CJ Thomas on SoundBetter

I'm a composer, producer, and arranger based in San Diego, creating custom scores for media projects as well as string and orchestral arrangements for artists and producers.

As a composer and arranger, my goal is to enhance and evoke emotional responses in films, commercials, and documentaries, and I also regularly work as an arranger on contemporary music for artists and producers.

I commonly compose for string ensembles of various sizes as well as full orchestra, orchestra, and hybrid arrangements featuring piano, synths, and other sound design elements. With every project I work on, I emphasize the use of real-life human players. Whether it's a single soloist recorded in my studio or a full orchestra and everything in between. I can support various budget levels.

I welcome as much or as little direction as you'd like to give. Some producers come to me with a clear vision of how they'd like the arrangement and orchestration to unfold, while others just come with a song or film and let me craft an arrangement to best support the project.

In addition to my client work, I also release my own solo works, including "Landscapes" (2025), featuring string quartet and piano, "Fractures" (2023), featuring a string quartet and ambient electronic elements, and the solo piano album "Rebuilding" (2022).

Looking forward to collaborating!

I'd love to hear about your project. Click the 'Contact' button above to get in touch.

Credits

Endorse CJ Thomas10 Reviews

by Tyler M.
Verified
Great studio space and CJ is an amazing producer to work with! So creative and really takes the time to listen and find your vision and add to it, making it such a fun and exciting process for a project. Really elevated the experience
Highly skilled and professional, definitely recommend!!
by Alex
Verified
CJ was a pleasure to work with. He really understood the character of my songs and brought a fresh creative perspective to the arrangements, taking them to another level. I really appreciated his musicality, inventiveness, attention to detail, and openness throughout the process. Communication was smooth, professional, and easy from start to finish, and I’m very happy with what we created together. I would definitely work with CJ again.
by Michaela B.
Verified
CJ was a total pleasure to work with and is amazing at what he does! He brought the piece to a whole new level, and surpassed my expectations by far with his services. I can't recommend him enough. Thanks again CJ!
by Tina
Verified
CJ is an amazingly talented composer and a joy to work with.
by DoubleSharp Production
Verified (Client)
Working with Thomas was a great experience! The communication was perfect. He is very precise in the explanation of the required work. Looking forward to work with him again!
by NightPulse
Verified (Client)
CJ was an absolute pleasure to work with! His vision was clear, his process was organized, and his encouragement of creative exploration made the experience a ton of fun. I look forward to working with him again soon!
by Zach Ronda
Verified
I am so happy that CJ worked on my song!! He really went above and beyond my expectations and I couldn’t be more happy with the results! Definitely will be working with CJ again!!
by Emanuel Pavon
Verified (Client)
CJ Thomas is an extraordinary composer. It was a pleasure to record strings for his song. He's a easy to communicate with, and I received top-quality sheet music with clear instructions. I would love to collaborate again!
by Konopka Sound Productions
Verified (Client)
I had the great pleasure of working with CJ again, this time mixing his album. Again, I can't speak highly enough of his musical command and collaborative process. His compositions are emotionally gripping, insightful and adventurous. He seeks and draws inspiration from only the best composers and producers, yet maintains his own originality and intuitive style. If you are looking for a composer that will deliver exceptional work, don't waste anymore of your time searching, this is your guy.
by Konopka Sound Productions
Verified (Client)
CJ is a highly talented composer/producer. In all sincerity, his music is beautiful, powerful, and emotive. On top of that, he's an incredible collaborator; quick to respond, reliable, understanding, and appreciative. Can't recommend CJ enough. He's the real deal.

Interview with CJ Thomas

Q: How would you describe your style?
A: Emotive, Minimalist, Textural, Classic (50's string arrangements are my favorite)
Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?
A: Filmmakers with a powerful story to tell and artist/producers with original music that feels fresh and interesting.
Q: What do you bring to a song?
A: The biggest thing I strive to bring is emotional impact. My goal is goosebumps. I tend to compose in support of something bigger (song or film) rather than be flashy and showy. My favorite pieces (mine or others) are the ones that can effectively use a few simple elements rather than throwing everything at the wall. So I tend to have a more minimalist-leaning approach.
Q: What's your typical work process?
A: If I'm scoring a film, commercial, etc. it all starts with the spotting session. This is where I sit with the director and watch the film. We discuss where there should (and should not) be music as well as the desired emotional impact. From there, I go to work on creating the score using a combination of instruments that I own, computer software, and hiring session musicians once the mockup is approved. For artists and producers, they often come with a song or album and a general idea of the mood they're going for. From there, I craft an arrangement to best support the song and enhance the emotion.
Q: Analog or digital and why?
A: Both. Digital helps me capture and finesse but analog is where the inspiration lives.
Q: Can you share one music production tip?
A: Great music doesn't require loads of complex layers. Oftentimes, a single characteristic element paired against a contrasting element can be all that's needed. The more I grow as a composer and producer, the more I focus on simplifying and developing stronger musical ideas.
Q: What type of music do you usually work on?
A: What I love about this job is that I get to work on a wide range of projects while bringing my own voice to the table. I work on various film projects from short films to documentaries. For artists/producers, I work on everything from pop to metal.
Q: What's your strongest skill?
A: My biggest strength would probably be the arrangement. Taking a simple musical idea and developing it into something interesting by using different instruments, orchestration, and colors.
Q: Tell us about your studio setup.
A: I'm lucky to have a dedicated small project studio away from home. My studio centers around my Yamaha U1 piano. I have loads of quirky instruments, guitars, analog synthesizers, effects, tape machines, and recording equipment. Of course, the computer is the brains. I use Logic Pro and Pro Tools and have loads of the best effect plug-ins and sample libraries.
Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?
A: Olafur Arnalds, Max Richter, Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, Johann Johannsson, J.S. Bach, Phillip Glass, Nick Cave and Warren Ellis, Thomas Newmann, Nelson Riddle, Fryderyk Chopin, Bernard Hermann, Jonny Greenwood, Tool, A Perfect Circle, etc.
Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.
A: My days are filled with writing and producing original scores for film, creating string arrangements for artists/producers, and my other life of directing commercial film projects.