 March 2021. Retrieved 2 August 2022.
  13. ^ "Sports Emmys: TNT & ESPN Lead Networks as Seven Programs Score Two Wins Apiece – Full List". 9 June 2021.
  14. ^ "Best Original Song 2020".
  15. ^ "Celeste - Hear My Voice (Live from the Oscars 2021)". YouTube. Archived from the original on 7 August 2022. Retrieved 2 August 2022.
  16. ^ "Commonwealth Games open with celebration of host Birmingham". theguardian.com.
  17. ^ "TONY IOMMI to Perform at the Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony". 20 July 2022. Archived from the original on 20 July 2022. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
  18. ^ "Daniel Pemberton". goldenglobes.com. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
  19. ^ "Best Original Song 2016". Archived from the original on 2 March 2017. Retrieved 1 March 2017.
  20. ^ "Winners & Nominees 2020 | Golden Globes". Archived from the original on 9 January 2020. Retrieved 9 September 2020.
  21. ^ "Netflix's 'Rising Phoenix' wins two Sports Emmy Awards". Archived from the original on 3 July 2022. Retrieved 2 August 2022.
  22. ^ "'Summer of Soul' Wins Best Documentary Feature & More at Critics Choice Documentary Awards". 15 November 2021. Archived from the original on 2 August 2022. Retrieved 2 August 2022.
  23. ^ FACTORY FARMED. Archived from the original on 4 April 2019. Retrieved 28 September 2014 – via YouTube.
  24. ^ Moody, Paul (10 July 2009). "Paul Morley showing off ... Daniel Pemberton". the Guardian. Retrieved 31 May 2022.
  25. ^ "Danielpemberton.com". Danielpemberton.com. Archived from the original on 19 November 2010. Retrieved 28 September 2014.
  26. ^ "'We sound like superheroes!' – the rappers inspired by the Paralympics". TheGuardian.com. September 2020.
  27. ^ "'Amsterdam' Enlists Drake & Giveon For End-Credit Theme "Time," – Deadline". 16 September 2022. Archived from the original on 23 September 2022. Retrieved 23 September 2022.
  28. ^ "Oscars 2023 Song Surprises – Billboard". Billboard. 21 December 2023. Archived from the original on 16 January 2023. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
  29. ^ "Mick Jagger's Improvised Riffs Led to the 'Slow Horses' Original Song "Strange Game" – Sound & Screen". 6 May 2022. Archived from the original on 7 August 2022. Retrieved 2 August 2022.
  30. ^ @DANIELPEMBERTON (22 June 2021). "The news is now out there so this is probably a good time as any to say I've been working away for quite a while on a super fun big new animation feature from ⁦@Dreamworks and ⁦@UniversalPics:- "THE BAD GUYS" -" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  31. ^ "Daniel Pemberton Scoring Greg Berlanti's 'Fly Me to the Moon'". Film Music Reporter. 8 April 2024. Archived from the original on 9 April 2024. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  32. ^ "Daniel Pemberton to Score DreamWorks Animation's 'The Bad Guys 2'". Film Music Reporter. 26 March 2024. Archived from the original on 29 March 2024. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
  33. ^ Murty, Megha (21 September 2023). "Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse Composer Provides an Update Amidst Delay, Reveals Details About the Planned Score". IGN. Archived from the original on 14 January 2024. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
  34. ^ Murray, Emily (14 June 2024). "Beyond the Spider-Verse composer provides update on sequel and reveals they are feeling the pressure concluding the trilogy: 'You don't want to Godfather it'". Total Film. GamesRadar+. Archived from the original on 14 June 2024. Retrieved 17 July 2024.