GABRIEL DE LEON shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Good morning GABRIEL, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? What are you most proud of building — that nobody sees?
I think what I’ve been realizing most recently has been an accumulation of small wins in both my personal life and my professional life. It truly has been a slow burn that has been teaching me about the many little successes that I have been gathering over the years. What makes it worth while is once I zoom out and look at the big picture, and realizing all the little speedbumps along the way weren’t all that bad after all, and that they have all built me up into this version of me that I am today.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I am a media composer who has worked in Hollywood films, reality TV shows, and have produced and arranged for international pop artists across the globe. I am also a music educator who is passionate about cultivating the next generation of musicians in the Los Angeles area and I am actively seeking a career in which I am able to make a change for everybody seeking success.
I have worked with composers such as Henry Jackman, David Bertok, Joy Ngiaw and Mikel Hurwitz on large scale projects such as “Smurfs” (2025), “Battlefield 6” (2025), “Chef’s Table: Legends” (2025), “WondLA” (2025) and “The Wedding Contract” (2023). Through my work as a production music composer, I have had numerous placements across multiple networks, with my music present in large scale shows like “Vanderpump Villa”, “A Killer Among Friends”, “Confessions of Octomom”, “Luxe for Less” and “Halloween Wars”.
I have scored numerous independent films such as “Cheyenne” (dir. Hari Iyer), “Fetish” (dir. Joesephine Kim), “Grimrock” (dir. Khalieff Harjono), and most recently, “Jalan Saloma Padi” (dir. Zulqarnain Shah).
Currently, I am contributing music for a ballet titled “Ivatan” set to premiere in Manila, the Philippines, in April of 2026. This ballet is a collaboration between the Ballet Philippines and the Cultural Center of the Philippines.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: What part of you has served its purpose and must now be released?
The insecure version of me that has held me back for many, many years. I have since grown to realize that it has existed in me to protect myself from the scaries of this wildly growing industry, and to recognize the real good from the “supposed good”. Sure, it has limited me from past opportunities, but I believe that it has taught me to see what it is in this industry that I need in order to grow in the right direction. Now that I am slowly understanding better my purpose in this industry and how I am able to navigate through it, I need to leave this old self of mine behind to move forward.
What fear has held you back the most in your life?
Being seen in ways that I did not want to be seen. It seems so silly, but having grown is realizing that none of that really matters, as long as I stay true to myself. The people that matter will perceive me in the way that I would want to be perceived, and anything outside of that becomes trivial. Whether that pertains to professional collaborators or personal relationships, doing what is best for myself has only brought a bundle of positivity in my life.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
Overwork yourself until you make it, and that there is a clearly defined version of success. Success is built around your inner voice and how you feel at the end of the day – would I be content with all sorts of awards and accolades if I’m coming home at the end of every day feeling empty and void inside?
I’ve had enough time to reflect on what that means to me, and it is incredibly true that the work-life balance is something to contemplate. I’m here to play the long game and be in the industry for as long as I can be, and if I exhaust myself of the passion and drive in my early years, what will be left of me once I hit my 40s?
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
It is possible to attain many things within the realms of your passion, as long as you set your mind to it. I’ve been very fortunate to participate in very cool projects in the film and music industries, mostly because I told myself I could and that I would.
I believe that the stories I’ve made with the people that I love and cherish are equally as important though, because they are very much the reasons why I have been able to mentally sustain and persevere through such a dense forest of an industry. I would want the world to remember the names of those who matter to me the most, as it was with their support that I have been able to reach the heights that I have been able to.
Through a very tough first half of 2025, I was in an all-time emotional down, but through a series of building new and fresh relationships with people who matter so much to me, I was able to pick myself back up. Funnily enough, though unrelated, good things started to come my way as I was beginning the fruits of my labor from days past. Getting my first Hollywood credit on a film, getting multiple TV placements, working on cool projects with international artists and filmmakers all happened in the span of about 4 months and it uplifted my spirits. I forged relationships with new amazing people, honed in on the older ones, and it began feeling like I was floating once again.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://gdeleonmusic.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gdeleon_music
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabriellucasdeleon/
- Other: https://play.reelcrafter.com/VsnWDRPISLyXE-oLSs4CjQ
Image Credits
Keita Hagiwara
