Composer, multi-instrumentalist, and producer Wynne Bennett discovered her affinity for piano at about the same time as she learned to read. Around age seven, noted jazz pianist and family friend Barry Harris took her on as a student and soon recommended her for a place at New York’s famed Harlem School of the Arts. Following graduation, she majored in composition at the Mannes College of Music at The New School. She’s composed music and cues for a number of TV shows and films, divides her time between her L.A. and New York studios, and remains active with the band Twin Shadow. Other artists she’s worked with include Kid Cudi, Grimes, and HAIM. The songs that resonate most with her combine memorable melodies and choruses with adventurous harmonic ideas.
Bennett was tapped to co-produce Janelle Monáe’s GRAMMY-nominated 2018 Dirty Computer. The single “Pynk,” which she co-wrote and co-produced, has earned nearly 50 million Spotify streams. “The opportunity came up because she knew my records with Twin Shadow and we liked similar music,” the producer explains. “She also wanted to work with more female producers. When we did the record, the studio had three different rooms, and we jumped around to each one. I didn’t know what I was getting into, but I wanted to follow the path. What I learned most from that record was different ways of working. Changing rooms created an energy and a buzz. The vibe around the song is part of that.”
More recently, Bennett has expanded into television and film scoring. Shows for which she’s created music include Apple TV’s Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed, Queens, andAMC’s Tales of the Walking Dead. The transition came by way of connections and collaboration. “I’d always wanted to get into TV and film scoring but I didn’t know how, necessarily,” she says. “But I followed my path organically: going on tour with Twin Shadow, making records, and putting out feelers once I landed in L.A.”
“I started collaborating with people so early, which is my strong suit,” she continues. “I feel like my superpower is knowing what the other person wants. For example, when I talk with David, he’ll use adjectives or feelings. He’ll say things like ‘I want this scene to feel like an anxiety attack or that [the character’s] whole world is melting.’”
Counted among her favorite pieces of gear is the synth she bought years ago when its $600 price tag made her gasp. “The [Roland] Juno-60 is a staple and always sounds good,” she observes. “It’s one of the first synthesizers I ever bought, and it has a place in my heart. I also love the Wunder CM7 mic and use it on everything because it has a clean and clear sound that’s also warm.”
Bennett continues to perform with Twin Shadow and will compose scores for several upcoming productions. The soundtrack for Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed was released in mid-July. Although she records largely in her L.A. and New York studios, she also enjoys working in commercial spaces that have a broader array of gear. One of her favorite studio memories dates back to her early years when she got to share pizza and talk shop with prolific composer Philip Glass at his legendary N.Y.C. Looking Glass Studios.
Contact wynnebennett.com, Instagram @whoiswynn
