How did you get into your line of business?

I’ve always loved music and started writing pieces from the age of eight, but learnt the piano and violin at five. I was performing in orchestras, pop, rock and jazz bands throughout school, leading to a music degree at Goldsmiths University where I met some really gifted artists.

After graduating, I set up a recording studio/production house with one of my closest friends which gave us both an incredible sense of responsibility. I then decided to pursue my dream of TV and film composition and began researching what I needed to do; I soon realised it wasn’t worth writing for anything that you don’t personally believe in.

I had been lucky enough to develop contacts in various areas of the industry, so I continued to support the people who had supported me and I given me opportunities. Thankfully, my music was well received, one thing led to another and now I’m working on a feature film, The Secret Philosophy, by Mark Charles. I have also just finished a drama for BBC1 and, as a direct result, I have been asked to write for another BBC drama as well.

How long have you been working in this role?

I have been composing since I was eight but as a professional I would say just over seven years.

What was your first broadcast/film industry related commission?

My first really successful composition was for the Volvo/Pirates of the Caribbean/Disney advert in 2006. Viewers had to find a hidden Volvo buried somewhere in the country. It was an exciting project, a dramatic, Hollywood-style orchestral score which went out on numerous channels and at the cinema. Since then I have written for two short films: Door Out Of The Dark, by Rafael Cortes and Worth by Alex Holt.

What made you choose this particular path?

My love of classic films and how the music made me feel was the strongest factor. Oh, and really enjoying creating new worlds using music. My way of escaping real life, I suppose!

What career-defining moments have you had since?

The BBC drama I’ve just finished is certainly one of the biggest things for me to date. Not only does Johnny Shakespeare have the prestige of being a BBC show, but I worked closely with the writer and director Jim Cartwright, who was responsible for The Rise And Fall Of Little Voice and Road.

What has been your proudest moment to date?

Silly as it sounds, I think appreciation from others means the most to me. Earning a living from what you love is great, but when a stranger compliments you on what they’ve seen or heard, that really gets me. This happened recently at a preview and it made my evening. People don’t have to say anything, but to think they feel compelled to, that’s something really special.

What is the most important lesson you’ve learned in your working life?

No matter how much of an artist you are, you always have to compromise if you want to work with other people: be it film, television or any other type of collaboration. I’ll never have the final say on the music in a project, but that’s the beauty of teamwork in the multimedia industries. I’d never claim to know everything anyway, and its good to have other people influence your own decision processes.

What would you most like to achieve in your career?

A living, appreciation from my peers and colleagues and success as a known film composer. I’d like to think that as I become more successful, I’ll have more freedom in my composition.

In your line of work, what is the most important personality trait to have?

I think you have to get on with everybody. I’ve always been like that from a young age and it really helps in getting the work. It’s very simple, if you can connect then you’re more likely to understand what a producer or director is trying to get out of you for the project. They’ll probably respect an element of discussion about an idea as well, so you shouldn’t be afraid to speak your mind.

Where will you have your lunch today?

I’ll either have lunch in front of the telly watching Neighbours or in some sophisticated restaurant, near where I live and work in Blackheath, cavorting with some beautiful girl. I can never decide!!

How do you occupy your time when you’re not working?

I read biographies of actors, listen to opera and symphonies from Monteverdi to Bartok. I like to keep fit: it’s very easy to put on weight when you sit around all day writing music so I go running and play squash. I also sail and surf when I manage to get out to the coast.

Who do you consider to be the most inspirational figure in your life?

My mum, she used to play Beethoven sonatas when I was little and I would creep down without my dad seeing and hide behind the piano to listen. One night, when she caught me out of bed, I got the guts to ask her what all the funny dots meant!

Complete this sentence: “The best things in life are …

…being in love with someone or something.”

www.myspace.com/rosspowermusic