We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Kori Celeste a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Kori thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

Since a very young age, I was always encouraged by my parents to follow my passions and chase anything that brought me joy or lit my creative spark. I’ve been in love with music for as long as I can remember—one of my earliest memories is of my extremely shy, three-year-old self confidently climbing onto the coffee table and belting out “New York, New York” by Frank Sinatra in front of my parents and their friends at a dinner party. It was totally out of character for me (and, let’s be honest, probably pretty adorable). Looking back, that moment feels like the true beginning of my creative path.

As I got older, there was really no stopping me. I poured everything into music: taking guitar and singing lessons, scribbling lyrics in journals, recording song after song in GarageBand on my old MacBook, and eventually falling madly in love with scoring and composing. That became my guiding light and fueled my drive to pursue a career in the music industry. For me, there weren’t any other options—I always knew following this dream was exactly what I needed to do.

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 am a composer, audio editor, sound designer, and music producer who absolutely adores collaborating and creating impactful musical and auditory moments for all kinds of art and media. I believe music is an essential piece of the puzzle—it has the power to subtly guide an audience’s emotions and elevate stories, characters, and moments. My approach is always to focus on what best complements and supports the project I’m working on.

Throughout my career, my work has spanned a wide range of genres, from macabre melodies to joyful jingles to sweeping, emotional orchestral pieces. I take pride in being able to write any type of music for any type of project—and genuinely have fun doing it. I also love working across all forms of media. From podcasts and audio dramas to film, television, and even immersive theatre, I truly believe original music can elevate any creative project and take it to the next level. And I absolutely love collaborating with other creatives to make that happen.

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

For me, the most rewarding aspect of being a creative is being part of something bigger—something that has the potential to connect with people in a meaningful way. I fell in love with music because it expresses things words alone can’t always convey. It’s a universal language we can all resonate with.

Art feels more important than ever right now. It helps us process big ideas, feel our emotions, immerse ourselves in new worlds, and experience different perspectives. When I write music for art and media, I love knowing that what I create might resonate with someone—whether it’s a poignant piece that adds depth to an emotional moment in a character’s journey or just a fun, spooky stinger that makes you jump, giggle, and fall even deeper into the story.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

Working in a creative field demands a lot of resilience, and I’m constantly reminded to stay strong and keep moving forward, even when the path feels rocky or unpredictable. The past few years have been a rollercoaster for the entertainment industry. One moment you’re fully booked, spending hours writing music for big projects with endless potential—and the next, you’re just hoping for an email back. Projects fall through all the time, and while it’s a realistic part of the industry, it can definitely be discouraging.

Recently, I went through a stretch where it felt almost impossible to find new projects. Every opportunity felt like a dead end, my confidence dipped, and I started questioning my path. But I kept the door open. I kept putting myself out there. Eventually, I landed an incredible project that completely re-ignited my spark: an audio drama podcast titled The Case Within. After the series dropped, I completely unexpectedly (and excitedly!) won an Indie Series Award for Best Original Score for my work. That win was such an important reminder to believe in myself and stay the course—because you truly never know what possibilities are waiting just beyond the next corner.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://koriceleste.com/music

Image Credits

Evan Donaldson