Today we’d like to introduce you to Luke Despain
Hi Luke, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Hi, thank you! I’m thrilled to be here.
I’m a musician, producer, and film composer and have lived in Austin since 2018. I started pursuing a full-time music career in 2020, but it’s always been a big part of my life.
I began taking piano lessons around 8 years old, was involved in orchestral and jazz bands throughout school, and participated in many piano recitals and competitions. Growing up, I listened to a lot of music from artists like Ben Folds, Regina Spektor, Benjamin Gibbard, and Andrew Bird. I was also greatly inspired by the works of film composing giants like John Williams (Star Wars, Jurassic Park), Hans Zimmer (Inception, Interstellar), Danny Elfman (Meet The Robinsons, White Noise), and Philip Glass (The Truman Show, The Illusionist).
I quickly realized that I enjoyed songwriting and knew I wanted to do something with it at some point in my life. Once I discovered digital audio workstations (DAWs), I’d spend hours on the computer recording and transcribing the melodies in my head. Years later, I quit my corporate job and began studying music production and audio engineering through online courses. I found an amazing community of incredible coaches and like-minded students who have supported and championed me along the way.
Since then, I’ve produced dozens of songs for local artists, scored original soundtracks for two feature films, and worked on several projects for brands. I’m still very early in my career, but it’s incredibly rewarding to know that all the time I’ve invested in learning how to play, write, and record music has culminated in a skillset that brings value to others.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It’s funny, the first song I ever composed and published on YouTube got over a million views in a relatively short amount of time. That was 15 years ago, and although it’s quite an ‘elementary’ song compared to anything else in my discography, it’s still garnered more attention than anything I’ve released since, haha. Experiences like that can make one think that success in this industry comes from being in the right place at the right time.
I’d guess that most people in this industry would agree that it’s a challenging path. Leaving the safety and security of a well-paying job to pursue a dream is quite a big risk. When I took the leap to follow this path, the first six months were difficult because I wasn’t seeing as much progress as I’d expected. I had to learn how to manage my time more efficiently; from practicing my instrument, to training my ears, to reaching out to potential clients, and still finding time to create just for the fun of it.
I’ve noticed the natural ebbs and flows within my business and my art, and have learned to embrace the beauty and the chaos of being a full-time musician. It’s not an easy path, but there are beautiful, intangible benefits from pursuing a dream, and I’m enjoying the journey.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’m a music composer and producer who specializes in writing and composing music for film and TV, and helping other artists and songwriters bring their tracks to life.
We’ll usually set up a short call or a meeting via social media or through my website to discuss the client’s or artist’s goals and how we can use music, sound design, custom scoring, recording techniques, references, etc. to ultimately bring their ideas to life.
I’m proud of my most recent film score for Legrand. In addition to writing and scoring the full 70-minute soundtrack, I also had the opportunity to record and edit all of the ADR (over-dubbing/dialogue replacement) and take on all the post-production roles related to sound and audio. It was a small team and an independent film, but in a short time, the project was able to garner a huge audience, sell out screenings, and inspire thousands of people with the timeless values of the Western lifestyle. You can watch a testimonial from the director on my website (www.lukedespain.com).
I’ve also been able to help a lot of local artists here in Austin, TX record, produce, and release their music for the first time. I’m always impressed with my artist clients. Songwriters put so much work and love into their music, and I always feel honored to be a part of that journey with them – whether it’s at the start (helping them come up with chords, melodies, and lyrics) or the end (final mixing, mastering, and distribution).
Sometimes I find time between clients to work on personal projects, and I’m currently releasing my first Solo Piano EP. It’s called Dichotomies and will be released on Spotify on July 3rd, 2024.
How can people work with you, collaborate with you, or support you?
I’m always eager to connect with other creatives. If you need a composer to bring more emotion to your film, or a music producer who will honor your creative vision, then feel free to send me an email at music@lukedespain.com.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.lukedespain.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lukedespain/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ljdespain
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaFsB-P3c2v7nCkA5uK9DQg
Image Credits
Emerson Senseman Photography, Megan Robinson Photography
