Meet Jonathan Keith

We recently connected with Jonathan Keith and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Jonathan, so excited to have you with us today, particularly to get your insight on a topic that comes up constantly in the community – overcoming creativity blocks. Any thoughts you can share with us?

In my world, the clock is always ticking. Sometimes a cue is due that night, or first thing in the morning; and if it’s for an overseas client, it might be both. In other words, there’s rarely time to just “sleep on it.”

Recently, I scored the music for a delightful animated series “Legends of Evergreen Hills.” There was one pivotal scene the showrunners kept sending back. Normally, I avoid writer’s block by following my gut on the very first watch where I sit at my keyboard with the scene playing, jotting down my emotional reactions in real time. That first instinct is like gold.

But this time, the stakes were higher. There was strong temp music the team loved, and I was already on version three or four with nothing greenlit. It’s in those moments (when I feel boxed in by someone else’s vision) that I start to freeze up a bit creatively. That nagging self-doubt sets in real strong.

It was late, the deadline was closing in, and I knew I couldn’t just keep polishing the same ideas. So I cleared my head, shut the session, and went to go play with my daughters. Of course as a composer, you can’t shut off the brain which is constantly stirring ideas around, but it’s all a very subconscious thing. This reset gave me permission to throw out everything I’d written so far and just be present in a real-life moment. Even when time was ticking, this break for me was all part of the strategy. It wasn’t procrastinating out of fear of failure; but rather an attempt to recalibrate, change course creatively, and accept the reality that when I come back in that studio, I needed to come in with more optimism and a fresher outlook.

When I did come back, I looked at the scene as if it were my first time watching it, but from a completely different emotional angle. I stopped chasing the temp and went with something that felt authentic to me (again). The rewrite not only broke the block, it became one of my favorite cues in the whole series.

That night reminded me: the best work happens when you believe in it. Deadlines, pressure, and feedback are part of the job, but if I lose my connection to the piece, I lose that magical ability to create. By trusting my instincts, reframing the challenge, and leaning into authenticity, there was no block and the result was something the team ended up loving.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I’m a film, TV, and game composer, and specialize in creating music that brings stories to life on an emotional level. I also write and produce songs, but still tend to lean into the ‘story-telling’ or emotional aspect of this, which is why collaborations with talented artists often create some amazing results. My work has supported projects for Disney, Netflix, Apple TV, CBS, and Angel Studios. Most recently, I scored the feature film, “Tamerlane: Rise of the Last Conqueror” which premiered at the Cannes Festival this year as well as Legends of Evergreen Hills, Chick-fil-A’s first animated TV series, and I’m currently working on several projects including a neo-Western thriller film and a new major upcoming animated series.

What excites me the most about my work is the freedom to do for a living what I used to do as a four-year old at the piano. I love creating worlds for people to enjoy. I love being a piece of the story-telling. And I love discovering new ways to create through the use of various technology and tools, which are constantly breaking me out of my comfort zone and expanding my abilities to new levels.

On that note, through my studio, Blue Hill Studios, I’m expanding into collaborations, songwriting, content creation, and embracing the role of music AI in modern composition. I’m determined to become a go-to expert in the field, blending technology with creativity to push the boundaries of what’s possible. I’ve always loved exploring new tools and workflows, and using the most cutting-edge means available to craft music that’s as innovative as it is emotionally powerful.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

1. Accept that there will always be things outside of your control

In my industry, like many others, schedules shift, creative directions change overnight, and projects can get canceled with no warning last second. Early on, I took those moments personally somehow. Maybe they didn’t like my stuff after all. Maybe I shouldn’t have said that one thing during lunch with them. But the more I learned that sometimes, it just is what it is, the more resilience I could build and the quicker I could move onto the next. My job is to show up prepared, do my very best work, and stay professional no matter what happens around me.

2. Everyone has a unique path/ The Joy is in the Journey

No two roads to success are the same. For some, it happens in a year. Others it might take decades. It’s not a race; it’s a marathon. My own journey “puzzle” isn’t complete yet, and I’ve realized I’ll probably treasure the process of putting the pieces together more than the finished picture anyway. The journey is where all the character, experience and grit comes from. The temptation is to constantly see your peers or worse yet, kids 10 years younger than you, post their success stories on instagram, only for you to compare all your inadequacies and lack of success to theirs. Gratitude and a constant reality check that we’re all unique and just doing our best helps me stay focused and excited about my own journey. The puzzle pieces will come together in their own time.

3. Education builds skills. Relationships build careers.

Probably true for every sector. In some ways, I couldn’t do what i’m doing without the skills I practiced during my undergrad or graduate programs. But wow, I for sure would not have the career i have without the relationships i’ve developed and created along my journey. I don’t know what i put this number three because this one is probably my number one thing I would tell someone early in their journey. Don’t snuff off relationships, no matter who they are. Talk to your cousins. Find out what they do and who they know. Talk to your friend’s parents, your dentist, your uncle’s co-worker, etc. Stay in touch with friends you made at all the places you went. These are the people that will introduce you to the people that will move the needle for you. How many times has someone said “Hey, I have a brother who is a film producer. Let me introduce you to him.” Then when you can build true, honest relationships with people who CAN move the needle for you, they will do it in an organic, natural way, that is authentic and true. This isn’t just a good idea; for me, this is how I’ve built my career; off the backs of people who’ve championed me in high-stakes moments. Your job is to be ready when those moments come and keep those relationships solid.

Before we go, maybe you can tell us a bit about your parents and what you feel was the most impactful thing they did for you?

They bought me a Kawaii grand piano and a Yamaha Clavinova when I was 8-years old and paid for my piano lessons when they themselves probably had no business doing that (since they literally couldn’t afford it). This changed my life to say the least. I mean, that feels so silly to say because it’s so understated. I had parents who believed in me from the very start. They knew I was going to go places. They knew I’d accomplish all my dreams. I owe so much to them for all their support, and I’ve made sure their investment in my future was well worth it.

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