UJAM Competition: A New Sound for a Galaxy Far Away: What if Hans Zimmer Scored Star Wars?

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Just in Case anyone is not subbed to the newsletter: Deadline may 28 (Not long)

There is an interesting Competition Running by UJAM : What if Hans Zimmer scored Star Wars ? - Probably the perfect person to do so! No pressure then! :folded_hands:

https://www.ujam.com/blog/a-new-sou…m=email&utm_campaign=Network+Dispatch±+April

From the UJAM website:

To celebrate Star Wars and cinematic storytelling, we’re inviting you to reimagine one of the most iconic film scores of all time: Star Wars — as if it had been scored by Hans Zimmer instead of John Williams.

Two Worlds of Film Scoring — Melody vs Motion​

The original Star Wars sound by John Williams is built on iconic melodies and leitmotifs:

  • Luke = hope

  • Vader = power & darkness

  • Leia = elegance

The orchestra tells the story through melody.

Now flip that perspective.

Hans Zimmer’s approach is different:

  • rhythm > melody

  • textures > themes

  • emotion through motion, pressure, and sound design

👉 It’s not “a theme for a character” – It’s “the feeling of their journey”

Your Challenge​

**Create a minimum 45-second track answering:

What would Star Wars sound like if Hans Zimmer had scored it?**

Think:

  • Dark rhythmic engines instead of heroic brass

  • Pulses, impacts, evolving tension

  • Hybrid scoring: orchestral + modern cinematic sound design

👉 It should feel like Star Wars — but from another universe.

Requirements​

How to Enter​

  1. Create your track (min. 45 seconds)

  2. Upload MP3 in the Discord contest channel

  3. Add a screenshot of Symphonic Elements in your DAW

  4. Include a short concept description

Prizes​

  1. UJAM Music Creation Suite + Crowhill Orchestral Bundle

  2. UJAM Select 10 + Symphonic Elements Series + Virharmonic Bohemian Series

  3. UJAM Select 10 + Symphonic Elements Series

  4. UJAM Select 10 + One Symphonic Elements title*

  5. UJAM Select 5 + One Symphonic Elements title*

  6. One UJAM plugin of your choice*

  7. One UJAM plugin of your choice*

  8. One UJAM plugin of your choice*

  9. One UJAM plugin of your choice*

  10. One UJAM plugin of your choice*

*Hans Zimmer’s Symphonic Elements CHOOIR excluded

Timeline​

  • Start: May 4

  • Deadline: May 28 (23:59 UTC)

  • Winners: June 4

4 Likes
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Thanks for posting about this Cats - I had discounted it because I don’t have any of the UJAM Symphonic Elements plug-ins, but looking at it again I saw that a 7-day free trial is available.

So rather than a concept piece I decided to re-score a specific scene - namely the ship boarding sequence from the start of Episode IV. It felt quite odd scoring something which is so familiar, but I had fun doing it - and I think it’s a good exercise which I might do more of with other films in future.

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Yes some really classic scoring moments to choose from! Nice choice. I was quite tempted to for the Cantina band scene, but stopped myself! Probably going for the intro or the attack on the Death Star. Definitely not any part where there sweeping John Williams strings. Agree on the trial version, It’s really easy with the App. It’s interesting exercise in looking at their styles and trying to merge ideas from them. While all the time trying to keep a bit your own style!

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