‘I recognize it’s low art’: Calgary composer talks about creating for reality TV

CTV's Ian White speaks to composer Steve Dodd.

Calgary composer Steve Dodd has made his living largely from reality TV, but it’s not necessarily what he chooses to watch.

“I’m not watching reality TV all day, everyday,” Dodd told CTV News.

From Keeping Up with the Kardashians to Jersey Shore to The Real Housewives of New York City and many other shows, Dodd creates the background music that sets the mood.

“I recognize it’s low art. It’s not the kind of thing that I would put on my own record that I’m doing,” Dodd said.

“It’s just like acting. It really is. You kind of get your motivation for the scene from the director, who in my case would have been a publisher, and that person saying, ‘OK, we need angry hip hop because there’s a lot of arguments when they go on these trips.’”

Dodd will talk about his unique craft and career in a Calgary Songsmiths event April 21st at Gravity Café in Inglewood.