Meet Ray Kim

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ray Kim.

Hi Ray, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My foray into composition began as a mere hobby rather than a professional pursuit. The whole journey really cemented itself as a viable career when I happened to win an international award when I was 17 or 18. It consequently propelled my passion towards music enough to apply to music schools. As a child, I was inspired by the legendary Hans Zimmer and aspired to create something as impressive as the soundtrack for Pirates of the Caribbean. I delved into classical composition to gain a solid foundation and later applied the concepts toward film scoring under the tutelage of Professors Larry Groupé and Carlos Rafael Rivera.

In 2020/21, Carlos Rivera’s acclaimed work on “The Queen’s Gambit” garnered widespread attention after it was released on Netflix. I was fortunate enough to join the team during this period of rapid growth and have been working alongside them ever since.

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?
Reflecting on my journey so far, I’ve been fortunate to experience a relatively smooth road, despite the challenges presented by the Covid pandemic. Upon returning to LA, I was disheartened to witness the industry come to a standstill, with doors shutting left and right. However, after a year of uncertainty and anticipation, production in Hollywood eventually resumed, and I was able to begin composing once again. During this time, I applied to work under multiple composers, and although the year was certainly difficult, I started to hear back from some towards the end of it.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a film composer.

We write music to films and tv shows that are live on television, theaters, or on streaming services such as Netflix or Disney+.

There are two scenes that I am quite proud of but I’m unfortunately unable to disclose as these scenes are in two separate shows that are both not live yet.

I greatly enjoy my work and everyone around is an incredible team player. I thrive in smaller teams and can compose to my heart’s content without looking at the clock.

Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
In addition to film composing, I have also found success in orchestrating music from other composers. As a composer, my work is usually submitted to filmmakers via an instrumental mockup that utilizes MIDI. However, MIDI alone is not easily readable by musicians and performers and must be translated into sheet music before the recording process can begin. This is where the role of the orchestrator becomes crucial – to take the approved MIDI information and transform it into sheet music that is readily understood and playable by the performers. The end goal is to ensure that the musicians are able to deliver their best performances in the recording studio, thereby enhancing the overall quality of the movie or show’s soundtrack.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.superrray.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/doraymekim
• Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1JHFQv8E0HG7mmKpuftPLB?si=YC4_GEwUSa2oMK_CKp6WQA