I recently chatted with experimental composer Maya Shenfeld about her first major foray into film scoring: the Oscar shortlisted documentary The Flagmakers. Fresh off of her critically acclaimed debut album, In Free Fall (which experiments through electroacoustic arrangements), Maya’s score for The Flagmakers is a contemporary, modernized take on traditional American minimalism (á la Reich and Glass). Not only do we discuss these two pieces, but we also cover Maya’s long-time interest in film music, dive into the world and communities of experimental music, and more.
Maya’s initial reference point was her track “Accelerate”, which director Cynthia Wade discovered and fell in love with, eventually leading to Maya coming aboard the film. Maya told me that this drove the initial create direction, having “electro-acoustic piano and a string quintet (rather than a large ensemble), light and airy arrangements, careful not to overburden the story”, with electronic processing to further give the minimalism a more modern, contemporary feel. There’s a constant complex emotional framework, of hope and melancholy, grand dreams and a fearful reality.
You can find out more about Maya on her website or on bandcamp. The Flagmakers is currently available on Disney+, and Maya is still working on potentially releasing (and expanding) her score for the documentary, although her prior works are available on all major digital platforms (and her cinematic album called Cinematic Minimalism and released under the nom de guerre Rouge Fou.
Have a listen to our conversation below or wherever you get your podcasts (including Spotify and Apple Podcasts).
About The Flagmakers
“From National Geographic Documentary Films, Academy Award-winning director Cynthia Wade, award-winning director Sharon Liese and executive producer Giannis Antetokounmpo, The Flagmakers poses one of today’s most pressing questions: who is the American flag for?
Employee-owned Eder Flag in Oak Creek, Wisconsin, sews and ships five million American flags a year. The flagmakers — locals, immigrants and refugees — stitch stars and stripes as they wrestle with identity and belonging. Sewing manager Radica, a Serbian immigrant, believes every flag has a soul. Ali, a war survivor from Iraq, is learning how to use a sewing machine after arriving in the United States just 90 days prior. Midwestern-born Barb’s genuine friendships with her immigrant co-workers belie her staunchly conservative beliefs. SugarRay, a Black man born and raised in Milwaukee, reflects on his complicated relationship with this country. Each considers: What does the American flag represent in a changing nation and world, and for whom?
The Flagmakers is an intimate glimpse into the people whose hands make America’s most recognizable icon.” – from Cynthia Wade.
