Meet Chia-Chi Hsu | Film Composer/Sound Designer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Chia-Chi Hsu and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Chia-Chi, how has your perspective on work-life balance evolved over time?
Our work often involves constantly searching for new opportunities and building relationships. In a typical day, I might be composing, practicing instruments, communicating with collaborators, and sometimes even taking on roles such as running recording sessions or teaching.

Because of this, work and life often feel like the same thing. I think this is a common situation for emerging composers. However, after finishing a series of intense projects, I try to give myself about a couple of weeks to truly rest. I usually travel during that time, which helps me recharge both physically and mentally, and often brings new inspiration for my work.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
This is my first year working as a composer in Hollywood, and I’m still exploring how to find more collaboration opportunities and complete more projects. It has definitely been challenging, but I’ve learned a lot from every interview and even from the rejections along the way. Each experience teaches me something new, and those lessons often lead to new opportunities later on.

One interesting experience happened recently when I was interviewing to collaborate with a director. Before the interview, I watched the introduction to their short film and became genuinely interested in the story. During the meeting, in addition to presenting my composing skills, I also shared my thoughts about the script and the story itself. That seemed to leave a strong impression on them. They mentioned that although they had many candidates, they appreciated how much I understood their story and my enthusiasm for filmmaking.

That experience helped me realize something important: being a composer isn’t just about writing music well. Sometimes it’s also about being able to have meaningful conversations and connect with people. In many ways, that comes from how much you observe and understand life itself. It’s something that school never really taught me, but it’s a skill I’ve started developing through real experiences in the industry.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If my best friend were visiting Los Angeles for a week, one of the first things I would take them to do is attend a performance by the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the beautiful Walt Disney Concert Hall.

For me, this would be the highlight of the trip. Music often reflects the cultural spirit of a place, and experiencing a live performance is one of the most meaningful ways to connect with the artistic identity of a city. It’s also something I personally love to do and consider a wonderful habit to cultivate.

Beyond that, I would spend the week exploring different neighborhoods around Los Angeles—trying local cafés, visiting museums, walking around art districts, and enjoying the incredible diversity the city has to offer. But no matter where we go, sharing great music together would definitely be the most memorable part of the trip.

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 would especially like to thank my parents.
I spent more than a decade studying music, and at one point they hoped I might choose a different path. However, they could see how deeply I loved music and how happy I was performing on stage. In the end, they chose to support my dream of becoming a composer, and that support has meant a great deal to me.

At the same time, I’m very grateful to the professors who guided me along the way. They provided me with a strong foundation of professional knowledge while never limiting my creativity. They also encouraged me to think critically and develop my own artistic voice. All of these experiences have helped me maintain a steady mindset while working in the industry.

Website: https://www.chiachihsu.com/home

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chiachi_0825?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

Youtube: https://youtube.com/@chiachi_0825?si=FMZcCUHqUNV54bc1

Image Credits
I don’t have credit. Photo take just by my friend