Meet Hillel Teplitzki | Composer

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

Hi Hillel, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
The primary reason for starting my own business was to gain the freedom to collaborate with a wider range of individuals, including other composers, producers, and friends I have long wanted to collaborate with.

My time working at Blizzard Entertainment’s Music Department was phenomenal. To be able to say that I contributed anything to their amazing games and to even win multiple awards thanks to my time there still feels surreal.
However, as a very extroverted person, the life of an in-house composer was never an ideal fit for me. While I love composing in the studio, I also thrive on interacting with friends and colleagues. It is definitely where I get my enjoyment but also how I keep learning and drawing from different sources of wisdom to enrich my music.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I’m a composer for media, which is my short way of saying that while I still compose for feature films and TV shows, my main focus now is on video games, and I love every minute of it. Since moving to L.A. two years ago, I’ve had the incredible opportunity to work in-house with Blizzard Entertainment’s music department, collaborate with the legendary video game composer Inon Zur on various projects, and for the past year, I’ve been excited to start my own career path.

It’s tough to say what sets me apart because everyone brings something unique to the creative process. But what I can say is that I definitely did my best to surround myself with good-hearted people, which has greatly contributed to my success both professionally and personally. Balancing work and life can be tricky, but having close friends to rely on and confide in has made all the difference and helped me get to where I am today. The journey has been challenging, but without these amazing people, it would have been impossible. They are a huge reason for my professional success.

This also leads me to why a year ago, I made the exciting yet terrifying decision to leave my in-house position at Blizzard and start my own business. My time there was incredible, and contributing to their amazing games and winning multiple awards still feels surreal. However, as a very extroverted person, the life of an in-house composer wasn’t the best fit for me. While I love composing in the studio, it is just as important for me to get out of the studio and interact with my friends and colleagues. These interactions aren’t just enjoyable; they help me continuously learn and draw from others’ wisdom and experience to enrich my music. I’m thrilled that there’s so much more of that to come now that I’ve started my own business.

I’ve learned many lessons along the way and could probably write a whole book about all the mistakes I’ve made when I was starting out, both in music and on the business side of things. But the most important lesson I’ve learned throughout the years is to put everything into perspective. Yes, our careers are important, but during busier times, I have learned how important it is to still make time for loved ones. Also another thing that was extremely helpful for me, was going on frequent walks. It’s easy to forget that we live in a beautiful city with amazing nature. Just a 30-minute walk in nature does wonders for my mental well-being and boosts my creativity and productivity when I’m back in the studio.

This last question is a bit tough for me because thinking about my legacy or brand feels a bit too serious, haha. Honestly, I haven’t given it much thought. I’m just incredibly grateful and humbled to be able to do what I love for a living. It almost feels too good to be true. No matter how many games I work on or awards I win, this feeling never changes. That together with the fact that I can hopefully even slightly enhance the experience and enjoyment for fellow nerds out there is just the icing on the cake!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
As someone who works in the video game industry, it’s no surprise that I’m really into nerdy things and activities. I’m not organized enough to have an itinerary, but one of my favorite things about living here is that there are endless fun and nerdy things to do!

My first stop would definitely be the Magic Castle. It’s become one of my favorite hangout spots—fun drinks and magic, what’s not to love? And speaking of magic, I can’t let anyone visit without taking them to Disneyland. It’s called the happiest place on earth for a reason!

There are so many other fun activities, like the Star Wars-themed bar Scum and Villainy Cantina, Clifton’s Republic, and countless amazing restaurants. But one of my favorite new activities has been Fever’s Candlelight Concerts. I’ve been to quite a few of them now and always have an amazing time.

Besides this, I’m also a big fan of the accessible nature here. Whether it’s Runyon Canyon in Hollywood, Temescal on the west side, or The Huntington Library on the east side, it really doesn’t matter which part of the city we’re in—there’s always an amazing walk nearby!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I have to give a shoutout to Nir Shor, an LA producer and close friend I’ve worked with for a long time. His production and mixing skills have greatly enhanced my music on many projects. Plus, he’s an awesome composer, so if you have a moment, I highly recommend checking out his work!

Website: https://www.hillelteplitzki.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hillelteplitzki/?hl=en

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hillel-teplitzki-684a3b94/

Twitter: https://x.com/HillelTeplitzki

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hillel.teplitzki

Image Credits
Nina Teplitzki, Alex Molly Yampolsky,