We recently connected with Emmanuel Segarra and have shared our conversation below.

Emmanuel , appreciate you joining us today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

This is something that the people where I come from ask me a lot. Risk is is the most important factor to every creative mind, from the beginning when we choose to follow this path, to the every day crafting.

In my case taking risk meant a lot of potential problems; from financial, to personal relationships. Since I come from a very far away island in the Caribbean getting to Los Angeles meant a lot of effort, struggles and sacrifices that in the end, maybe could have not done anything for me. This is a very common place of thought for people that have really big dreams but do not have the resources to be comfortable and follow their path even if they have the potential to be influential in the artistic world. However, even with all the anxiety that all these factors gave me, I decided to take the great risk of moving on to do what I feel that is my place: Music.

I still remember the day I bought the plane ticket to LAX, the day that I put everything aside, packed my puertorrican flag in my bag pack got ready for the big adventure of my life and start building a career in Film Music Composition.

It was not easy, nothing at all. Language barriers, money, food, relationships, far away from family or anything close to my culture. It felt really REALLY cold (in both temperature and sentimentally) but one thing that maintained me was always my goal of making music.

I believe that with every risk you take, life balances itself out. It’s almost like physics.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My name is Emmanuel Segarra. I come from the beautiful island of Puerto Rico in the Caribbean. I got into music because of my family since they already were musicians it was just a matter of time that I also decided to go with the flow. Funny thing, when I was a kid I did not want to be a musician at all! I leaned more into science, animals, biology and whoever knows me personally knows that I still have that side on me (*ahem* my personal studio is filled with dinosaurs figures *ahem*)

As a composer I started writing music since I was a very young kid, I wrote notes on paper without knowing ANY theory at all but following my heart I made somethings somewhat listenable. I wish I saved those, even if they were laughable I still think that the very first art that we create have the most pure intention from us.

Following today I find dedicating my time to writing orchestral music. From actual composing, to orchestrating and conducting. There is something about orchestral colors that always have called me and I try to replicate it. From Beethoven’s Symphonies to Disney songs to Hans Zimmer pulses, they always have something to say (therefore, they are influential in my music)

People that listen to my music can grab it and just fly with it. My goal with every piece that I write is to create a universe of unlimited emotional possibilities so the listener get lost into the sonic perspective (or visual if it’s a Film!)

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

This is a very difficult question to answer, I could easily say to be the best at what I do but to be honest that does not feel fulfilling to me. Yes at some degree I do believe that the more you know the more control you have on your art, but to me the goal of all of creative is to reach the most purest intention, to go back and write with the same grace as when we were all kids. Emotion is the most important factor in all of this. Whenever if it’s a simple piece of a full Film.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

Ultimately, being able to sit down and watch everything make sense. There is nothing more rewarding that watching a scene with the correct underscore enhancing the emotional value that a specific scene has.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.emmanuelsegarramusic.com/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmanuel-segarra-ortiz-418592213/
• Other: https://soundcloud.com/esegarra_composer

Image Credits
Christian Amonson