ScreenTalk Legends - Murray Grindlay

Interview – 2024

Composer, musician and singer Murray Grindlay has been called the "jingles king" of New Zealand, having created some of the most beloved songs in Kiwi commercials — from the Crunchie Train Robbery ad to the iconic Mainland cheese orchestral score.

In this extended ScreenTalk Legends interview, Grindlay discusses his creative process, his prolific work in advertising, forays into film scores and advice for young "musicianeers". He also touches on:

His early career as the "rebel" frontman of The Underdogs, and the band generating complaints on 60s music show C'Mon (5 minutes in)
Hitting his stride in advertising with the Crunchie Train Robbery and Travellin' On campaigns (9 minutes)
His longtime collaboration with musician Murray McNabb — or as they called themselves, 'The Two Muz's' (13 minutes)
Being pranked by American singer Charley Pride (16 minutes)
Producing the chart-topping, star-studded 'Sailing Away' anthem for the 1987 America's Cup (20 minutes)
The challenges and rewards of composing music for movies Sleeping Dogs and Once Were Warriors (22 minutes)
Advice to emerging musicians and composers, and how the industry has changed (29 minutes)

Interview Rosie Howells. Director/Camera Chris Terpstra/Rocket Rentals. Sound Recordist Cody Wilcox. Editor Tom Field. Producer Fran Carney. Executive Producer Kathryn Quirk.

I just loved the thing of going into the studio, even in the early days, and being somebody else for the day. After, say, Crunchie — which was one of the first big ones I did — that's when I really started getting a lot of work.
– Murray Grindlay on first moving into commercials

Murray's Full Profile