Meet Ivan Iusco | Film Music Composer

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

Hi Ivan, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
In the beginning, it was probably a mix of instinct, pure attraction, and my unalignment with reality. A life without art is unimaginable to me. I began painting and playing the piano when I was seven years old, and a few years later, I bought my first synthesizer. Music rapidly became a pivotal tool for exploration and for embodying deep connections with both internal and external emotions. Even after decades, I feel a thrill every time I sit in front of a blank sheet of music with a new idea to develop. It is my authentic means of connecting with others and losing myself in the hidden recesses of the universe.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I honestly don’t know where exactly I am. The beauty of this journey lies in reaching unpredictable destinations. It’s beyond words to experience, even for a few fleeting instants, the unknown, the unseen, and the unheard while composing. Each turn unveils untold possibilities and new horizons. Inspiration also comes from dreams during sleep. The professional counterpart of this volatile dimension is never easy, there are no written rules that apply to every situation. For instance, scenarios differ for every film score, because directors have their own visions, of course. Sometimes you connect with them instantaneously, other times you have to rely on your abilities as a psychologist before starting to write music. This makes my work both truly amazing and endlessly adventurous.

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 moved to LA eight years ago, and naturally, each year, some of my friends have come to visit—most from Europe, especially Italy. These are my closest friends, so I know their interests and tastes quite intimately. They always seem pleased with my tailored suggestions, though I hope they don’t just act… There are a few destinations that consistently resonate with them: art galleries like Pace, David Kordansky, William Turner, Hauser & Wirth, Over the Influence, Corey Helford, and LA Louver just to name a few, the Museum of Jurassic Technology, Obsolete in Culver City, a unique store, lost in time, the Ace Theater and Ace Hotel Rooftop Bar, the iconic Watts Towers and some breathtaking scenic views from Palisades, Malibu and Mulholland Drive. For dining, LA Puglia in Santa Monica is a standout for Italian authenticity and quality or Nobu in Malibu for some Asian bites with a view. Regarding music, Hollywood Forever, Teragram and Zebulon, though the list could be much longer. Los Angeles is a constellation of incredible, sometime surreal places, each offering a unique dive into different realities.

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?
There’s a treasured list of people. My parents, who gifted me the seeds of freedom by allowing me to choose my own path. My wife, who has supported me with love and sincere advice. My grandmother, a very talented pianist, instilled in me a magnetic attraction to the language of music, while my grandfather, who owned the first theater in a small village near Bari, my hometown, imparted a deep love for cinema. It feels as though I have naturally woven together these inherited passions for music and film. There’s also a long list of incredible talents I’ve had the privilege of collaborating with over the years: musicians, film directors, producers, but the list is so extensive that I might forget several names. I’ll be forever grateful to Angelo Badalamenti, an amazing composer, friend and mentor with whom I had the immense pleasure of working, and profoundly honored to have personally awarded Maestro Ennio Morricone at FAPAV 2015 in Rome.

Website: https://www.ivaniusco.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ivaniusco

Twitter: https://x.com/ivaniusco

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ivaniuscocomposer

Image Credits
IMG_4551 by Olga Diasparro
IMG_3352 by MH
IMG_2107 by MH
IMG_0321 by MH