Trevor Rabin
Trevor Rabin
Trevor Charles Rabinis a South African American musician, singer-songwriter, producer, and film composer. Born and raised in Johannesburg, South Africa, Rabin was born into a family of musicians. After taking up the piano and guitar, Rabin became a session musician with a variety of artists prior to forming his first major rock band Rabbitt who enjoyed considerable success in South Africa. In 1978, Rabin moved to London to further his career, working as a solo artist and a producer for...
NationalitySouth African
ProfessionGuitarist
Date of Birth13 January 1954
We were a very politically active family. My father was one of the first lawyers in South Africa to have a black partner, so I grew up very aware of the struggle going on. Coming from that background, it really gave me chills to have my music be a part of the election of the first black American president.
The process of composing the film score for each movie is completely different. They all have their own personality and their own completely different life, but there's never been a formula. Each time, it's a new thing.
Writing a simple melody can take weeks to get it right where I want it, but I do quite enjoy it.
Well, unbeknownst to everybody, I did a movie when I was 19.
It's an important thing to have a relationship with the director, and have it be a positive one.
I've done that quite often, but I've got to be quite honest... as much as you would want to only do one at a time, sometimes projects overlap and there's nothing you can do. Sometimes you to have begin writing a new project just as you're finishing off another.
I will be doing a film called Whispers, for Disney. It's about elephants, and doesn't have any people in it. It will be a live action film - I don't know how much I can say about it, since I still don't know too much about it.
I'll always do the guitar parts since it's my main instrument.
I really love writing themes and melody.
I don't mind snakes. Growing up in South Africa there were a couple a snakes around... and I'm not talking just about the government!
All of the directors I've worked with I've gotten along with very well.
I love being in a band. I love that collaborative spirit, although some would suggest that I don't get involved in the collaborative spirit, but it's not true.
You can't judge an album by a single song; it's like judging a book by only reading a single chapter.
You're a white South African, and right away you have to explain yourself. Occasionally, I get hassled until I explain my point of view. I have to make it clear that I don't live there anymore, and I don't approve of the brutal racial policies.