Composer specializing in orchestral, piano, and string arrangements
I specialize in writing and arranging original music in a variety of musical styles for various types of media. I’ve been a musician for over 25 years and have belonged to several orchestras within that time. This experience has greatly helped my skills especially as an orchestral composer/producer.
I've been a finalist in several music festivals, composed/arranged music for dance companies, and even created a custom soundtrack for a DND campaign. My services can range anywhere from simply piano, to string arrangements, all the way to a full symphonic orchestra with choral arrangements.
I prefer listening about and discussing new projects in great detail to ensure I’m creating a song that best suits the vision and feelings you have in mind for your project. I look forward to working with you!
Send me a note through the contact button above.
3 Reviews
Endorse Josh Kasen
check_circleVerifiedI commissioned a short 45 second jazz piano lick from Josh. I gave him 5 days to complete the track, and he finished in 3. Josh presented himself in a professional manner, and made sure that I was completely satisfied with the final product. He even went the extra mile and added some drums in the background, but was very upfront and told me he could remove them if they weren't what I was looking for. He has a great ear for music, and I am looking forward to working with Josh again in the future.
- check_circleVerified
Josh, provides excellent quality and is easy to work with. He was able to understand my needs and feedback and effectively translate it into a final product that surpassed my expectations. He made the process easy with a quick turnaround on my questions and deliveries. Highly recommend!
Josh has always done great work for me. Highly recommended!
Interview with Josh Kasen
Q: Tell us about a project you worked on you are especially proud of and why. What was your role?
A: I created music for a live ballet performance and it was awesome to work with the director to properly convey the feeling of each dance. I was very lucky to have that opportunity/experience.
Q: What are you working on at the moment?
A: Currently working on a custom DND soundtrack!
Q: Is there anyone on SoundBetter you know and would recommend to your clients?
A: Not yet, but I look forward to meeting and working with others!
Q: Analog or digital and why?
A: Digital. I don't want to start any fights. It's just a preference!
Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?
A: Complete satisfaction with the end product.
Q: What do you like most about your job?
A: I'm writing music for a living. I couldn't ask for anything better.
Q: What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?
A: "How many revisions can I have?" Unlimited. Obviously within reason, but most revisions are usually something as simple as a chord change, which is not a problem at all.
Q: What's the biggest misconception about what you do?
A: That it's not that much work. So much thought goes into each and every project.
Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?
A: What mood are you looking for? Do you have any reference songs you'd like for me to listen to? This all gives me an idea of what instruments might be used and the overall feeling of the piece.
Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?
A: Contact me! I love hearing the excitement others have when discussing a new project.
Q: If you were on a desert island and could take just 5 pieces of gear, what would they be?
A: A piano, a backup piano, a cello, a drum set, and a guitar.
Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?
A: I started out playing cello in middle school and haven't stopped working in music since that time (approximately 25 years).
Q: How would you describe your style?
A: I've been told my music sounds like Nobuo Uematsu and/or Danny Elfman.
Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?
A: Shiina Ringo is a Japanese singer/songwriter with an amazing ability for songwriting and composing music. She's always been a big influence for me.
Q: Can you share one music production tip?
A: Take breaks to clear your mind. Working on a single project for too many hours without stopping can skew the way you hear your own music. It might be a completely different song when you get back.
Q: What type of music do you usually work on?
A: Primarily orchestral compositions, but I can and will branch out as needed. Thanks to an endless supply of virtual instruments, there's no limit to what type of music can be created these days. If you have a request for a specific type of instrument to be used/highlighted just let me know.
Q: What's your strongest skill?
A: Besides songwriting, it's communication.
Q: What do you bring to a song?
A: My experience as a musician/composer and my passion to make each song sound unique.
Q: What's your typical work process?
A: The most important part of my process is communication with the client to fully understand what their vision is for the project. From there, the music writes itself.
Q: Tell us about your studio setup.
A: Everything for the most part is recorded using a midi controller/keyboard through Studio One Pro 5.
Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?
A: Danny Elfman, Nobuo Uematsu, John Williams, Hans Zimmer, Ludwig Göransson, Shiina Ringo
Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.
A: I'm usually composing orchestral pieces for various types of media.
I was the composer/arranger in this production
- Composer OrchestralAverage price - $250 per song
- String ArrangerAverage price - $200 per song
- PianoAverage price - $200 per song
- Film ComposerAverage price - $150 per minute
Unlimited revisions. Turn around time discussed at request.
- Studio One 5 Professional
- BBC Symphony Orchestra Core
- Spitfire Aperture Orchestra
- EastWest Hollywood Choirs
- Addictive Keys
- Addictive Drums
- NI Session Guitarist
- and many others.
