Hi, I’m an award-winning composer based in Los Angeles. I’ve been scoring media for over a decade, and I’m looking for collaborators who want to make stirring & memorable movies, series, and games.
Music can bring a story to life. I believe simple musical ideas—sometimes laughably simple—can evoke the deepest feelings. Like the 'Jaws' theme. The 'Inception' “BRAAAM.” Or the piano from 'Up.'
To take something simple and obvious and turn it into something extraordinary—that's the art of storytelling. I bring a unique perspective to musical scoring because I've also written award-winning screenplays.
I've been writing and composing for as long as I can remember. Having worked as a professional pianist since age 12, I can play most songs or film scores by ear. And as a recipient of Interlochen Arts Academy's prestigious Young Artist award in Music Composition, I'll write you a transportive score that'll make your story come alive.
I'd love to hear about your project. Click the 'Contact' button above to get in touch.
Interview with Spencer Channell
Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?
A: Hans Zimmer's pounding rhythms make movies feel like thrill rides. John Williams' lush orchestrations turn intimate stories into operatic legends. Film score composers across the board use a variety of techniques to achieve inspiring effects, and I'm always growing my playlist. Here are a few more of my favorite film score composers, in no particular order: Bernard Herrmann, Gustavo Santaolalla, Lorne Balfe, James Newton Howard, Hildur Guðnadóttir, Alan Silvestri, Arvo Pärt, Max Richter, Danny Elfman, Jóhann Jóhannsson, Thomas Newman, Kazuma Jinnouchi, James Horner, Ludwig Göransson, Michael Giacchino, Ramin Djawadi, and Howard Shore.
Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?
A: Developing a working relationship with a composer is worth it. Although it can cut costs to license pre-composed tracks in the style/mood you're looking for, the result will lack a cohesive musical voice. By contrast, a tailored, transportive score creates a unique feeling that will make people nostalgic for your story world. It's also essential to find a composer you're compatible with. I look for collaborations where we bring out the best in each other--where our work is greater than the sum of its parts.
Q: What's your typical work process?
A: I like to start as early as possible by reading the script and asking a lot of questions--I need to understand the emotional core of the story before I start writing. Once I'm ready, I noodle on the piano until I've got a few themes I like. Then I'll take those and compose a sample suite with full orchestration. That suite is essential because it gives me a chance to receive feedback on my ideas before the crunch time of post-production. Also, if the director likes the mockup, it can feed back into their choices during production. When I receive picture lock, I adapt my themes into timed cues and produce final music mixes by programming virtual instruments, recording musicians live, or (usually) a combination of both.
I was the Composer in this production
- Film ComposerAverage price - $500 per minute
Up to three rounds of revisions per cue.
