A Newcastle film and television composer is a finalist in the 2021 APRA Professional Development Awards, with high hopes to take home the career-changing prize and help boost women’s visibility in the industry.
The APRA Professional Development Awards provide support to emerging songwriters and composers. Nine artists receive a $10,000 cash prize, along with a prize from Australis Music.
Neo-classical pianist, musician and screen composer Emily Mirla Harrison has been nominated in the Film and TV category along with four other composers.
Harrison said she was excited to be nominated for an award that she had watched so many successful artists win over the years.
“I was quite surprised to be a finalist, and absolutely over the moon; it was a real validation for my career and my work because it’s easy to feel nervous as an emerging artist and composer,” Harrison said.
“Sometimes, it can feel like what you’re doing is not good enough, and you’re filled with self-doubt, so I was so happy to be picked. And to also be amongst four other composers who I admire and look up to was very inspiring.
“Even if I don’t win, at the very least, it will consolidate my practice and goals, and I will have a good plan of where I’m headed.”
Coming from a musical family, Harrison always felt a strong passion for film scores.
“I used to watch films on silent and compose songs on the piano to go along with the scenes,” she said.
“I was always a bit nerdy at school, and I kept it secret because I thought it was embarrassing, but now I have completely embraced my passion!
“In my late 20s, I performed as a singer-songwriter, but being a vocalist didn’t feel as natural to me compared to composing film music, so I decided to apply to the Australian Film, Television and Radio School (AFTRS) in Sydney.”
After scoring an internship at Church Street Studios in Sydney with multi-award winning Australian film and television composer Guy Gross, Harrison’s career opportunities began to emerge, including a composition job for the children’s hit television show Bluey.
Her latest project was as the music supervisor for a feature documentary, Undone, which follows big wave surfer Laura Enever.
Harrison said the project was a great experience where she collaborated with the director and producers. She also realised the importance of finding work that she could lend a female voice to.
She said only 13 per cent of Australian screen composers were female, which she would continue advocating for if she were successful at the 2021 APRA Professional Development Awards.
“If I did win, there are a few skills I want to focus on like producing and mixing, which are essential to composing, as well as increasing the visibility for women in the industry,” Harrison said.
“I want to be a voice for women and young composers. I know it was vital for me to see women winning these awards and doing this work, so I want to be that inspiration for others.
“There are some great seminars and workshops in Sydney that I would love to attend, which would help me contribute to the women in film movement.”
As a parallel to her film composing, Harrison is releasing a solo concept album featuring neoclassic instrumentals called Solitaire (The Virtue of Patience).
The album is a meditation on the virtues of patience, resilience and stoicism; remedies for loved ones separated by war.
“Inspired by my grandparents’ war diaries and letters, I explore a young woman’s psychological drama as she waits for news of her sweetheart sailor boy, lost at sea,” Harrison said.
“I also wanted to utilise the creative industry’s slow-down and take this period of pandemic and personal isolation to pivot towards an all-consuming solo project.
“I would love my solo work to line up with my screen composing work, where people who seek my sound from a film will come across my solo album.”
When Harrison isn’t composing, she is a busy mother and a nurse working in remote Aboriginal communities.
“When I’ve got some free time, I’m usually hanging out in my home studio or trying to absorb all of what Newcastle has to offer.
“I only moved to Newcastle a few years ago, so I’m still exploring and seeking out opportunities to do some performance work here.”
The APRA Professional Development Awards will be announced on Thursday, June 24.
Hayley McMahon
We wish my niece Emily all the best. She is an amazing talented young woman and her grandmother would be incredibly proud of her as we are too. (Aunty) Di xx