Composer Dominic Lewis brings his experience collaborating on animated features including How to Train Your Dragon, Puss in Boots, Wreck-It Ralph, and Kung Fu Panda 2 to Relativity Media's Free Birds, in theaters November 1, 2013. Featuring the voices of Owen Wilson, Amy Poehler and Woody Harrelson, Free Birds is the story of time-travelling turkeys looking to change history and keep turkey off the Thanksgiving menu. Recommended for the project by composer John Powell, with whom Lewis collaborated on the Academy Award nominated score for How to Train Your Dragon, Lewis worked closely with director Jimmy Hayward to create a score that split the difference between the pilgrims of 1621 and the 21st century turkeys who try to change their eating habits. The Free Birds Score Album was released on September 30, 2013 from Relativity Music.
Dominic Lewis utilized electric guitar and pit bass for modern day turkeys Jake (Woody Harrelson) and Reggie (Owen Wilson), who travel back to 1621 looking to change the pilgrim's menu on the first Thanksgiving. Upon encountering a primitive turkey tribe run by alpha female Jenny (Amy Poehler), Lewis employed more ethnic instrumentation, and even created a special motif for Jenny. Lewis commented, "With Jake and Reggie being from the future, we used modern instrumentation to convey when they're out of their comfort zone. When it comes to Jenny, I wanted to incorporate ethnic flutes and switch the vocals from a choir to ladies humming to create warmth."
Dominic Lewis was born in to a family of talented, working musicians, and gained entrance to the Royal Academy of Music in London where he received classical training in cello and music composition, receiving training from world-renowned film composers including Craig Armstrong and David Arnold. In 2009, Lewis relocated to the U.S. and joined up with John Powell, collaborating on the Oscar nominated soundtrack to How to Train Your Dragon. Lewis has since worked with some of Hollywood's most prestigious composers, including Hans Zimmer, Ramin Djawadi and Henry Jackman, and contributed music to Clash of the Titans, Puss in Boots and Wreck-It Ralph.