Swenn Mohn, a creative mind with many talents
Swenn Mohn is a multi-instrumentalist, film composer and the first student to graduate from the new, fully online Bachelor of Composition for Film and Theatre at ArtEZ. He has taken the entire course from his home in Madagascar, where he says he has developed so much since the beginning of the programme.
A man of many artistic talents
Swenn Mohn’s musical beginnings were not with composition, but rather with the violin he learned as a child. Later, he began discovering other instruments such as the guitar, harmonica, piano, and anything else he could get his hands on in the process. Swenn also learned several other art forms before settling on music composition. In the music he composes and records, he often plays several instruments per track. He credits his study at ArtEZ with helping him open up more creative doors and experiment.
Staying true to yourself
The first year of Swenn's study was the most difficult as he didn't yet have a solid background in music theory. “I even had to retake the entrance exam because I failed it the first time. I had to learn a lot of theory in two weeks, so I was very glad when I was accepted the second time. Each year was a new experience with new challenges, but I managed to stay true to myself and my artistic vision. It’s really a big achievement for me to have completed my degree at ArtEZ.”
Online advantages
Swenn is grateful to have been able to complete this programme completely online. Swenn: “I think over the course of my programme, I’ve had over 500 meetings online. Since there is a growing need to connect online nowadays, this is a big advantage, as I'm now already comfortable with digital meetings. I’ve also found that I can be more productive online. Although online study has meant that I didn’t get to meet ArtEZ students in person, I think this study has helped prepare me for ‘real life’ that will begin now.”
I think over the course of my study I’ve had over 500 meetings online. Since there is such a need to connect online nowadays, this is a big advantage.
Philosophy is central
One aspect central to Swenn’s work is the philosophy behind its creation. Swenn’s creative diversity shows a wide-ranging interest and an ability to be inspired by everything. His study has also contributed to that. Swenn: “Something I love about ArtEZ is that everyone has a different background and ways of thinking, not just about music but in general. That exchange of ideas and philosophies has benefited me a lot as a composer and in my personal development. These four years gave me the chance to shape my mind and to try new things I had never thought about.” That experimentation can easily be noticed in the diversity of his finals work.
Swenn’s finals portfolio is a mixed bag of collaborations and projects he has made over the past four years. The contents are impressive and wide-ranging: from a K-pop arrangement to a film score to a self-made EP.
Inside his mixed-bag finals portfolio
One of Swenn’s proudest and most personal projects included in his finals portfolio is his first EP, entitled “Passe-Temps.” Each track on the EP offers a different meaning and perspective on Swenn’s philosophy on time and a commentary on the time he spends making his own music. He explored many different techniques on the EP, including, at one point, putting 85 layers on one track, “which was exhausting, but worth it in the end!” Swenn says.
The track “I Am Different!” was a collaboration with fellow ArtEZ student Cheawon Shin, a graphic designer who wanted music for her finals work.
The track “I Am Different!” was a collaboration with fellow ArtEZ student Cheawon Shin, a graphic designer who wanted music for her finals work. The track is influenced by Eurotrance and vocal trance music in the 90s, which Swenn chose because the subject of the finals work is the year 2063. Swenn: “It was very impressive. Cheawon booked a studio at ArtEZ and sang the track, and she did everything entirely in one take!”
An additional part of Swenn’s finals work included a fruitful collaboration with well-known South Korean boy band NCT U. Swenn arranged a K-pop song for them, which he says ended up "mostly being a project for me to learn how to arrange K-pop strings. Though the song hasn't been officially released yet, I’m looking forward to being able to share what I've created once it's out there." This project was also a unique experience for Swenn, who has always wanted to write music for the Asian market. As a teenager, he was a fan of J-dramas and K-dramas, so this project "was a nudge towards that dream, to keep pursuing similar opportunities.”
Future plans
Apart from his finals work, Swenn has been working on the sound design for a Malagasy film. “I did everything related to sound in the film; not just the music, remixed from traditional Malagasy songs, but also dialogue mixing and filler sounds like footsteps. It's very rewarding to be able to work on a Malagasy movie. The movie is essentially a passport for the world to experience our identity.” Participating in this film sparked his desire to continue contributing to the budding film scene in Madagascar. “We’re gaining some traction, but we're still at the beginning of developing a distinct cinematic tradition here. I’m excited to keep contributing and sharing what I’ve learned throughout my studies at ArtEZ.”
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