In 1983 he built his first studio in their home in Hockley Valley producing custom projects for musicians from Southern Ontario. He also began working with his daughter Bethany recording her on various projects. Also at this time the opportunity arose to write the scores for two films featuring the cinematic work of John Petrella. In 2020 he scored music for a third Petrella film “Men of Steel” featuring his compositions emulating big band, dixieland, jazz and tango elements.
Critchley took a hiatus from music in general to work with his son Elijah in Estevan, Saskatchewan for seven years with the Critchley Construction business. A collision with a deer left Robert unable to do that type of work for several months and his lifelong friend Ken Vandevrie (owner of ADS Media and music writer for The Weather Network) encouraged him to consider writing music for TV and film at a whole new level.
“After updating my digital studio gear and dusting off my keys, I dove back into this unique craft with a renewed sense of dedication and passion. Ken mentored me in creating cues – one-minute tracks that capture emotion and energy and serve as a backdrop for visual images. Cues span every genre of music imaginable for various genres of media including crime, documentary, news, drama and historical music.”
From 2020-2024 Robert wrote and produced 850 music library tracks.
More recently Critchley has been collaborating with his rock star brother Greg (drummer for Kim Mitchell, Gowan, Hannah Montana, High School Musical) on orchestral composition. He said one magical moment with Greg involved writing orchestration for Greg’s song “Home With Me”, featuring Stee, who would a short time later turn four chairs on The Voice.
Some of Robert’s music is featured on Teen Titans Go, Late Night with Seth Meyers, The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, Hallmark Christmas in Evergreen, A & E, American Pickers, Vanderpump Rules, Snapped, CTV, CBC, CBC kids and Bollywed.
Throughout his career Critchley has had a view to mentor other musicians in their creative endeavours.
“I can’t think of a better way to explore this than the recording environment. First of all, recorded music doesn’t lie. It helps us to take stock of where we are and also presents an opportunity to stretch, grow and develop our expression of composing or performing. Collaboration is a synergetic exercise that results in progressive layers of inspiration and fun.”
Critchley added that the mercy of a music studio is that when a mistake is made you can revisit the passage and consider how to pull it off in a better way.
Clients can learn a variety of “how-tos” at the studio including using a mic to achieve the right emotional elements, mic positioning and placement, background vocal, harmonization and blending, writing or refining lyrics (including how to use AI as a tool and not to cheat), writing melodies that are singable, creating catchy motifs, determining the best arrangement and instrumentation needed for a song, improve workflow and playing an instrument with a band vs playing piano as a soloist, to name a few.
Critchley says he can also offer clients guidance to budding producers and artists on how to use a digital audio workstation, specifically Logic Pro, virtual instruments and FX plugins and multi-take recording, editing, automating, mixing and mastering.
He has an excellent ear for music and when performing himself, he is most comfortable with rock, pop and folk music.
“I would say collaboration is key to what I do. I love working with skillful musicians that know how to have a conversation through music. It can be all at once beautiful, messy, imperfect and yet come together like a symphony.”
The advent of the software created by Brandon native Brendan Lyons, long-distance recording is possible over high speed internet. This makes it possible to collaborate with musicians anywhere in (almost) real time.
Critchley says he wants to take on students and clients that are passionate about music and committed to learning.
“We will aim to get the best performance possible and then edit and mix.”
Critchley’s family all possess musical aptitude and love nothing more than getting together with neighbours and friends for kitchen parties, social gatherings, carol and fireside sing alongs.
“Last year, Nathan and Gary Nasby, Elijah Critchley, Tom Racine and Scott Dunn played at Bethany and Chris’s house warming party near Lake Metigoshe. It was a joyful jam and we all agreed about the notion of doing this again this summer,” concluded Critchley.
Check out his music and find contact info at www.robertcritchleymusic.com
by JUDY WELLS, Recorder staff