Mark Kilian

from Colosseum.de:

The exotic and riveting score is from newcomer Mark Kilian.

Mark Kilian is a film composer whose deep understanding and appreciation of South African music, jazz, electronica and modern classical music has formed a musical style which has been described as rhythmically sophisticated, evocative and driving, while retaining a raw emotional simplicity that draws on the creative use of everyday sound. His most well known work includes music for films by director Gavin Hood Tsotsi and Rendition, co-written with Paul Hepker and for television Daybreak and numerous commercials.

Mark was born in Johannesburg, South Africa. During the early ‘90s, he spearheaded the popular Durban band Shades, which was one of the foremost club jazz bands to break the color barrier in South Africa at the time. He continued to perform with artists like Shirley Bassey, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Airto Moreira and the Brubeck Brothers. He toured the US and Europe and recorded two albums with Darius Brubeck as Gathering Forces and the NU Jazz Connection. In 2004 Mark and collaborator Paul Hepker, a fellow South African, went to South Africa to score Tsotsi for writer/director Gavin Hood. The film has subsequently garnered many prestigious awards around the world, was nominated for Golden Globe and BAFTA awards, and won the 2005 Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film.

Recent scoring projects (also with Paul Hepker) include Gavin Hood’s new film Rendition (starring Jake Gyllenhaal) and The Bird Can’t Fly. Mark also recently scored Santosh Sivan's Before the Rains which will receive its premiere at the Toronto Film Festival in September 2007. Music For The Divine, a new album from Glenn Hughes (Deep Purple) and producer Chad Smith (Red Hot Chili Peppers), features strings written and recorded by Mark. Along with composer Christophe Beck he recently completed his second record Sedattalite with avant-garde electronica outfit Ape Quartet.