We were fortunate enough recently to have been able to catch up with Alumnus Daniel Veerapen (Class of 2004). A young music producer, director and film scorer, 35-year-old Daniel Veerapen produces music for a range of people and projects. Having worked on the score and music for various, big budget films, events and celebrity artists, he has won multiple awards for his music, most recently the prestigious FFM (Film Festival Malaysia) award for best music director in 2021. Daniel was also one of the masterminds behind the opening music for the SEA Games in 2017 held in KL.
Daniel, please share with us your journey as a Producer.
It’s been a wonderful journey thus far, full of exciting opportunities and experiences. As a Music Producer you get to meet and work with a lot of interesting people and indulge in the lifestyle that comes with it. From directors to artists and celebrities, it’s always an exciting time. As a studio owner, the business world can become very intense as well. Dealing with client deadlines and agencies for commercials, for example, is always a challenging but fulfilling experience.
What have been some of the highlights of being a Producer so far?
My highlight would have been definitely winning the highly acclaimed award for best music producer last year at FFM, which is kind of like the Malaysian Oscars. It was something I was really striving for years, working on the movie ‘Suatu Ketika’ as a music director; it’s satisfying when all that hard work pays off.
What made you interested to explore this field?
When I was at GIS, I really developed an aspiration to further pursue a career in music. I took part in the GIS jazz band, played for the school orchestra and got to meet a lot of people in the FOBISIA music festivals. I even did my IGCSE in music! I remember receiving a lot of support and guidance from my tutors Ms Krenca, Mr Gui and Ms Preiss. All of these experiences coming together, collaborating and creating works of art is what made me realise my passion for this field.
How did your family support your decision to do music?
My father, as a prominent figure in the industry himself, guided me in the best way he could, showing me the ropes of what the industry was all about. Suffice to say, as long as I had a proper education growing up, I could pursue whatever career I wanted and I was very thankful for that.
How do you manage your interest and also your studies? Any advice for those who are juggling with many things going on at the same time?
Stick to a routine and stay consistent! I am generally a very lazy person with a knack for procrastination. But in the end, giving myself a routine and forcing myself to stick to it is what yielded the best results ive seen in my life whenever I want to achieve something!
What are your fondest memories of your time at GIS?
Ah nostalgia- when my friends and I get together we still reminisce on the days of our high school years, and there will always be something different we remember. Choosing the most fondest memories would be like picking your favourite song, near impossible. There were so many moments that made us who we are. From sporting events, to group projects, proms to class field trips. All I can say is the comradery we’ve built through the years has defined us.
What would be the one piece of advice you would give to current students at GIS?
Take your time! Find yourself; Rome wasn’t built in a day! This goes for everything in life I feel. It’s ok to not have everything figured out right now when you are young; taking your time to explore is not only good for your career, but who you are as an individual and who you are going to be. There are plenty of successful late bloomers in their late 20’s, 30’s or even 40’s that only got to where they are because of the experiences they’ve had in life.
When did you realise you wanted to do music for a living?
It was after GIS that I really knew for certain I wanted to be in Music. During my A levels at college I was already doing smaller production and compositional jobs on the side while studying. After my first big pay day, I saw the real potential of this industry and knew I had the skill sets for it.
What are your sources of inspiration?
I’m not really sure what my sources of inspiration are (they can be many things) but when you work in the creative field and often deal with deadlines. You come up with ‘techniques’ to get you inspired. For one, changing your work environment often helps. The atmosphere and mood around you can often affect your train of thought. Also movement helps, I often take my work with me on the go and when i’m in the car, train or plane, I find myself to be able to pick out things i never would have heard in the studio.
What is your goal in life?
My goals in life are forever evolving. When I was a freelancer, my goal was to build my own studio, be my own boss and have my own team. Now that I’ve done that the ceiling has moved higher. I am now focused on building an audio software company. After that, I don’t know what my next goal would be, and I think that’s the most exciting part.
Who would you like to thank?
I would like to thank all the teachers from GIS. The experiences and life lessons sometimes may have gone over the heads of our youthful teenage years, but know that it’s those experiences that really make us who we are today!
A huge ‘Thank You’ to Daniel Veerapen for sharing his exciting journey with us. We wish you all the best with your entertainment industry! If you would like to feature in our Alumni articles, just get in touch with us: alumni@gardenschool.edu.my. Because every story matters.
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