We recently connected with Alan Catz and have shared our conversation below.

Alan, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

It’s been a long time!

During that period, I was living what felt like a meaningless life, simply following the path that was expected of me. I was studying Systems Engineering at a prestigious university in Buenos Aires, but it never felt right.
Each day, I’d wake up at 5:00 a.m. and take a really long, draining bus ride to the university, feeling more disconnected from myself with every passing day.

Everything changed when I was 19 and met my first piano teacher and mentor, Olga Sakovich, a Russian pianist and violinist trained at the Kiev Conservatory. Although I had only played piano briefly as a child, I wanted to reconnect with it. I never imagined that this decision would completely redefine my path.

Though I had studied with Olga for only a few months, she recognized my potential and encouraged me to apply to the Manuel de Falla Conservatory of Music, one of Argentina’s most prestigious institutions. To my complete surprise, I was accepted as one of the top three applicants. That moment ignited a spark within me I hadn’t realized existed.

The first time I stepped into the conservatory, I heard musicians practicing all kinds of instruments. Many I didn’t even recognize. It felt like entering a whole new world, one where I finally belonged.
That was the turning point, the moment I knew there was no turning back. I had found the life I was meant to live.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I’m a music composer for film, video games, and interactive media, born and raised in Argentina. I compose both orchestral and electronic music, and I’ve always been drawn to the unique qualities of each. You can hear those styles, and the hybrid of the two, throughout my work.

I got into the industry after completing my classical piano studies at the Manuel de Falla Conservatory in Buenos Aires. I started by making music for small indie games, and everything scaled up significantly when I had the opportunity to assist my friend and fellow composer Ignacio Ramírez on one of Riot Games’ trailers, League of Legends: Wild Rift – Crystal Rose.

From the very beginning, I was deeply inspired by the music of film and video games. Long before I even knew composing for media could be a real career, I would spend hours listening to the music of the games I played, whistling and singing the melodies by heart. I’ve always felt a special connection to film scores as well, there was something about the music that moved me more than anything else.

I work alongside my twin brother, Uriel, who complements me in every possible way. We push each other forward constantly, sharing everything we learn and giving each other honest feedback every single day. We live and breathe this dream 24/7, and I truly believe there are few people that work as hard as we do.

My sound is unique thanks to influences from a diverse range of musical cultures and styles, including film composers such as Hans Zimmer and Thomas Newman, the Impressionist works of Ravel and Debussy, Japanese anime composers like Kevin Penkin and Shiro Sagisu, as well as game composers Bill Brown and Tsukasa Tawada. We consistently aim to create music that is both emotional and melodic.

One of my proudest achievements is receiving the BMI Award at Berklee College of Music, where I’m completing a dual major in Film Scoring and Game & Interactive Media Scoring. This prestigious award is given to only one student each year, recognizing the top composer across the Screen Scoring Department, and it fills me with immense pride. Through this recognition, I had the honor of meeting Oscar-winning composer Mychael Danna, as well as Tracy McKnight, Vice President of Creative, Film, TV & Visual Media at Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI). Their support has opened countless doors for me to pursue opportunities in Los Angeles.

Thanks to them, I was invited to attend the BMI Film, TV & Visual Media Awards, the most important event of the year for film and TV composers, where I was introduced to many incredible professionals.

Another thing that makes this journey even more meaningful is sharing it with my two closest friends, Nicolás Urricelqui (pictured on the left) and Gabriel Arvelo (on the right). Both have received prestigious awards from our department, and it’s been incredibly inspiring to grow alongside them. I’m genuinely excited to keep creating, learning, and building our futures together as we chase our shared dreams.

I study and work day and night, including weekends, to one day stand among the masters of this craft. I want to leave a mark, to help others, and to be a proud representative of my home country, Argentina, to show that with determination, discipline, and a strong plan, anything is possible.

I’ll always be deeply grateful to the incredible mentors who believed in me. Especially during times when I didn’t believe in myself. Olga Sakovich, Fernanda Morello, Manuel Fraga, Eric Kuschevatzky, and many others who crossed my path before Berklee played a fundamental role in shaping who I am. Without their trust, support, and guidance, I wouldn’t be where I am today.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

For me, the most rewarding aspect of being an artist is getting to learn from incredibly talented people with such diverse backgrounds. Especially at Berklee, where you meet and connect with people from literally every part of the world, it’s been an inspiring and humbling experience. I’m truly grateful for that.
There’s something so special about visiting another country and having friends to hang out and catch up with. It makes the world feel smaller, warmer, and more connected.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

A big lesson I had to unlearn was the idea that it was “too late” to pursue music as a career. I didn’t grow up surrounded by musicians, and I didn’t start taking music lessons until I was almost 20. When I finally switched to music, I constantly felt like I was falling behind. I was surrounded by people who had been playing since childhood, attended private schools, and had access to teachers I never did. I believed I had to work twice as hard to catch up and constantly prove that I belonged.

Over time, and with the support of my twin brother and my mentors, I began to realize that comparison only held me back. The truth is, we all have unique journeys, and starting late doesn’t make you any less deserving or capable. What matters is how much you care, how hard you’re willing to work, and how much you’re willing to sacrifice for your passion.

Unlearning that limiting belief helped me stop focusing on the clock and start focusing on the craft, and that changed everything.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://alancatz.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/catzalan/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alan-catz/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@alancatz

Image Credits

Kelly Davidson
Mike Ritter