Meet Ricky | Media Composer

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

Hi Ricky, have you ever found yourself in a spot where you had to decide whether to give up or keep going? How did you make the choice?
Personally, once I’ve seen something through and I know whether I enjoy it or not, that helps me decide if I keep going or move on.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’m currently a composer at Hans Zimmer’s Bleeding Fingers Music in Santa Monica, CA—a creative collective made up of some of the most talented artists in the industry. We’re best known for scoring BBC nature documentaries such as Planet Earth II and III, Blue Planet II, and Prehistoric Planet. Our work also extends to projects like the Minecraft video game series, The Simpsons, and a wide range of reality television.

I joined Bleeding Fingers in December 2021 as an assistant to composer Adam Lukas. Over the next three years, I trained under him and eventually transitioned into a Junior Composer role, now working under Jacob Shea. Coming straight from college, the learning curve was steep—especially when it came to scoring to picture and mastering the technical demands of the job. But Bleeding Fingers is built on collaboration, and there’s always someone ready to lend a hand or share their knowledge. That support system has been crucial to my development.

Since joining, I’ve had the opportunity to contribute to several exciting projects, including Frozen Planet II, The Super Bowl, Minecraft Godzilla, and Hagen. I’ve also composed multiple library tracks for Extreme Music, our sister company that specializes in high-quality, cutting-edge production music for everything from television to film trailers.

Working at Bleeding Fingers has been an incredible environment for growth. Everyone here is performing at the highest level, and being surrounded by such passionate, creative people is deeply motivating. It pushes me to elevate my own work every single day.

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?
I’d take them to all my favorite spots to eat—places like Kopan Sushi, Pho 999, Dean Noodles, Blu Jam Café, and the always-classic Porto’s. We’d probably make a trip to Disneyland, too—my wife and I go at least once a month. She’s a Disney expert and knows all the hidden corners and secret gems in the park, which always makes the experience even more special. Outside of that, we love going to the movies or playing video games together—it’s our way of unwinding and having fun.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My wife has always been my greatest supporter. When we met ten years ago, I hadn’t yet begun music college or received any formal training—but she believed in me from the very start. Her unwavering support has been with me every step of the way. I truly wouldn’t be where I am today without her, and every success I’ve had is just as much hers as it is mine.

Instagram: rickycoronamusic