Meet Gene Back | Film Composer & Multi-Instrumentalist

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

Hi Gene, is there something you can share with us that those outside of the industry might not be aware of?
I think most people would think that being a film composer involves leisurely sitting back in a studio, exploring creative musical ideas and having the time of your life. While both are true, I think most people would be surprised to know that film composing is oftentimes mostly project management. I deeply cherish the creative brainstorming moments because so much of the process is about meeting strict deadlines, delivering very technical assets, line-item budgeting, etc. These are things they don’t really teach you in music school!

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I never set out to become a film composer. In fact, if you were to tell me 20 years ago that this is where I’d end up, I’d think you were crazy. Though I’m classically trained as a violinist, my entry into composing was through songwriting. As a teen, I was obsessed with acoustic folk and these were the types of songs I was interested in writing. But after so many years of self-recording, learning new instruments, playing and touring with bands, all of those skills came together to help me navigate the film music world in my own way. I didn’t follow the assistant path or go to some expensive graduate program. Most of it was trial and error, the thrill of a new challenge, and trusting my gut instincts.

There are so many people who will tell you that there’s certain paths or protocols you have to follow in order to succeed. And while that might be helpful for some, there is no one right way. I believe there’s only the right way for you, as an individual, to know which path to follow. Make no mistake, this requires a tremendous amount of self-discipline, introspection, and truly knowing your worth. For an industry that thrives on external validation, it’s almost completely counter-intuitive to think this way. And yet at the same time, I acknowledge that this approach may not work for everybody.

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.
I would spend the week going on hikes in Griffith Park and Runyon Canyon, breakfast burrito tasting, taking long walks along Redondo or Manhattan Beach, eating at the old LA dining establishments like El Coyote or grabbing Korean BBQ in Koreatown, catching an original print screening of Pulp Fiction at the New Beverly Cinema, maybe a tour of one of the major movie studios like Universal or Warner Bros, seeing the latest at the Getty Museum, coffee at Neighborhood, somehow getting a dinner reservation at Din Tai Fung, vegan milkshake and people watching at Craig’s, and searching for the perfect late night taco truck.

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?
First shoutout goes to my life partner. There are so many extreme ups and downs working in the entertainment industry, and she is my greatest champion, creative springboard, and overall life support system. From long stretches of working into the night to weathering the storm of unexpected industry strikes, I’m incredibly lucky to have a partner who deeply nurtures the creative journey and is always there to provide much needed perspective. I wouldn’t be doing what I’m doing now if it wasn’t for her.

Then of course, there’s my family. You don’t often hear about first generation immigrant parents encouraging a profession in the arts. But from day one, they believed this was my path, regardless of where I’d end up. There are countless ways in which I’ve been inspired by them to be the best person and artist I can be, to face the challenges and persevere.

Website: www.genebackmusic.com