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

Hi Jack, what habits do you feel play an important role in your life?
Working under tight deadlines, I turn my phone into a digital timer and put it next to my monitor. Watching the deadline tick away in front of my eyes is a great motivator to stay on top of my work. I keep a daily/weekly to-do list and will review the week before and prepare for the week ahead each Sunday, which helps me keep up with day-to-day tasks while not losing the bigger picture. Recently, I have been emphasizing the dedicated time away from the studio. I need to stay active by climbing, usually at my local gym, and going on weekly hikes. It helps me balance out the long days sitting and staring at a screen in the studio. I will also use this time to listen to new music, and find new inspirations or things to learn. Staying curious in general has brought some unusual choices into the studio, which have led to little nuggets of discovery. 

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.
I work as a composer for media and freelance musician, most recently writing tracks for a couple of network shows. I am originally from St. Charles, Illinois, a western suburb near Chicago. May 2021 is when I moved to L.A. Since then, I have composed and sound-designed for two short films, an audio drama, written additional music for various network shows, and have freelanced for different award-winning composers. 

My music has a unique harmonic language and combination of timbres, blended from all my inspirations and experience throughout the years of playing in school ensembles and soaking up the music I listen to. I grew up playing violin, euphonium, trombone, and piano in various school ensembles. Some of which traveled to perform in Munich, Carnegie Hall, and Milan, for which I am forever thankful. My compositional background is rooted in classical music and some bits and pieces of jazz. But, I take inspiration and learn from all genres of music and art. Learning western music theory and history in a conservatory-like setting with invaluable feedback from mentors over the years is something I am very fortunate to have had. Also having traveled to different countries, exposing myself to various cultures, and experiencing new things helps me find new inspirations. I love to find new and unique sounds, either acoustically or manipulating and mangling audio and electronics inside the computer. I always want to keep things fresh and try not to repeat myself in each new project. My music tends to lean towards a darker atmosphere, combining textures and melodies to create hypnotic pieces for the listener to be cocooned in. Recently I have dived into the realm of horror, twisting the sounds of my violin along with my untuned piano to create haunting tracks. 
 
A great piece of wisdom I received is it is better to have something finished than to tweak it forever to make it “perfect”. I learn from each song I write so I can improve with each one. It is all about slow growth! 

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.
Highly recommend any hike in Griffith Park or going to the Burbank/Altadena area. Hikes are very plentiful, and it is a pleasant escape from the city. There are loads of great comedy clubs to go check out, like Flappers in Burbank or Groundlings in Hollywood. There are tons of events and venues for whatever live shows you are into. The Hollywood Bowl is a fantastic experience. I saw John Williams at the bowl last year, a must-do for any film music fan! Near my apartment is an incredible red taco truck, close to Cesar Chavez Ave and Brittania Street; it always sits outside Shakey’s. Cha Cha Chilli is also an incredible Asian fusion restaurant that makes some incredible unique burritos. Also, recommend the bar Edendale near Los Feliz. Delicious food and drinks and with a great atmosphere to be amongst friends.

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 can not name everyone but all of my teachers and peers on my path from high school to graduate school. I can not give enough thanks to Joshua Moshier, David Vayo, Kubilay Uner, and Joel Corelitz. Joshua was one of my first mentors, and he helped me form solid foundations to stand on. Dr. Vayo helped open up my ears and mind to the endless possibilities of the world of sound and music. Kubilay for his limitless wisdom of music and life and his infectious joy – can not help but smile whenever he is in the room. I went through a period of doubting my abilities as a composer and the strength of my voice. Joel’s wisdom and approach to composing, combined with Kubi’s perspective helped me grow as a composer and person to have the confidence and grit needed in my endeavors. And of course, my parents and family. None of my success would have been possible without their love and support throughout the years.

Website: jackdruffel.com

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

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jack-druffel-406192116/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jack.druffel/

Other: https://soundcloud.com/jack-druffel

Image Credits
Alex Brinkley, Kristopher Carter, Tim Druffel

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