Meet Erin Liu | Composer for Film and Media

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

Hi Erin, career-wise, where do you want to be in the end?
At this point, I’m not sure if I have a big, specific “end goal” for my career. But one thing I’ve consistently valued is personal growth and evolving into someone intriguing and inspiring. As I envision my future as a lifelong storyteller and multidimensional artist, my primary objective is quite straightforward: I want to make meaningful contributions that bring layers of enlightenment to whichever projects I work on.

Having experienced moments of isolation and existential questioning, it was music, film, and philosophy that guided me out of darkness to find salvation. I really wish to share those epiphany moments with others through my music and art. I believe that every artist has a deeper spiritual purpose, something beyond mere pursuit of fame and fortune. While this might sound idealistic, I’m hopeful that my creations can bring peace, happiness, and fresh perspectives to the world.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
To be honest, though I’ve been passionate about music since I was a kid, the idea of becoming a film and media composer never crossed my mind until after high school. I have always been drawn to various art-related fields, including literature, painting, film, history, and music – basically anything that delves into storytelling and humanity. But with such a wide range of interests, figuring out my career path is quite difficult. So, to give myself more time to explore future options, I went for a major in English Language and Literature for undergrad, diving deep into the essence of storytelling. Over those four years, I immersed myself in several timeless classics, ranging from Shakespeare’s sonnets to contemporary poetry, and from Greek mythology to Broadway scripts. Additionally, I had plenty of opportunities to work on literature reviews and film analysis assignments. Those academic training fueled my love for storytelling even more across different mediums.

During my college days, I got to dip my toes into the world of theater, working on sound and music design for a couple of productions. Collaborating with student directors and stage crews, we went wild experimenting with ways to bring scripts to life. It was an absolutely magical experience for me, as I began to see the power of combining musical storytelling with visuals. Alongside my days in theater, I wrote an undergrad thesis paper on Thomas Newman’s music for American Beauty (1999). In my paper, I analyzed how the protagonist’s changing psychological state, from repression to realization, was mirrored in the evolving characteristics of the minimalist score, thus showcasing the expressive capacity of minimalist composition in conveying complex emotions. Through this in-depth examination, I realized the power music holds in shaping the narrative flow of an entire film, and it further ignited my desire to deepen the understanding in the craft of film scoring. Driven by curiosity and a gut feeling, I took a bold step and enrolled in the Music Composition for the Screen MFA program at Columbia College Chicago in 2021. That’s where my life as a composer truly kicked off.

During my time in Chicago, I was immersed in its richly diverse atmosphere, drawing inspiration from the talented people I encountered from around the globe. At school, I was fortunate to receive mentorship from many industry professionals, including composers-in-residence Miriam Cutler, Vivek Maddala, and Brandon Campbell. Whether it was scoring for drama films, documentaries, animations, or video games, each day felt like an exciting adventure into new creative territories. In June of last year, our entire class relocated from Chicago to LA for our summer semester in Hollywood. One particular highlight was when Thomas Newman, the composer who has greatly influenced me, visited our morning class to deliver a lecture. His insights were truly enlightening and left a lasting impression on me. Around the same time, I had the opportunity to record my graduate thesis, titled “Pegasus: The Heavenward Soaring,” at the 20th Century Fox Newman Scoring Stage. Working with a 70-piece orchestra conducted by Anthony Parnther and mixed by Dennis Sands was undoubtedly a career milestone and a dream come true moment for me.

While I’ve had some amazing experiences, I’m not going to lie – my journey hasn’t always been smooth sailing. As a Taiwanese navigating life in this country, I’ve faced my fair share of challenges, especially in overcoming language barriers and cultural differences. Networking is crucial in advancing in this creative business, but breaking into a foreign community when you feel like an outsider can be daunting. How do you effectively bridge cultural gaps, leave a positive impression, and ultimately gain the trust needed to collaborate with others? And perhaps most importantly, how do you find your original voice and stay true to yourself in a melting pot of ideas and influences? These are questions I’m still grappling with, but I’m gradually learning to embrace the difficulty and nurture my own authenticity as I keep moving forward.

Moreover, upon completing the program, I found myself facing the tough task of establishing a sustainable income as an artist in the early stages of my career. The entertainment industry is super competitive, with job opportunities scarce compared to other fields. Plus, the lingering effects of the previous Hollywood writer strike continue to affect the film scoring business, making the situation more challenging for recent graduates. On top of that, there’s a rising concern about how AI developments might reshape the future landscape of creative industry. With technology advancing rapidly, it’s hard to predict how it’s going to change the game for creators like us. In this fast-paced world, I believe that interdisciplinary skills and adaptability are indispensable. As artists, it’s essential to keep innovating and embracing new forms of collaboration while remaining true to our vision. It’s sure to be a wild ride, but as long as we stay ahead of the curve, I’m optimistic about what the future holds!

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?
Los Angeles is such a city bursting with diverse artistic energy, making it a great spot for art lovers like me. I would definitely take my friends to some of the coolest museums and concerts around the city. Places like the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) and The Broad Museum have some remarkable collections of contemporary art that are worth checking out. For those interested in ancient art and architecture, the Getty Villa Museum would be a wonderful choice to explore Greek/Roman antiquity and history.

And of course, since LA is the movie capital, no visit to LA would be complete without immersing oneself in the magic of Hollywood. The Academy Museum of Motion Picture is an excellent venue to experience the enchantment of cinema, especially during the Oscar season (Feb.-Mar.) when they host numerous nominated film screenings and discussion panels. Additionally, the Hollywood Bowl often puts on live concerts featuring film music, offering a delightful experience for both movie and music enthusiasts.

When it comes to dining, LA boasts some of the best and most diverse options in the world. Personally, I find the Korean cuisine in the Koreatown area to be particularly authentic. I would bring my friends to Prime K and Feng Mao restaurants for their amazing BBQ. Besides, Seong Buk Dong restaurant is surely on my pocket list for the delicious tofu soup and beef stew!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
There are so many incredible people that have helped and motivated me on my journey to where I am today. Firstly, I would like to express my sincere appreciation to my parents for always having my back. Without their mental and financial support, I wouldn’t have been able to pursue my dreams of studying abroad and broadening my horizons. Despite the traditional Asian stereotype that suggests careers in art lack future prospects, I am grateful for my parents’ open-mindedness and unwavering trust in every decision I’ve made. Their support has meant the world to me and plays a significant role in shaping my path.

Besides, I want to give a shoutout to two of my music private teachers back in Taiwan, Wiwi Kuan and Mitch Lin, for introducing me to the world of music production and media scoring. Before attending graduate school, I have never gained a formal education in music theory or composition. This gap in knowledge and experience made pursuing a master’s program in film scoring seem impossible. However, with their guidance and advice, I was able to unlock my full musical potential in a remarkably short period, turning what seemed like an unattainable wish into a reality!

The last but not least, I express my gratitude to Kubilay Uner, the director of the Music Composition for the Screen MFA program at Columbia College Chicago, for his all-time support and dedication to his students. Under his mentorship, I not only sharpened my skills in film scoring, orchestration, and software technology but also gained invaluable insights into the industry’s practices. Thanks to his connections, I had the opportunity last summer to intern with award-winning composer Mac Quayle, renowned for his work on “American Horror Story” and “Mr. Robot,” right in the heart of Hollywood. Witnessing his inner workings of music production and professional workflow was truly mind-blowing. Many thanks to Mac for genuinely sharing his composer life and work attitude with me. It was an experience I’ll never forget.

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