Celebrating Black Composers In Film, Television and Video Game Music 2022

 

For Black History Month 2022, Lakeshore Records spotlighted some of your favorite film, television and video game music’s most recognized composers and rising stars throughout February.  But, you should definitely keep an eye out on their next move for the rest of 2022!  Check out their albums featured on the Lakeshore Records website.  Do you know everyone on this list below?  

MICHAEL ABELS –  ALLEN V. FARROW
Michael Abels earned his first two EMMY nominations for his work on this acclaimed HBO docuseries: Outstanding Music Composition for a Documentary Series or Special (Original Dramatic Score) and Outstanding Original Main Title Theme Music.


 

SEGUN AKINOLA – 9/11: INSIDE THE PRESIDENT’S WAR ROOM
If his name sounds familiar, Segun Akinola is indeed that composer who scores the Dr. Who series (since 2018).  A BAFTA Breakthrough Artist 

 

 

KATHRYN BOSTIC – AMY TAN: UNINTENDED MEMOIR
Aside from being the first African American female composer to join The Academy, Kathryn Bostic continues to earn praise for her work in her latest score, Amy Tan: Unintended Memoir, for which she snagged an EMMY nomination.  Her previous work on the documentary, Tony Morrison: The Pieces I Am (2019), got her an Oscars shortlisted song for “High Above The Water.” 

 

 

KRIS BOWERS – BRIDGERTON
Having scored Netflix’s most-watched TV series ever with 82 million subscribers tuning in during its first month is nothing to sneeze at.  But, having secured a GRAMMY nomination for this work on Bridgerton–last year’s buzziest show–after also receiving an Oscar nomination for producing a documentary about his grandfather, Horace Bowers, makes us wonder what other superpowers does this composer have!
 

 

 

DEVONTE HYNES – PASSING
Known to some as Dev Hynes (aka Blood Orange), the British composer is known for his work on Queen & Slim, Mainstream, and Luca Guadagnino’s series We Are Who We Are. So far this year, he has composed soundtracks for HBO’s In Treatment and Gia Coppola’s Mainstream, written a track titled “Born to Be” for the thriller Beckett, and co-scored Netflix’s Naomi Osaka.

We can’s stop listening to his score to Passing, Rebecca Hall’s directorial debut for Netflix’s BAFTA-nominated film.    Listen to his “stunning, mournful piano composition.”  

 

AMANDA JONES – HOME: SEASON 1: EPISODE V, MAINE

Amanda is the first African American women composer to secure an EMMY nomination for Original Television Score!  Learn more about her on this terrific interview at NPR.

 

KHARI MATEEN – REALLY LOVE

Khari Mateen’s score is a mood.  His Really Love (Netflix) composition has drawn comparisons to Nicholas Britell’s brilliant If Beale Street Could Talk score and we’re not mad about it.  We won’t blame you if you fall in love with Khari’s score, too.

 

JOSHUA MOSLEY – BERNIE THE DOLPHIN 

 

 

TOBE NWIGWE – “DAY ONES” (SINGLE FROM ‘SWAGGER’)

Tobe Nwigwe, a rising Houston music visionary and creative music artist, provides this “buoyant and inspirational” track (ComingSoon.net) to Apple TV+ Original Series “Swagger.”

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