Film Scores and Sound-Design

Switch Theory is a collaboration project between Robert Waddington of The Modern Jazz Assassins and Jim Hughes of The Scientific Method. The film world is full of traditionalist film composers. Switch Theory is based on the idea that there are so many fresh new approaches to film scoring that are untouched as yet. By switching genres and twisting styles together, Bob and Jim are able to create exciting and hauntingly deep emotions. They are continuously breaking all the known barriers of music and passionately exploring new sonic terrains. Their artful fusing of almost all genres is only surpassed by their zest for experimenting with new technology.

Robert Waddington is a multi-instrumentalist who focuses primarily on guitar and bass and stays often within the modern jazz genre. Born in Providence, RI and moved to New York City at the age of 20, Robert was exposed to many different styles and types of music. Robert’s early influences were bands like King Crimson, the Beatles, Led Zeppelin and the like. As time moved on, Robert branched into jazz with a strong leaning towards the “straight ahead” styles of Mile and Coltrane. Later, Robert began to listen to Pat Metheny, Joe Pass, Wes Montgomery and other innovators on the guitar. Especially interesting to Robert was the pursuit of that elusive “clean tone” of the aforementioned players. This focused on a playing that was devoid of effects and heavy processing and lead to a strict attention to playing technique. Being mainly self taught has enabled Robert to avoid many of the formulaic and boring “rules” of modern music. Some of the aspects of Robert’s sound is the fact that he uses little compression in his music, preferring the warm and rich sounds so prevalent in the heyday of the fusion era. Robert has no problem with calling fusion music “fusion”, that’s what it is.

Jim's obsession with music began at the young age of four, when his parents bought him a small one octave synthesizer for Christmas. From there his fascination grew exponentially. He started taking piano lessons at the age of ten and joined the middle school band playing the clarinet. He then switched to the bass clarinet in the eight grade. He was invited to and joined the Southeastern United States Honor Band also in the eight grade on the Bass Clarinet. Once he entered high school, he joined the marching band drum-line, percussion ensemble, jazz band, symphonic band, and concert band. He played drum-set for the jazz band and during his sophomore year, attended the Clayton State Jazz Clinic. While in the marching band he played the bass drum, snare drum, tenors, and all pit instruments. In 1998, between his junior and senior year, he marched on the drum-line with the Spirit of Atlanta drum and bugle corps who placed 14th at the DCI World Championships. He played drum-set for the jazz band and during his sophomore year, attended the Clayton State Jazz Clinic. After high school he moved to Columbus Georgia to attend Columbus State University, majoring in percussion performance with a focus on drum-set. He performed with the Columbus St. Orchestra and in the orchestra pit ensemble for their theatre dept. Jim has also played the guitar for twelve years, though he has had no formal training.