Check Out Jillian Whitaker’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jillian Whitaker.

Jillian, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin? 
I remember as a kid, when my friends were learning the words to the newest Backstreet Boys CD; I was wearing out my copy of the bluegrass-folk album Appalachian Journey by my childhood heroes Yo-Yo Ma, Edgar Meyer, and Mark O’Connor. Not that I didn’t eventually come to love the Backstreet Boys as much as everybody else, of course, but my earliest musical memories are an innate love for bluegrass and Celtic music to the point where I quit playing the violin when they tried to make me switch to playing classical music instead of the fiddle. 

I started playing the piano at age 6 and hated it (I think I just really wasn’t cut out to be a strictly classical musician), and by the age of 12, I was convinced I would grow up to be a professional jazz saxophonist. My musical tastes and influences growing up were eclectic at best, and I was never quite sure where I fit in, to the point that I almost gave up on the idea of pursuing music altogether and instead going to school to become a medical examiner (you know, autopsies and such). 

I started composing when I was about 12 or 13, but it was when I was around 15 years old that I first ‘discovered’ film music. I had always been subconsciously affected by it on some level, but it wasn’t until I really started to pay attention to it that I realized this is where I could fit in musically. All of my eclectic influences, my love for music from all genres and all corners of the world, and my interest in writing for the orchestra could all work in some context or another in the world of film. Film was the place where I could be free to use whatever instrument and whatever method best served the story and touched on people’s emotions without having to live within the confines of a particular genre or ensemble or even what was humanly possible to produce. It’s this opportunity for freedom and play with the ultimate goal of connecting people through storytelling that keeps me excited and passionate about writing for film and media. 

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?
I think those of us who choose the life of an artist are inherently masochists to some degree, and we know that this pursuit won’t be an easy one, but I’ve never fully subscribed to the struggling/starving artist mentality. I think that joy and success can spark as much inspiration as heartbreak and struggle, and I’d much rather be a happy composer than a miserable one! 

That’s not to say that the pursuit of a career in music hasn’t been a rollercoaster ride full of financial struggles, closed doors, and the constant internal struggle of truly believing that your art and your work are worth putting out into the world. But despite all of that, I consider myself one of the luckiest people in the world to spend every day writing music, growing my musicianship and my career, and pursuing a passion that I’ve held since I was a child in a city that excites and inspires me. It has never been smooth sailing, but I’ve most definitely enjoyed the ride, even with its (rather large) bumps along the way! 

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Since moving to LA in 2015, I’ve worked on everything from films, documentaries, and TV shows to web series, trailers, and video games. But regardless of what I’m scoring, my passion as a composer has always been grounded in the power of storytelling. 

I love that there’s so much emotional depth and complexity to explore as a composer, particularly in film, when you’re trying to connect people with the story and the emotional experience, and it’s always my goal to reach those depths as much as possible. I’m a big believer in the power of the thematic, recognizable music of old Hollywood (don’t we all hear the same thing in our heads when a dinosaur or a shark comes on screen?) that helps subconsciously connect people to a story an emotion, and in a way to a nostalgic part of their own lives. 

My ultimate goal and dream as a composer is to work on those kinds of projects and create those emotional memories for people that leave them with a little more hope, a little more empathy, or just a bit of warm and fuzzy nostalgia in the midst of their everyday lives. 

What’s next?
I’m always looking forward to the next exciting and inspiring project to work on, but even more than that, I am ALWAYS looking for really great, kind, ambitious, and ethical people to work with. If my future could be filled with only those kinds of projects and only those kinds of people, I would be very, very happy! 

Contact Info:

• Website: www.jillianwhitaker.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/jillianwhitakermusic/
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/jillianwhitakermusic/