Meet Amanda Muse | Composer

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

Hi Amanda, what is the most important factor behind your success?
The most important factor behind achieving success in anything is having a plan. It is never good enough to just have a dream, and while I have big dreams, I know they will never happen if I don’t put practical steps in place to achieve them. I have always been a goal-oriented person, but the key to any of my successes has been laying out the practical steps to get me there.

For example, I was a flute player in high school, but I wanted to be on the drumline. So, I took lessons, practiced every day, built strength in my legs and back so I could march with a drum, and I made the drumline! Consistency with these small steps was the key to achieving this goal. Moving to LA to be a media composer seemed like an intimidating pipe dream, but creating smaller, practical goals, such as getting into a music school, finding an internship, and learning through available online resources made this dream start to seem possible. I encourage anyone with big dreams to get in the habit of listing out smaller, reachable goals that will eventually get you to where you want to be.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I work in the film music industry as a composer and a sample developer. Breaking into the industry is never easy, which was of course a challenge I faced, like anyone moving here without any contacts. Most people in LA and Hollywood will tell you, “It’s who you know,” which is true, to a certain extent. I got to where I am by a slow and steady series of incremental steps. When I first moved to LA, I got into a music program for composing, landed an internship, and eventually started working for industry-leading virtual instrument developer, CineSamples. Those opportunities were based not on knowing people, but by sending in my resume and application. So, it is possible to succeed around here if you don’t know anyone at first! Once I started my Master’s degree and got working as a producer at CineSamples, I started to grow a network of musician friends, contractors, and student film directors. From there, I have been asked to do many projects, musician gigs, and composer jobs. A couple of those projects involved me getting to stand on the podium at the Sony and Fox scoring stages and conduct my music. Those are the moments I am most proud of, so far!

I have ultimately learned the lesson that it is possible to make your own luck. Do everything in your power to be prepared when the time comes for an opportunity, because when it does, you will hit the ground running!

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?
I am a major coffee nerd, so I love scouting for awesome coffee shops in the city. Dinosaur Coffee on W Sunset Blvd is this adorable little dinosaur-themed coffee shop. They have great ambience and delicious coffee! Black Heart Coffee in Van Nuys is another delicious coffee spot. Lastly, Urth Caffé is a SoCal staple, so I would definitely bring a friend there when first visiting!

I would also encourage anyone to try to get in a tour of one of the major studio lots, such as Fox, Sony, or Warner Brothers. Every time I visit these studios for work projects, I get so excited because of the incredible history and creative magic that has happened on those lots and in the scoring/dub stages. It is an experience worth having, even if just once, for those visiting LA.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I owe so much of my past and future successes to all of the music educators I have learned from throughout my life. They have encouraged, mentored, and inspired me in countless ways. From them, I learned the value of excellence, work ethic, and consistency. Being a music educator is no easy job and I will always be grateful to those that have believed in me and given me a chance. They have made me a better musician and a better person.

Website: https://www.amandamusemusic.com

Instagram: @musegrooves