Celebrating Pride Month: Composer Showcase
Spectra Creative Agency values the importance of promoting visibility to underrepresented composers to broaden narrative horizons and multicultural authenticity within the film and television industry. This Pride Month we proudly showcase and celebrate four composers for their excellence in the composing community and their work to pave the way for aspiring LGBTQ+ composers, artists, and musicians.
EmmoLei Sankofa (she/her) is an American composer, producer, musician, and artist whose work spans music, visual media, and fine art. EmmoLei’s original music can be heard on Lizzo’s Emmy-Award winning series Watch Out For the Big Grrrls on Amazon, Shudder/AMC's horror anthology film Horror Noire, Starz’s third season of Step Up, the stand-out indie comedy Three Ways, and so much more. Her unique approach to rhythmic textures and symbolism reflects the methodical approach to storytelling through her music that is uniquely her sound.
Stefan L. Smith (he/him) has written music for concert halls, film, TV, video games, R&B, pop, EDM, as well as maintaining an extensive professional symphonic and recording performance career. He has served as principal (and/or acting principal) violist with the Hollywood Studio Symphony, Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, The Academy's Oscars Orchestra, and many others. The composer for Warner Bros. Animation’s Batman: The Doom That Came To Gotham and a winner of the 2022 Hollywood Music in Media Award for his score to the animated short “She Dreams At Sunrise”, Stefan bridges the gap between the classical and contemporary music world, doing so with skillful command of the orchestra’s breadth and artistry.
Brad Oberhofer (he/him) is a composer, producer, and touring musician from Brooklyn, NYC and Tacoma, WA, now based in Los Angeles. Known for his throwback psychedelic sound, this multi-instrumentalist has worked on titles such as The Andy Warhol Diaries on Netflix, ad campaigns for ACNE, and the upcoming series The Jewel Thief on Hulu. His colorful and at times delicate piano and synth textures evoke a magic that is truly unique and distinct among other composers in the industry.
Dave Volpe (he/him) is a composer, vocalist, and comedic actor based in Los Angeles. A graduate of the Scoring for Motion Pictures and Television Program at USC, he received the opportunity to study under Thomas Newman and work with many leading professionals including Bruce Broughton, the late Jack Smalley, and Blake Neely. Dave has scored for various film and TV series, including the podcast the popular fantasy fiction podcast series Carcerem. While having a wide breadth of musical styles, as a singer David possesses a keen skill for choral arranging and has had arrangements commissioned by a host of LGBT choruses including the Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles, The San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus, and the Turtle Creek Chorale (Dallas).