Today we’d like to introduce you to Trey Toy.
Trey, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I was born in Los Angeles, but my family relocated to Buffalo, NY when I was two years old, shortly after the Northridge Earthquake severely damaged our home. Both of my parents worked in the entertainment industry, my father as a screenwriter and my mother as a producer and actor, so I imbibed the arts of film, television and theater from a young age. Unsurprisingly, my love of music ultimately blossomed out of the soundtracks to my favorite films, and the first CD I ever owned was James Horner’s score to Braveheart, which I still believe is some of the most beautiful music ever written for the screen.
Like so many children do, I learned to play the piano, and it quickly became one of my favorite hobbies. Only when I discovered and fell in love with the guitar, however, did I decide that I would pursue a career in music. After high school, I moved to New York City and attended Columbia University, where I developed my passion for composition and realized that a future as a composer for film and television was possible. After I completed the Screen Scoring master’s program at NYU Steinhardt, I finally made the move back to Los Angeles.
My first jobs in LA were unpaid internships, as I lived off of my savings account waiting for the right opportunity to present itself. Thankfully it did, and film composer Trevor Morris hired me to be his full-time assistant. Working for Trevor was an invaluable learning experience in the craft of putting music to picture, and I eventually rose through the ranks to become a member of his writing team, contributing music to an array of projects, including Vikings, Castlevania and Hunter Killer.
Hands down the most exciting moment in my time with Trevor was a trip to London to record at Air Studios and the legendary Abbey Road. Hearing my music performed live by some of the best musicians on the planet is a memory I will cherish forever.
In 2017, I went freelance and built my own studio space, where I have been ever since. Working on my own for the past few years turned out to be good practice for staying sane during this pandemic!
Great, 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?
No kid who embarks on a career in the entertainment industry expects the road to be easy. Whether through our own insecurities or the myriad of warnings from concerned friends and family, we remain acutely aware of the perils and pitfalls that lie ahead. My first year in LA was a trying time, and I credit my then-girlfriend (who is now my wife!) for providing an incomparable support system; I do not believe that I could have stuck it out without her.
On top of the undeniable anxieties that come with the high cost of living in LA, working as an assistant in this industry can be grueling and unpredictable; long hours, weekend work and monotonous assignments are all necessary evils for anyone who wishes to progress. Writing music is hard enough as it is, but dealing with the pressures, personalities and deadlines that come with the film and television industry have forced me to develop tools for coping with high-stress environments.
That being said, I also recognize that I have been very fortunate in my journey. I found a paying job relatively quickly, which is sadly not the case for so many young people who move out here with big dreams. I have also had terrific friends and mentors who lent many a helping hand along the way. As much as this path has been laden with obstacles, it has also been filled with tremendous joy, and I am grateful every day that I get to do what I love for a living.
Can you give our readers some background on your music?
I am a composer for film, television, video games and other visual media. The process of writing music for the screen is far more technical than it used to be, and most of my days are spent in front of a computer screen. Music technology has progressed at an astounding rate over the last decade, and as budgets shrink and deadlines creep ever closer, my ability to stay ahead of the curve is crucial to the success of my business.
Even though I work as a musician, I see myself as a filmmaker first and foremost. As the composer on a project, as much as I am there to contribute my musical voice, my primary goal is always to tell the best story I can and to help the director achieve his or her unique vision.
I notice that many composers, especially those who are in the early part of their careers, have a difficult time facing this reality. Most musicians are not familiar with the unique craft of marrying their work to picture and developing that craft is a lifelong endeavor. A piece of music, or “cue” as we call it, might be fantastic in its own right, but if it is not telling the right story, not helping the film be the best it can be, then your collaborators will not respond positively. This can cause a cognitive dissonance for many aspiring composers, myself included!
When I was growing up, my parents always stuck around at the end of a movie to watch the end credits. As an impatient kid, all I wanted to do was get out of the theater, but now that I have seen what goes into making a film, I have a newfound respect for each and every name that goes by. I try to remind myself every day that I am just one member of a team of hundreds or even thousands of people working tirelessly to make this work of art the best it can possibly be.
Projects to which I contributed additional music recently include Ozark, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Vikings, Fear the Walking Dead, Snowpiercer, Countdown and Castlevania. I was also thrilled to compose the scores to two amazing features this year: Centigrade, a survival thriller released through IFC Midnight and which I co-scored with my friend Matthew Wang and The Delicacy, a documentary about sea urchin divers co-composed with Trevor Morris.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
Success is very simple for me. I hope to find fulfillment in what I do and make great friends along the way. As long as I’m making myself and my family proud, what more could I possibly ask for?
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.treytoy.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/treytoy
- Other: http://www.imdb.me/treytoy
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