Born in Lima (Peru) to Dutch parents, Selma Mutal studied composition at the National Conservatory of Amsterdam and Film Scoring at the 'École Normale de Musique' in Paris. Selma Mutal started her career composing for dance, theatre and television. Since 2003, she also works for the cinema. Some of her credits include director Claudia Llosa's film 'THE MILK OF SORROW' (La Teta Asustada) that won the Golden Bear at the 2009 Berlin Festival and was nominated at the 2010 Oscars Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film.
In 2010 Selma Mutal composed the soundtrack for 'UNDERTOW' (Contracorriente) directed by Javier Fuentes-León that received various awards among them the World Cinema Audience Award for Best Film at the 2011 Sundance Festival and Best Original Soundtrack Award at the International Film Festival of Annonay, (France). Her collaboration with Fuentes-León continued on a second feature film, 'THE VANISHED ELEPHANT' (El Elefante Desaparecido) that premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2014.
In 2012, Selma Mutal composed the music for 'BURDEN OF SILENCE' directed by filmmaker Tod Lending (Legacy). In 2013 she scored Tod Lending's short film 'VEZO' that received the Sundance Institute/Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Award (2014).
Since 2007, Selma Mutal collaborates with ‘CEZAME MUSIC AGENCY’ (Frédéric Leibovitz Éditeur) that has also produced Mutal's original soundtracks 'Undertow' and 'The Vanished Elephant'.
Presently she is working on the score for 'PRISON' directed by Violeta Ayala, (Stolen)
In 2013 the International Film Festival of Aubagne (France), commissioned her to direct the Master Class on Film Composition culminating in a live performance during the festival's closing ceremony. Selma Mutal lives and works in Paris.
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| Album | Title | Vers. | Stems | Duration | Compo/Artist | Description | Keywords | Key | BPM | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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In a Police Car [CEO2032 - 1] |
0 | 1'01 | Selma Mutal | Weird, whirling & tragicomic. Like a merry-go-round music. | ironical & mischievous circus music whirling funfair tragi-comic funny scary new circus B movie chromatic accordion circus animals | Bbm | 98 |
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Free Movement [CCB1047 - 2] |
0 | 03'18 | Selma Mutal, Vincent Leibovitz | Catchy, jerky & rousing. Sequence with delay fx, piano & electronics. Finale @ 2'17 fade out with pads only. Suggested for modern ballet. | contemporary dance catchy arty confident lively flowing fx delay introduction contemporary serious music (all) acoustic organic | Ebm | 96 |
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Sphere [CEZ4068 - 6] |
0 | 3'08 | Selma Mutal | Delicate, patient & childlike. Piano, vibes, xylophone, celesta, glockenspiel & marimba. | arts & crafts steady childhood high seas acoustic organic patient calm dreamy science simple | Cm | 104 |
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Concept [CEZ4068 - 11] |
0 | 2'39 | Selma Mutal | Positive & obstinate. Cello pizz intro 0'23. Harp, marimba, xylophone, glockenspiel & celesta. | arts & crafts cyclic industry strict corporate video politics time (tick-tock) driving patient crystalline percussion | Dm | 126 |
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Shared Gardens [CEZ4070 - 6] |
0 | 2'25 | Selma Mutal | Delicate & serious. Marimba, clarinet, piano & guitar . | country & garden arts & crafts bustling patient everyday life cyclic delicate corporate video insects marimba | Gbm | 136 |
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Création [CEZ4068 - 12] |
2'43 | Selma Mutal | Determined & positive. Piano, harp, glockenspiel, marimba, xylophone, vibes & celesta. | corporate video walking politics strict scansion arts & crafts driving interrogative confident industry | Bb | 139 |
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Création 2 [CEZ4068 - 25] |
Alt. | 2'43 | Selma Mutal | Determined & positive.Alternative version of P12. Piano, military drum, harp, glockenspiel, marimba, xylophone, vibes & celesta. | corporate video politics strict arts & crafts driving anticipation walking confident industry interrogative | Bb | 139 |
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Photographs Memories [CEO2025 - 3] |
2'39 | Selma Mutal | Flashback. hesitating & emotional. Electronics & strings. Build up. | romantic moving flash back destiny sentimental introspective string orchestra poignant final hollywood classic | Cm | 84 |
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Photographs Memories [CEO2025 - 24] |
Alt. | 2'39 | Selma Mutal | Remastered version. Flashback. hesitating & emotional. Electronics & strings. Build up. | moving flash back romantic destiny sentimental introspective string orchestra poignant historical movie intimate | Cm | 84 |
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Ballet Opening [CCB1047 - 1] |
0 | 02'58 | Selma Mutal, Vincent Leibovitz | Delicate, resonant & crystalline. Fender Rhodes piano with echo & delay fx, evanescent pads & rhythm @ 0'54. | crystalline contemporary dance mark tree delicate fx delay luminous mysterious relaxation Ambient (all) contemporary art | Am | 92 |
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All the Difference [CEO2041 - 4] |
2'10 | Selma Mutal | Intimate, moving & narrative. Marimba & electronics. | social drama contemporary series destiny intimate moving introspective marimba narrative acoustic organic romantic | Dbm | 84 |
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All the Difference 2 [CEO2041 - 15] |
Alt. | 2'54 | Selma Mutal | Patient, solitary & sad. Electronics. | social drama intimate introspective contemporary series feminine acoustic organic romantic cinematic moving suspended atmosphere | Dbm | 75 |
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Carousel Dance [CCB1047 - 4] |
01'40 | Selma Mutal, Vincent Leibovitz | Ethereal, twirling, dreamy, airy & magical. Electronic sounds like a merry-go-round waltz. Suggested for fantasy films & modern ballet. | weird fantasy merry-go-round music contemporary dance flash back mysterious halloween fairground organ dreamy melancholic | Dm | 73 |
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Carousel Dance Alternate [CCB1047 - 12] |
Alt. | 02'10 | Vincent Leibovitz, Selma Mutal | Remix version without melody. Weird, unusual & atmospheric. Electronics. | mark tree crystalline atmospheric weird fantasy magical flash back fx reverb unclassifiable luminous | Dm | 72 |
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Tango Pulsacion [CCB1047 - 3] |
0 | 02'24 | Selma Mutal, Vincent Leibovitz | Modern tango in a minimalist mood. Intriguing, punctuated, danceable & nocturnal. Electronic percussion, pads & piano. Cello @ 1'05. Suggested for | contemporary dance electro tango arty swaying mysterious punctuated crime movie electronic percussion synthesizer beds | Gm | 110 |
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La Sirena [CEG5008 - 15] |
0 | 2'11 | Selma Mutal | Refined & sentimental. On a waltz rhythm with something Andean. Solo piano. | destiny acoustic piano sentimental romantic Andean melancholic arts & crafts swaying social drama waltz movement | Gm | 112 |
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Refusenik [CEZ4184 - 7] |
0 | 2'20 | Selma Mutal | Gentle & melancholic. Strings & electronics. | geopolitics Russia destiny melancholic balalaïka desolate social drama moving wandering cold | Cm | 152 |
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Madeinusa [CEG5007 - 20] |
0 | 1'13 | Selma Mutal | Sad & poignant. String quartet & piano. | destiny historical narrative tragic social drama melancholic poignant sad Argentina moving historical movie | Ebm | 155 |
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Sparkle Stream [CEZ4145 - 18] |
0 | 1'06 | Selma Mutal | Calm & intimist. Piano & acoustic guitar | calm corporate video gardening simple country & garden interiors & cooking delicate flowing acoustic piano dreamy | G | 81 |
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Intimacy [CEV3010 - 29] |
0 | 1'31 | Selma Mutal | Meditative & introspective. Piano & clarinet. | intimate delicate sparse impressionism simple destiny suspended atmosphere wandering refined 1900 | Dm | 65 |
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Balancelle [CEV3001 - 1] |
2'04 | Selma Mutal | Childlike & peaceful. Guitar & piano. | peaceful ballad country & garden charming delicate intimate naive acoustic piano tender everyday life | Eb | 104 |
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Balancelle [CEV3001 - 37] |
Alt. | 2'07 | Selma Mutal | Remastered version. Childlike & peaceful. Guitar & piano. | peaceful country & garden charming delicate intimate naive acoustic piano simple tender everyday life | Cm | 104 |
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Petit Frère [CEV3001 - 3] |
0 | 1'55 | Selma Mutal | From the nursery rhyme "Frère Jacques". Nostalgic & peaceful. Solo piano. | childhood tender country & garden charming delicate intimate melancholic naive acoustic piano simple | Db | 82 |
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Changing Minds [CEZ4099 - 1] |
0 | 2'48 | Daniel Diaz, Selma Mutal | Interrogative & uplifting. Constant progression. Piano, guitar, double bass & percussion. | romantic comedy corporate (all) uplifting building tracking shot everyday life country & garden confident driving lively | C | 154 |
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The Vegetable Garden [CEZ4095 - 30] |
0 | 1'43 | Selma Mutal | Restrained & interrogative. Piano & guitar. | country & garden intimate romantic comedy delicate gardening pastoral peaceful simple arts & crafts charming | Gm | 106 |
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Balancelle [CEZ4500 - 20] |
0 | 2'05 | Selma Mutal | Folk. Melancholic, tender & pastoral. Acoustic guitar and piano. Suggested for home and garden, childhood & natural documentary. | melancholic country & garden peaceful childhood pastoral calm tender everyday life natural disaster duet | Cm | 104 |
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Body is Voice [CCB1047 - 8] |
0 | 02'29 | Vincent Leibovitz, Selma Mutal | Peculiar, chanted, haunting & inspiring. Sampled voices, onomatopoeia, piano & electronics. Suggested for modern ballet. | arty unclassifiable sampled female voice contemporary dance weird contemporary art suspended atmosphere jerky mysterious dreamy | Bm | 60 |
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Slow Motion [CCB1047 - 10] |
0 | 02'36 | Vincent Leibovitz, Selma Mutal | Suspended, as in weightlessness, misty & contemplative. Piano with echo fx, sound-design & cello @ 0'45. Suggested for contemporary ballet & space. | space slow motion atmospheric cold post-classical airy Ambient (all) natural disaster suspended atmosphere underwater | Am | 119 |
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Expanding Space [CCB1047 - 6] |
0 | 01'43 | Vincent Leibovitz, Selma Mutal, Clément Varieras | Inspirational, spacious, gracious & contemplative. Electronics, pads & piano with echo fx. Suggested for slow motion & modern ballet. | airy panoramic suspended atmosphere space majestic radiant animal documentary underwater slow motion cinematic | Cm | 61 |
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Steps and Bounces [CCB1047 - 11] |
0 | 01'39 | Vincent Leibovitz, Selma Mutal | Confident, catchy & inspired. Piano, rhythm & electronics. Suggested for modern ballet. | everyday life resillience bouncy society contemporary dance catchy unclassifiable arty confident feminine | Em | 119 |
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Keep on Dancing [CCB1047 - 7] |
03'13 | Vincent Leibovitz, Selma Mutal | Haunting, catchy & danceable in a deep house mood revisited. Electronics, piano & pads. For dance floor & modern ballet. | contemporary dance electronic score danceable house radiant club nocturnal swaying confident driving | Cm | 118 |
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Keep on Dancing Alternate [CCB1047 - 13] |
Alt. | 03'07 | Vincent Leibovitz, Selma Mutal | Remix without house beat. Atmospheric, bizarre & unclassifiable. Nu piano & electronics. | contemporary art atmospheric sci-fi weird electroacoustic music mysterious paranormal pulsation time-lapse Ambient (all) | Cm | 118 |
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Feathers Waltz [CCB1047 - 9] |
0 | 01'49 | Vincent Leibovitz, Selma Mutal, Clément Varieras | Peaceful, dreamy, refined & patient waltz. Piano, pads & electronics. Suggested for modern ballet. | contemporary dance delicate dreamy airy suspended atmosphere waltz movement acoustic piano moving childhood magician & funambulist | Gb | 61 |
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Harmonics in Harmony [CCB1047 - 5] |
0 | 02'15 | Vincent Leibovitz, Selma Mutal | Constant, delicate, jerky but lightly & cautious. Keyboards with fx delay, piano & electronics. Suggested for contemporary ballet. | arts & crafts delicate fx delay arty refined radiant contemporary dance harmonics mute piano restrained | Cm | 156 |
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Misleading Appearances [CEO2121 - 2] |
02'49 | Selma Mutal | Acoustic Score. Pensive, suspended, cyclic & interrogative. Piano, marimba & fx. | patient acoustic piano arts & crafts suspended atmosphere interrogative steady cyclic delicate intimate narrative | G | 105 |
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Misleading Appearances
[CEO2121 - 11] |
Alt. | 02'17 | Selma Mutal | Alternate piano & fx only. Pensive, suspended, cyclic & interrogative. | patient acoustic piano arts & crafts interrogative steady suspended atmosphere intimate narrative beds everyday life | G | 105 |
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The Best Families [CEO2121 - 1] |
01'48 | Selma Mutal | Acoustic Score. Dramedy, falsely casual & almost ironic. Piano, pizzicato strings & marimba. | dramedy ironical & mischievous acoustic piano interrogative patient pizzicato tragi-comic delicate old-fashioned insidious | Bm | 121 |
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The Best Families Alternate
[CEO2121 - 10] |
Alt. | 01'01 | Selma Mutal | Short alternate. Dramedy, falsely casual & almost ironic. Piano, pizzicato strings & marimba. | dramedy ironical & mischievous acoustic piano interrogative pizzicato tragi-comic old-fashioned insidious marimba destiny | Bm | 121 |
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Life is Like Tango [CEO2121 - 3] |
0 | 01'22 | Selma Mutal | Acoustic Score. Tragi-comical, old-fashioned & worldly. Piano & pizzicato strings @ 0'36. | acoustic piano classical tango tragi-comic Argentina pizzicato slapstick comedy ironical & mischievous interrogative parodic | Gb | 120 |
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The Silent Servant [CEO2121 - 6] |
0 | 02'13 | Selma Mutal | Acoustic Score. Narrative & circumspect but with a preciousness touch. Piano, strings & electronics. | patient acoustic piano interrogative cyclic everyday life calm country & garden steady introspective narrative | Em | 117 |
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Wordly and Wortly [CEO2121 - 9] |
0 | 01'28 | Selma Mutal | Neo-baroque pastiche with a touch of exotism. Tragi-comic & stilted. String ensemble. | tragi-comic old-fashioned staccato dramedy neo-classical music string orchestra parodic refined ironical & mischievous baroque music (1600-1750) | C | 128 |
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A Family Story [CEO2121 - 4] |
04'04 | Selma Mutal | Acoustic Score. Peaceful & dreamy then more animated. Piano, cello, chimes & electronics. | narrative dreamy acoustic piano beds intimate restrained everyday life cello delicate patient | Dbm | 77 |
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A Family Story Alternate [CEO2121 - 12] |
Alt. | 04'04 | Selma Mutal | Sparse alternate. Peaceful & dreamy. Piano & fx only. | narrative dreamy mute piano beds sparse interrogative intimate everyday life patient building | Gbm | 77 |
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A Family Story Alternate 2 [CEO2121 - 13] |
Alt. | 04'02 | Selma Mutal | Sparse alternate. Peaceful, cosy & dreamy. Solo piano. | narrative dreamy acoustic piano beds intimate introspective solo everyday life calm delicate | Dbm | 77 |
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The Charm of Discretion [CEO2121 - 8] |
0 | 02'53 | Selma Mutal | Romance. Peaceful, discreet, dreamy & delicate. Piano with echo fx & cello pizz. | shy delicate intimate narrative patient acoustic piano romantic arts & crafts feminine restrained | C | 77 |
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An Irrepressible Doubt [CEO2121 - 5] |
0 | 01'51 | Selma Mutal | Acoustic Score. Light Mystery, Dramedy, suspense but with humour & irony. Sequence, piano, pizzicato strings & cello. | dramedy tragi-comic acoustic piano funny scary interrogative ironical & mischievous pizzicato anticipation suspended atmosphere disturbing | Am | 122 |
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Comedy of Life [CEO2121 - 7] |
0 | 01'43 | Selma Mutal | Acoustic Score. Dramedy. On tiptoe, teasing & falsely precious. Piano & percussion. | old-fashioned dramedy refined funny animals salon music pizzicato bouncy charming delicate | Ab | 153 |
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Mounting Horror [CEG5022 - 9] |
0 | 1'27 | Selma Mutal | Terrifying, anticipating & suspenseful. Low drone & electronics. | sinister scary horror halloween toxic inexorable paranormal psychotic suspense abyss | G | 165 |
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Interrogation Room [CEG5020 - 17] |
0 | 2'14 | Selma Mutal | Pulsating, ondulating & sad. Piano, synth sequence & electronics. | introspective interrogative science anticipation suspended atmosphere investigation mysterious beds sparse fx delay | Dbm | 116 |
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Une autre Voie [CEO2100 - 12] |
0 | 1'22 | Selma Mutal | Cyclic & moving. Ukulele, piano & sequencing. | arts & crafts confident everyday life adventure unifying walking pastoral building strict tracking shot | E | 116 |
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Miguel y Santiago [CEG5008 - 20] |
0 | 2'00 | Selma Mutal | Interrogative & solitary. @ 0'30 melancholic & decided. Piano, acoustic guitar & string ensemble. | adventure moving string section Andean introspective melancholic panoramic delicate social drama classical guitar | Em | 134 |
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Wandering in Lima [CEG5008 - 11] |
0 | 0'48 | Selma Mutal | Sad & solitary. Keyboard, strings & sequencing. | social drama nocturnal wandering introspective investigation steady slow motion sad beds urban | Abm | 115 |
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Interrogation Room [CEO2075 - 7] |
0 | 2'14 | Selma Mutal | Investigation. Social Drama. Interrogative, wandering & mysterious. Sequencing & keyboard. | social drama desolate legal drama investigation science mysterious suspense beds suspended atmosphere wandering | Dbm | 116 |
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The Breaking Point [CEO2075 - 1] |
0 | 1'47 | Selma Mutal | Investigation. Social Drama. Interrogative, dramatic & anticipation. Piano, strings, sequencing & rhythm. | investigation social drama relentless anticipation tragic beds atmospheric suspended atmosphere disturbing science | A | 127 |
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Coercive Interrogation Tactic [CEO2075 - 2] |
2'17 | Selma Mutal | Investigation. Social Drama. Tense, steady & repetitive. Piano, strings & electronics. | legal drama investigation relentless suspense social drama anticipation disturbing interrogative beds industrial activity | Cm | 87 |
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Coercive Interrogation Tactic
[CEO2075 - 14] |
Alt. | 2'31 | Selma Mutal | Investigation. Social Drama. Interrogative, mysterious & tense. Piano, sequencing, string section & rhythm. | investigation suspense anticipation crime movie interrogative cyclic disturbing mysterious social drama suspended atmosphere | Cm | 87 |
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Unreliable Witness [CEO2075 - 3] |
1'55 | Selma Mutal | Investigation. Social Drama. Suspended & restrained. @ 1'06 tense & determined. Piano, sequencing & rhythm. | investigation strict suspense social drama suspended atmosphere muffled interrogative beds steady anticipation | Dm | 98 |
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Unreliable Witness Alternate 1 [CEO2075 - 15] |
Alt. | 1'18 | Selma Mutal | Investigation. Social Drama. Sad & melancholic. Solo piano. | social drama beds acoustic piano cyclic destiny melancholic post-classical delicate moving suspended atmosphere | Dm | 98 |
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Unreliable Witness Alternate 2 [CEO2075 - 16] |
Alt. | 1'51 | Selma Mutal | Investigation. Social Drama. Anticipation, interrogative & relentless. Sequencing, synth & rhythm. | investigation mysterious suspense beds Africa atmospheric anticipation suspended atmosphere spy insidious | Dm | 98 |
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Released from Jail [CEO2075 - 4] |
0 | 1'35 | Selma Mutal | Investigation. Social Drama. Determined, nostalgic & atmospheric. Piano & sound design. | social drama introspective atmospheric steady legal drama acoustic piano beds melancholic relentless patient | Bbm | 86 |
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Forensic Proof [CEO2075 - 12] |
0 | 1'44 | Selma Mutal | Investigation. Social Drama. Melancholic & solitary. Piano & sound design. | atmospheric space introspective suspended atmosphere science cold desert sparse wandering mysterious panorama | B | 107 |
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New Witnesses [CEO2075 - 10] |
1'23 | Selma Mutal | Investigation. Social Drama. Interrogative & suspended. Piano, sequencing, string section & rhythm. | social drama anticipation suspended atmosphere suspense interrogative investigation beds wandering disturbing acoustic piano | Dbm | 82 |
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New Witnesses Alternate [CEO2075 - 19] |
Alt. | 1'35 | Selma Mutal | Investigation. Social Drama. Panoramic, inexorable & suspended. Sequencing & rhythm. | atmospheric historical conflict inexorable disturbing investigation natural disaster mysterious panoramic suspense beds | Dbm | 82 |
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A Recipe for Disaster [CEO2075 - 11] |
0 | 1'45 | Selma Mutal | Investigation. Social Drama. Synth pad. Desolate & sparse. Piano & sequencing. | space desolate drone Ambient (all) suspended atmosphere sparse underwater mysterious panorama abyss | F | 118 |
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