A music graduate whose compositions have appeared in some of the biggest films and TV series of recent years today revealed the secret to his success.
For a young lad from Bishop Auckland in County Durham, Jordan Caygill has worked hard and achieve his dream.
The University of Sunderland graduate has seen his work feature in:
- Terminator Dark Fate
- The Outsider (Stephen King)
- Blue Bloods (American Crime Drama CBS )
- WWE Smackdown
- UFC
- America’s Got Talent
- To Live Or Die On Everest (Discovery Channel)
It’s a remarkable achievement for the 30-year-old who studied Music at the University between 2015 and 2016, completing his Top-Up Degree.
What is even more remarkable is that Jordan has overcome a number of obstacles to make his dreams come true and reach the dizzy heights of Hollywood. From being young, Jordan suffered from a severe speech impediment which left him riddled with anxiety and lacking confidence in school, unable to speak and express his feelings and emotions.
He said: “I was really struggling and not very academic so I would use art as a way to escape all of that. When I discovered music, it became the extension I was looking for to enable me to speak to the world.
After leaving Wolsingham School, Jordan, aged 21, took up a job with a recycling company where he suffered an accident which left his right hand severely crushed. As part of his efforts to rehabilitate, Jordan took up playing the piano, beginning to create his own music and is entirely self taught in all his practices within music.
Enrolling on a music programme at the University enabled Jordan to expand and progress his creative journey.
He said: “One of my dreams had always been to play a Steinway piano, I remember being really impressed that the University had one and that I could play it.
“During my academic studies, I learned so much; what kind of musician I wanted to be, how to behave in a professional environment, how to further develop my skills – it was all invaluable and made me the person I am today.”
Jordan also received support in terms of his speech impediment, allowing him to grow in confidence and graduate fully equipped for his next career step.
It was in 2018 that the graduate began composing music for trailers, experimenting with many different genres.
Jordan said: “I knew if I was going to get anywhere, it would have to be through my own initiative, so I started emailing record companies in America, sending them my work to listen to.
“After a lot of emails and no replies eventually I received correspondence from a guy called Craig Thompson who was one of the creative directors in trailer music at Position Music in Los Angeles. He then signed me up after showing interest in my music and abilities.
“From that point, I was sent my first brief for a new series of trailer albums they planned on producing over the year and began getting my music published. Throughout 2019, I featured on a total of nine albums released with them and even travelled to Los Angeles to meet the team.”
Jordan said landing his track ‘Down From the Sky’ was used on a promotional campaign for Terminator Dark Fate as a euphoric moment.
He said: “Before landing this placement, I had been gaining interest and correspondence from HBO about my track Skyfall being potentially licensed in a new series called The New Pope.
“The placement never landed however shortly after in February 2020, HBO placed my track Skyfall in the premiere of Stephen King’s The Outsider.”
Since then, Jordan has become one of the most sought after trailer composers in the industry, with his work featuring in many hit shows and films.
But, despite his success, Jordan remains very loyal to his North East roots and education.
He said: “University really set me up and made me realise the type of musician I wanted to be and how I wanted my career to move. And it’s been amazing to see it grow. Without firstly believing in myself I would not stand where I am today with the knowledge and experience I have gained.
“I guess what I can say to anyone who wants to do anything in life, it is to never give up, never believe that failure is even an option because to me…. failure is a word that doesn’t exist, just merely a word that we associate with defeat, to which I genuinely in any situation never see defeat on the horizon, only the vision of my next goal and the next step to enhancing my life & career as a music producer.”
“I want to thank and pay tribute and respect to everyone at the University of Sunderland, to Professor Danby & his wife who supported me with vocal coaching to help control my speech and for their professional and very respectful manner. To the staff, course lecturers & everyone who made my journey possible.”