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

Peiran, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

I have two projects that immediately come to mind from different areas, The Great Sea Serpent and Wok Talk.

The Great Sea Serpent is a theatrical performance at Northwestern’s Wirtz Center, where I served as the composer and sound designer together with another talented cohort. Rooted in Norse mythology, the story explored humanity’s relationship with nature, aiming to raise environmental awareness. This was my first large-scale composition and sound design project after I entered grad school, and it became a bridge between my undergraduate years at Berklee—where music was my primary focus—and my more interdisciplinary creative approach through sound at Northwestern. The show incorporated Viking-inspired music and immersive field recordings. A fun moment was discovering a nice spot on campus with beautiful bird chirps, which we integrated into the production, and over time, this place became one of my favorite spots for reflection and meditation. The fusion of mythology, environmental consciousness, and organic sound design made it a deeply fulfilling experience—one that remains a milestone in my creative career.

Wok Talk is the Mandarin podcast I co-produce with two friends, exploring social and self-identity through the lens of food, particularly for those living overseas. I came up with the podcast’s Chinese title我可说 (Wǒ kě shuō)—a play on words meaning “I can talk”—which reflects our mission to create space for meaningful conversations across the dining table. We started by interviewing Chinese restaurant owners in the U.S. and U.K. about their journeys, menus, and how food connects to their evolving identities. Beyond interviews, our episodes feature weekly catchups among friends. A recent memorable episode centered on favorite restaurants during our childhood that had disappeared over time, sparking reflections on nostalgia, societal changes, and our sense of cultural belonging. It’ll be available on Apple Podcasts very soon, stay tuned!

While The Great Sea Serpent allowed me to contribute to a larger vision, Wok Talk is something I co-created from the ground up. Yet, both projects share a common thread: using sound—whether through music, natural soundscapes, or human voices—to tell stories, preserve memories, and deepen connections with the world around us.

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

I’m a composer, sound designer, and audio post-production specialist, enhancing storytelling through music and sound across advertisements, films, video games, and theater. With a blend of creative artistry and technical expertise, I craft expressive and polished audio experiences tailored for diverse media. My approach balances a broad creative vision with microscopic perspectives, allowing me to refine the smallest details while helping clients discover innovative sound solutions that bring their projects to life.

Beyond providing music production and sound design services, I am also actively involved in concerts, recording sessions, and live performances as a violinist. I started classical violin training at the age of four, which gave me a strong grounding in music structure and aesthetics from an early age, though not through a formal conservatory path. Beyond solo performance, I have been part of an orchestra since ten. Immersed in an ensemble environment, I developed a strong sense of musical collaboration, gaining a deep understanding of how different instruments interact within a piece. This first-hand experience gives me a natural instinct for orchestration, balance, and the dynamic relationships between musical elements. When composing for large ensembles or scoring projects involving session musicians, I don’t just think in terms of notes and harmonies—I consider how the musicians will breathe, phrase, and communicate through the music. This insight allows me to write in a way that feels organic and intuitive for performers, ultimately enhancing the expressiveness and authenticity of the final piece. A recent project involved supporting my friend Haotian’s new album, Story of the Leaves, by adding violin layers and solos to evoke the essence of his travels and further bringing his artistic vision to life. I also drew from my experience in ensemble performance and mixing to offer suggestions on instrumentation and arrangement, helping shape the album’s ambient-folk soundscape. These experiences keep me deeply connected to the performative side of music, giving me a unique perspective when composing or arranging for live musicians.

That being said, I also produce contemporary soundtracks in genres such as EDM and Ballads. While I later received formal training at professional institutions, the aesthetics behind my work are deeply influenced by my early musical foundation, shaped by personal experiences and mentorship.

Have you ever had to pivot?

I grew up in a traditional Asian family in Shanghai, where music was never intended to be my career path. Neither of my parents are musicians, nor did I follow a structured conservatory track. However, I was fortunate to have two dedicated violin teachers—one who built my foundation in essential techniques and another who taught me disciplined problem-solving skills through complex excerpts. Their lessons shaped my musicianship and, later on, influenced how I approach challenges in life.

In high school, I briefly considered pursuing music, but under practical pressures and a lack of support, I set that dream aside and enrolled in Financial Management at university. By my sophomore year, though, I felt an undeniable pull toward music and the creative world. When I told my mom I wanted to transfer and asked for her support and approval, she responded, “You don’t even have an offer letter. What should I support you based on?” Waiting for approval wouldn’t get me anywhere, so I took action. I applied to Berklee College of Music, handling every step on my own. The agreement with my mom was simple: no scholarship, no transfer. The process was tough, but I made it—and finally took the leap into music. Determined to make up for lost time, I completed a dual major in Contemporary Writing & Production and Film Scoring in just 2.5 years. Though it left little room to fully immerse in Berklee’s community, it sharpened my ability to work efficiently, adapt quickly, and stay calm under pressure.

This journey—navigating an unconventional career switch, embracing uncertainty, and proving to myself that I could do it—has shaped who I am today. It’s why I approach every project with both strategic precision and artistic intuition. Whether in sound design, music production, or creative strategy, I bring the same resilience and adaptability to my work. If my story inspires even one person to take the leap toward their passion, then I’ve done something meaningful.

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

One thing non-creatives might struggle to understand about our industry is how much invisible work goes into what we do. I grew up following a traditional academic path, so I share a lot of the same experiences as people outside the creative field. I’ve always enjoyed learning about different industries and hearing about other people’s work, rather than staying solely within an artistic bubble. Through these conversations, I’ve gained a deeper appreciation for how niche our field is. Many aspects of sound design, music production, and audio engineering happen behind the scenes, so they often go unnoticed by the audience. For example, I have friends who love musicals and live performances and have a keen ear for sound. When a show’s audio isn’t quite right, they might sense something is off, but it’s not always obvious how much effort goes into creating the seamless sound we often take for granted. In conversations, I sometimes share insights into the behind-the-scenes process—how much fine-tuning and balancing are involved to make everything sound effortless.

That’s something I think about often: the work that goes unnoticed until it doesn’t work. Creativity isn’t just about inspiration or raw talent—it’s a constant cycle of refining, troubleshooting, and perfecting. At the end of the day, I realize that this probably applies to every industry—there’s always invisible effort behind the things we take for granted, and there’s so much we don’t see or fully understand about each other’s work. I think bridging the gap between different fields is valuable for all, as it helps build mutual understanding and appreciation for the effort that goes into all kinds of work.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.peiranzhao.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/feifei_arppz/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100046639689978
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peiran-zhao-creative/

Image Credits

Pixie Lu
Owen Nathanael
Jiaxiu Wu