We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Miu Sato. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Miu below.

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

Music has always played a prominent role in my life from a very young age, but it wasn’t until my final months in high school when I really believed that pursuing a career in a creative field was even an option for me.

I started learning the piano from the age of 3 and took ABRSM (The Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music) exams from the age of 9. Over time, I found myself playing with melodic and rhythmic ideas of the pieces I was studying, wondering where else the piece could lead itself towards. Fast forward to when the live-action film of Beauty and the Beast was released in 2017, I remember being extremely moved by Alan Menken’s music. The classic Disney animated films were an integral part of my childhood so Menken’s musical voice was very familiar to me, but this moment was different. It made me realize how much of a vital role music plays in bringing characters and narratives to life, and the more I dived into Menken’s discography, the more emotionally evoked and musically inspired I felt. I knew I wanted to write music that inspires and moves people.

However, as someone who doesn’t come from a family of musicians or any creative field for that matter, pursuing a career in music felt like an unrealistic dream. Apart from music, I was also interested in business and finance, so when college applications began I initially chose the stable route. It was actually my parents who were the ones that convinced me to pursue my passion over stability or any form of ‘expectation’ and for that I am eternally grateful.

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

I am a Japanese composer and orchestrator for film and musical theater based in New York City who loves to explore various sound palettes and textures. I especially enjoy writing orchestral works and blending traditional instruments with synths. Growing up in Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and New York, I also like to incorporate my exposure to various cultures in my musical voice. What I love about film scoring is the fact that you can explore a wide range of genres and styles across different projects so every score remains very unique.

My orchestral work Reflections was read by the NYU Orchestra in the fall of 2022. My scores have been heard in film festivals such as the FilmOut San Diego LGBTQ+ Film Festival, Silicon Valley AAPI Film Festival, New York Indie Theatre Film Festival, and San Diego Asian Film Festival. I am currently pursuing a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree at the NYU Screen Scoring program and study with Jamie Lawrence, 5-time Emmy Award Winning composer and orchestrator.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The most rewarding aspect of being a composer is connecting with other music creators and artists. Having that sense of community is super important and I am incredibly grateful for all the supportive artists I have crossed paths with so far.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

When someone tells me they were moved or inspired by my work, I know I have done my job right, so this continues to be my driving force as I navigate my creative journey. Additionally, as a woman of color, I am passionate about highlighting underrepresented voices and shedding light on narratives that may have been overlooked or distorted. I hope to push for a more diverse and inclusive industry.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.miusatomusic.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/miusicsato/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/miu-sato-3b1a9b229/

Image Credits
January Yucheng Li