Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Joel Lindberg. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Joel, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What did your parents do right and how has that impacted you in your life and career?

I owe my successes in the music industry to my parents. They are both music professionals, and when I was growing up I had them to look up to as living proof that a career in music could not only be possible, but also enjoyable and sustainable. Having hugely supportive parents provided me the bravery I needed to take the necessary risks along my journey. Without them, I wouldn’t have the sense of purpose and conviction I have today as a creator and performer. Thank you mom and dad!

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?

After first encountering the score from the Lord of the Rings movies as a child and being blown away by the combined emotional power of music and cinema, I became determined to pursue a path creating film music, and I’ve been working toward that goal ever since.

To broaden my understanding of music as a whole and become an overall greater musician, I first chose to study music composition at the Gotland School of Music Composition in my home country Sweden, and then do a year of jazz studies at Dublin City University, before getting my Film and Media Scoring degree at Berklee College of Music in Boston — the alma mater of the composer for the Lord of the Rings movies, Howard Shore. I was lucky enough to receive several scholarships which made it possible for me to successfully complete this dream degree of mine with academic honors, and I am very grateful for that. One of the highlights from my time studying in Boston was winning a competition which allowed me to have my original music recorded in the legendary Power Station Studios in New York City. The college gave me recognition by presenting me an award in the honor of Michael Kamen who is one of my musical heroes, and my time at Berklee ended with my own composition being performed at the graduation ceremony, which felt very special.

Getting to create music for several student film productions is such a joy, and I’m lucky enough to have had collaborations both in Europe and the U.S. (such as Emerson College) come my way. I’m always looking for new projects to work on and I love getting to know directors who share my passion for the language of cinema!

Besides being a composer I’m also a cellist, and as an orchestral musician myself I thrive when I get to write for orchestra and live players. Last year I had the opportunity to practice my orchestral writing skills in many exciting projects, such as working as an orchestrator for a modern reimagining of Mozart’s Requiem that was performed on the east coast of the U.S., and arranging music for full orchestra, choir, and a chamber group, all at Berklee Motion Picture Orchestra’s concerts. In 2025 I look forward to many more thrilling projects both as a cellist and as an orchestral writer!

Currently I’m based in LA where I have the privilege of being surrounded by so many incredible musicians and filmmakers. If you are one of them, looking to collaborate — feel free to reach out! Head on over to my website joellindberg.com and you’ll find examples of the kind of work I do.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

When I decided to move to the U.S. to pursue a degree and career in film music, there were more signs telling me not to do it than there were cheering me on. There were financial challenges; there was the fact that I didn’t know a soul on the other side of the Atlantic; there was the aftermath of a global pandemic making the visa application process even more difficult than it already was… The list goes on.

But my determination persevered and I am happy to say that it gave me some of the best years of my life. While studying at Berklee College of Music and getting my music career started I learned more than I could have imagined, met incredible people, and got to create more music than ever before!

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

Central to my music-making process is the desire to create something that resonates emotionally with others. Music is a language that allows us to communicate things that can’t be put into words — there is beauty in that intimate sense of understanding and I wish to partake in that conversation.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://joellindberg.com
• Instagram: @joellindbeerg

Image Credits

Eric @ Seed Music & Arts Center
Bruno Doig Gonzales Otoya
Ryan Nava
Wang Congyuan