Johan Landqvist

What first inspired you to pursue a career in music production/composition? Was there a specific moment that sparked your passion? 

Working at a cinema theatre as a teenager, watching hundreds of movies and loving the enormous impact the score had on the film, made me aspire to a career in music and composing! 

​

Looking back, what has been the most rewarding project you’ve ever worked on, and why? 

Producing song remakes and composing the original score for FOX TV's “Glee” and “The Passion”, respectively, was soooo rewarding! Why? Because it was such a creative and exciting process, and both were huge successes in the US and worldwide! 

​

Was there a moment in your career when you felt like you had truly “made it”? When was it and how did that feel? 

The first time I found myself sitting with my own band in a TV studio as the MD was surreal. Especially since my older MD mentors/role models, whom I had seen on TV as a kid, were in the same show! Also, hearing my song production sung by singer Seal was huge, and hearing actor John Cleese’s voiceover on top of my score was even bigger! 

​

Where do you draw inspiration when creating music for a project? Do you have a ritual or routine that helps you get into the creative zone?  

New sounds and beats in the studio, combined with listening to music in many different styles, are my best kickstart for getting the creative juices flowing. 

​

What role has collaboration played in your growth as a composer? Do you have a favorite memory of working with others? 

I’ve always been a lone wolf worker, but the last 5-6 years, I’ve started collaborating with other writers, and I love it, especially songwriting. One memory that sticks out is when Nashville Hall of Fame lyricist Sharon Vaughn pretended she heard a different note in the chorus of a Christmas song. That note made the whole chorus, and I realized she had just been very savvy smart.

​

If you could go back and give your younger self one piece of advice, what would it be? 

I wish I had known more about the business aspects of the music biz as a young aspiring musician. 

​

What’s one dream project you haven’t worked on yet but would love to tackle in the future? 

To create a live concert with a huge cross-over hybrid score-orchestra (scorechestra:), featuring instrumental and vocal soloists, combined with the fattest FOH sound and stunning light programming. I’ve been working on the idea for many years. It’s getting there…

​

Want to tell us something else? Write another question that you’d like to talk about. Johans question: What do you think about Film & TV scores of today 2025? 

I think it’s partly saddening to hear the scores of today that are obviously low budget and just have no real identity. Mostly ambient with no personality. What happened to all the great MOVIE THEMES? 

​

Non-music work-related: 

I love space and the amazing things the human brain has come up with to get us up in space and back. And I love ice hockey, especially the NHL with all the Swedish superstars.