From Nov. 17 to 21, 2025, SOCAN Foundation held the sixth edition of its Screen Music Lab in Montréal, in partnership with Ubisoft Montréal. Ten SOCAN composer members from across Canada and the U.S. gathered in the metropolis to compose music for videogames.
Two key objectives were central to this intensive week: giving composers a chance to explore the fundamentals of interactive music, and providing a creative environment worthy of scoring for an AAA game. The week began with music supervisor Simon Landry (of Ubisoft) giving artistic direction to guide the composers’ work. From there, the participants moved into the composition phase, ultimately working on integrating their music into the videogame Les 2 petits cochons – winner of a Ubisoft Montréal university competition – with support from screen composer Vincent Laplante.
“I wanted them to have fun musically, by diving into the sonic palette and artistic vision of the Far Cry experience – one of Ubisoft’s most iconic franchises – while also giving them access to the Wwise structure of a truly charming, small indie game,” said Simon Landry, music supervisor at Ubisoft Montréal. “It was such a pleasure for me to support and mentor the participants through this seemingly unlikely, yet deeply inspiring stylistic blend!”
The program concluded with a panel discussion on the challenges and new opportunities of non-linear music in videogames. Moderated by music supervisors Simon Landry and Bénédicte Ouimet, the discussion also featured composer Brigitte Dajczer and composer Maxime Goulet. The evening continued with a networking cocktail reception that brought together industry professionals, where guests were invited to test the game and discover the music created during the week.
For Toronto-based composer Rachel McFerlane, who began her career in Los Angeles, the gathering was clearly powerful. “The Screen Music Lab was an incredible experience that allowed me to re-connect with the Canadian music industry,” she said. “In a very short time, the relationships I built, and the creative interactions I had, already had a lasting impact on my career. The behind-the-scenes dedication and support from the SOCAN Foundation truly uplift young composers, and motivate us to keep moving forward, in an industry that can often feel hard to break into.”
“This approach to interactive music challenged the composers with the complexity of music creation in videogames,” explained Julien Boumard Coallier, Grants Manager at the SOCAN Foundation, who launched the program in 2019. “It really highlighted the versatility and artistic sensitivity of every participant.”
Participants
- Anthony Rosenberg
- Braden Koksal
- Cedric Nolin
- Chihiro Nagamatsu
- Dillan Schmitz
- Étienne Lacasse
- Frédérique Le Duc-Moreau
- Grant Craven
- Nicolas Stackhouse
- Rachel McFarlane
Organizers
- Julien Boumard Coallier, SOCAN Foundation
- Holly Hudson, SOCAN Foundation
- Britt Ralph SOCAN Foundation
- Tessy Pokuah Paquin, SOCAN
- Simon Landry, Ubisoft Montréal
- Estelle-Rose Clayon, Ubisoft Montréal
Partners
- SOCAN Foundation
- Ubisoft Montréal
- Société professionnelle des auteurs et compositeurs du Québec et des artistes entrepreneurs (SPACQ-AE)
- Screen Composers Guild of Canada (SCGC)