Name: The Key by Caleb Staehr
Duration: 1 min 20 s
Description: A digital piece using newly-created patches in Vital.

A digital piece using newly-created patches in Vital.

The Key

Feel the Rhythm

When I was contracted to produce the sound design/score for Radiant Vermin I always knew that I would include some kind of vocal lick for the theme. With the way casting, set design, video design and lighting design all worked out, the show turned into a vivid fever dream and I wanted the music to reflect that. 

I added a "shimmering string" sample section rapidly arpeggiating supported by a couple of simple pads and then polished off with a distorted bass section that kicks in to add a more full bodied experience.  If you know the play, and know what the "fairy lights" are...they are not as magical as one would usually associate but I still wanted this track to contain the wonder the characters were experience, and the horror that the audience had to sit through to get there. 

"Fairy Lights" From Northern Light's Production of Radiant Vermin

Tale of the Green One (Dramatic/Orchestral)

I've been working on this film with my good friend, experimental animator Ayden Lamb for just over a year now. Originally I wanted to use my orchestral recording from AIR studios in a more "standard" type of way, but the film has changed directions multiple times since it's recording and the music needed be heavily modified to fit the bonkers nature of the short. 

This is part three of the full score from the film as it premiered at Cal Arts back in May 2025 and features a great deal of wacky sound design and fun retro synths that have been heavily crushed and distorted. I'm excited for this project to continue on, and even more excited for the truly "finished" product to hit the festival circuit in early 2026. 

The track incorporates a public domain recording of a little ditty from the 1920s that was used to add yet another layer of bizarre to the whole experience.

The Feast - From Coyotes Eat Everything

Working on this game was wild, it was my first experience working with a large team of composers and sound designers. In short, it was a blast. 

I really like this cue because of it's simplicity. The developers wanted something calm, with a hint of mystery, to invoke a "safe space" much like the save rooms in the Resident evil series. I stole a lick that I wrote for the main theme and retooled it for solo piano and kept the supporting instrumentation bare bones, no pun intended. 

Shelly Manor - Calm in the Lobby

This cute little outro is from the ARC Trilogy, Elementary School Edition- Word Nerd. It teachings younger students about the importance of respect when it comes to language, culture and different upbringings. There was lot's of fun word play and the short required very little music but I came up with this repetitive "Stab" motif anytime the two children came close to establishing a connection with each other. 

You can hear it a little bit towards the end of the outro but It was quite neat having something so simple establish a point of connection between two characters. 

Word Nerd Theme- ARC Educational Series

Caleb Staehr is a vocal/instrumental composer, actor, and professional musician.

The Key

Caleb Staehr

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