Rising Stars: Meet Soya Soo of Los Angeles

Today we’d like to introduce you to Soya Soo.

Hi Soya, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My journey began in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where my passion for music and sound eventually led me to pursue a career in audio engineering in the United States. What started as a love for music gradually became a fascination with how sound can bring stories to life, whether through film, television, video games, or live performances.

One of the biggest turning points in my career was joining Hans Zimmer’s Remote Control Productions in Los Angeles, where I spent seven-eight years working alongside incredibly talented composers, musicians, and engineers. During that time, I had the opportunity to contribute to projects such as Dune (part 1 & 2), The Lion King, Dark Phoenix, Kung Fu Panda 4, and more. I also had the privilege of being part of Hans Zimmer’s live concert productions, which gave me an entirely different perspective on bringing music to audiences.

Over the years, my work has expanded beyond film scoring into dialogue editing, podcast production, audio post-production, and multilingual voice localization, including projects involving Apple, Headspace and Calm. Each experience has challenged me to approach sound from a different perspective and continue growing as an engineer.

After more than a decade in the industry, I’ve learned that great audio engineering isn’t just about technology or technical precision. It’s about understanding the creative vision, solving problems, and helping other people’s stories come to life.

Today, I continue working across different areas of audio production, collaborating with creative teams and exploring how emerging technologies are shaping the future of sound. Looking back, I never imagined that my passion for music in Malaysia would take me this far, and I’m excited to see where the next chapter leads.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. Moving from Malaysia to the United States to pursue a career in the entertainment industry came with plenty of challenges. I had to adapt to a different culture, build my professional network from scratch, and navigate the complexities of working in the U.S. as an international talent.

The entertainment industry itself is unpredictable. Long hours, tight deadlines, last-minute changes, and the pressure to deliver consistently high-quality work are all part of the job. There were times when I had to sacrifice personal time to meet production demands, but those experiences taught me resilience, patience, and how to stay calm under pressure.

Another challenge has been learning to embrace change. After spending years working in film scoring at Remote Control Productions, I began expanding into other areas of audio production. Stepping outside a familiar environment wasn’t always comfortable, especially in an industry where opportunities and technology are constantly evolving.

I’ve also learned that being good at your craft doesn’t automatically guarantee opportunities. Building relationships, staying adaptable, and continuously proving yourself are just as important as technical skills.

Looking back, I wouldn’t say the challenges made the journey easier, but they certainly made me a better engineer and a more resilient person. I’m still figuring things out, still learning, and still chasing the same dream that brought me here in the first place.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m an audio & music engineer specializing in recording, mixing, editing, and post-production for film, television, video games, and other forms of media. Over the past decade, I’ve worked on everything from large-scale orchestral recording sessions and film scores to dialogue editing, podcasts, live concerts, and multilingual voice production.

I’m probably best known for my work with Hans Zimmer’s team at Remote Control Productions, where I contributed to projects including Dune (part 1 & 2), The Lion King, Kung Fu Panda 4, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, and more. I’ve also had the opportunity to work on Hans Zimmer’s live concert productions in Europe and Dubai.

What I’m most proud of isn’t necessarily having my name associated with major productions, but knowing that my contributions helped bring those projects to life. In this industry, much of our work happens behind the scenes, and when everything sounds effortless to the audience, that’s often a sign that we’ve done our job well.

I think what sets me apart is my versatility and ability to bridge the creative and technical sides of audio production. I enjoy working with composers and creative teams to understand their vision, but I’m equally comfortable troubleshooting complex recording sessions, solving technical problems, and finding efficient ways to deliver high-quality results under pressure.

My multilingual background has also allowed me to expand into voice production and localization, including work involving Apple, Headspace, and Calm. Being able to work across different languages, cultures, and production environments has given me a broader perspective on how sound connects with people.

Ultimately, I see myself as someone who helps storytellers tell their stories through sound. Whether it’s a Hollywood film, a video game, a podcast, or a voice recording, my goal is always the same: to make the creative vision sound its best.

What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
I would say adaptability, driven by curiosity and a willingness to keep learning.

In audio engineering, no two projects are ever exactly the same. Every recording session, creative team, and production comes with its own challenges. Being able to stay calm under pressure, think on my feet, and find solutions has been essential throughout my career.

I’ve always believed that experience doesn’t mean you have all the answers. Even after more than a decade in the industry, there’s still so much to learn, especially as technology continues to evolve.

I also believe in taking ownership of my work. Whether I’m working on a major Hollywood production or a smaller independent project, I approach it with the same level of care and responsibility.

Ultimately, I think success comes from staying curious, being dependable, and never losing the willingness to grow.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.soyasoo.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soyabeansoo/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/soya-soo-17ab5989/
• Soundcloud: https://play.reelcrafter.com/soyasoo/soyasoo_mixes
• Other: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm8755181/?ref_=hm_rvi_nm_i_1

Image Credits
Photo of 2021_Solo Violin Recording with Steve Chiu is photography by MingTian