Why I Chose to Score Stories Through Music

By Akash

Music has this incredible power it’s not just sound, you know? For me, it’s like a mantra, just like Michael Jackson said. When I hear a song, I don’t just listen I become the character. The song pulls me into its world, makes me act, feel, and transform. That’s what really got me into film music. Because in film, you’re not just making music for yourself you’re doing it for the story. You’re giving voice to a character who can’t speak everything out loud all the time. You’re shaping emotions that the audience didn’t even know they were feeling. Whether that character is sad, dark, or misunderstood it’s the music that makes the viewer understand them. Music doesn’t just sit behind the picture it makes it better, more complex, and richer. I’ve been thinking like this since around 2018. (I’ve always been curious what if this scene had this kind of music? How can I make people feel something deeper?) I fell in love with scoring through films many of them. But especially the work of Hans Zimmer. It’s like his soundtracks unlocked a new part of my brain. A door into how powerful music can be in movies. My first scoring experience was actually re-scoring a Chevrolet Maddy ad. It wasn’t just about adding music it was about thinking hard, getting creative, and breaking the rules. I used Ed Sheeran inspired guitars and twisted it into something original. It made me realize: you don’t need to copy you can invent from using reference. For me, storytelling through music is deeper than talking. Sometimes, when I want to say something real, I just sit at the piano. No words. Just keys. It’s like I’m writing emotion in a language that doesn’t need to be translated. The exciting part of being a composer? I get to create a mantra for every narrative. But the weird part? Sometimes I feel like I’m in the movie. I feel like I’m running through those visuals, living that story. And maybe that’s what makes it all work. If you asked me, what does a film composer really do? I’d say this: A film composer is more than just a musician. They’re like sound architects, building the sonic landscape of a movie. They craft the tone, rhythm, atmosphere, and emotions that immerse the audience. They don’t compete with the visuals; they enhance them. They let the music breathe within the story, creating something truly magical.