Meet Britney Nguyen | Film composer, orchestrator, and arranger

We had the good fortune of connecting with Britney Nguyen and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Britney, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I think most professional musicians agree that they all started with freelance and gig work. Being your own boss as a musician is the most flexible way to take control of your creative freedom. It is risky not having a stable job, but entering the music industry, especially the film industry, requires personal effort in reaching out to directors and composers and making sure you have the time to write and collaborate. My business allows me to work within the boundaries I have placed for myself. Or course, I have to make space for collaboration, criticism, and deadlines, but at least I can decide when I want to work on music and when I want to leave time for rest and other activities.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I believe what sets me apart is the variety of services I offer. When I completed my senior recital, I was told I had the most diverse program out of all the media composition graduates. My professor encouraged me to be a mark of all trades so that I would be ready to complete whatever was required of me and be prepared for anything. Thus, I think the most challenging part to getting where I am was learning to be competent in EVERYTHING. It took a lot of personal effort and mentorship to get where I am. From writing to mixing to conducting, I wanted to enter the industry as a competitive force and expand my options. Now I currently intern for a composer in Santa Monica where I do some technical and arranging work on a variety of projects.
As a Vietnamese woman, my brand is centered around inspiring women of color to not be afraid of entering spaces where they are not often seen. In the classroom, although many of my peers were very encouraging, it was still intimidating to be surrounded by mostly men. Most of the lecturers and guest speakers who were highly established were also men. I want to change the status quo and motivate women to do the same.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
The valley is the not the most exciting place on earth, so I would probably take them down to LA or even Orange County where I am originally from. My favorite eateries in LA are in Ktown for their KBBQ and Korean street food. I love visiting museums like the Broad or LACMA. If it was summertime, I’d love to catch John Williams at the Hollywood Bowl and some EDM festivals. Thrifting is also a favorite of mine; there are plenty on Melrose or even in the Valley. Finally, I love the beach, and Malibu is definitely my favorite. It’s about a 30 min drive from Northridge and always delivers amazing vibes.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Elizabeth Sellers, head of the media composition program at CSUN, was by far my biggest mentor during my college career. She shared with me so much wisdom and encouragement, all of which I now carry with me outside of school as I navigate the industry. She also was extremely impactful in expanding my composing abilities by forcing me to think outside of the box and explore unconventional techniques. I appreciate her allowing me to contact her whenever I need advice, even though she is no longer my professor.

Website: https://britneynguyenmusic.com

Instagram: britnay_n_music

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/britney-nguyen-2085a02b3/

Image Credits
Jewel Reyes