We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Charlene Soo. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Charlene below.
Charlene, so excited to have you with us today. So much we can chat about, but one of the questions we are most interested in is how you have managed to keep your creativity alive.
The beautiful thing about screen scoring is that it always begins with a story — and stories come in many forms. Outside of watching films, I keep my creativity alive by reading books, playing video games, and exploring different TV series (I once read 111 fantasy and romance novels in a year — I also love poetry). Each medium offers a unique way of expressing emotion and narrative, constantly sparking new musical ideas. I also make space for curiosity — sometimes I just sit down and play the piano without a goal, and more often than not, I find that the themes I need later have already been written in those quiet moments, when there are no outside or inside voices telling me what to do.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I’m a media composer and singer-songwriter from Singapore, now based in Los Angeles, where I write music for film, TV, games, and all forms of visual media. I love crafting memorable melodies, character-driven themes, and immersive electronic soundscapes — whether it’s a grand orchestral cue inspired by Mahler’s 2nd Symphony, a delicate piano piece in the spirit of Ravel’s Jeux d’eau, or a hybrid electroacoustic texture influenced by Hildur Guðnadóttir or Hans Zimmer.
At heart, I’m a thematic and melodic writer. I’m especially inspired by how John Williams seamlessly weaves themes and motifs into the fabric of a story, giving each character or element a musical identity. Whether I’m scoring to picture or writing to a prompt for a game, I’m always chasing that same clarity of storytelling through melody. At the same time, I’m passionate about blending acoustic and electronic elements — shaped in part by my year studying Electronic Music and Sound Design at the University of Western Australia (UWA).
Academically, I recently completed my Master’s in Screen Scoring at the University of Southern California (USC). Before that, I earned a joint honours degree in Music and Communication from the University of Liverpool, with part of my studies spent at UWA. Having had the chance to live and study across three continents, I’ve experienced diverse cultural perspectives on music and storytelling and met incredible people and musicians along the way — something I’m forever grateful for.
Collaboration is at the heart of my process. Most recently, I co-composed the original soundtrack for Aftershock — a space documentary short chronicling USC’s Rocket Propulsion Lab’s journey to space — alongside Andreu Diport. The score was recorded with a 59-piece orchestra in Budapest, as well as musicians from Colburn and USC at Squeak E Clean Studios in Hollywood. As I continue my journey in LA, I’m excited to grow alongside fellow storytellers and explore new ways to connect through music. I’m always open to new projects — if you have a story to tell, I’d love to hear from you.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Open-mindedness — Being receptive to new ideas, styles, and feedback has helped me grow creatively and adapt to different projects. I’ve learned the most by diving into things I was completely unfamiliar with. In fact, I have “great things never came from comfort zones” engraved on the back of my iPad to remind me to always take the plunge, no matter how scary it feels.
Building genuine connections — Collaborating with others and forming meaningful relationships has consistently elevated my work. One of the most rewarding parts of media scoring for me is turning professional partnerships into friendships — there’s nothing quite like attending a spotting session as collaborators and then watching the final cut of a film together as friends.
Knowing when to ask for help — Realizing I don’t have to figure everything out alone has saved me countless hours stuck at my desk (which I’ve done far too many times). More often than not, people are happy to help — so be sure to do the same for others when they’re in a pinch!
Stay curious and open to new experiences, and make a genuine effort to connect with peers, mentors, and collaborators — these relationships often prove invaluable. Asking for help or advice is a strength, not a weakness, and it will help you grow faster.
How can folks who want to work with you connect?
Absolutely! I’m always excited to connect and collaborate with fellow creatives who share a passion for storytelling through music and sound. Whether you’re a filmmaker, showrunner, game developer, director, producer, or composer, I love working with open-minded, communicative people who are eager to tell compelling stories.
If you’re interested in collaborating or just want to chat about a project (or maybe go on a hunt for pasta), feel free to reach out! You can email me at [email protected] or message me on Instagram @musicbycharlene. You can also check out some of my work at www.charlenesoo.com. I’m excited to hear your story and explore how we can bring it to life through music.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.charlenesoo.com
- Instagram: @musicbycharlene
Image Credits
Christian Amonson, Juliet Pone, Natalie Jenq, Owen Nathanael
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
