Justin Hurwitz The Composer of LA LA LAND and WHIPLASH Uses Ultimate Ears

Justin Hurwitz is an American film composer and a television writer. He is best known for scoring the film La La Land

He frequently collaborates with director Damien Chazelle and also scored Chazelle's two other features, Guy and Madeline on a Park Bench and Whiplash. For La La Land, he won two Academy Awards: Best Original Score and Best Original Song (for "City of Stars") as well as the Golden Globe Awards for Best Original Score and Best Original Song (for "City of Stars"), and the BAFTA Award for Best Film Music.

 

Can you tell us a little about what you do?

I'm a film composer. I composed the songs and score for LA LA LAND, and the score for WHIPLASH, and I'm currently working on the score for Damien Chazelle's next film.

Why did you decide to make the transition to in ear monitors in general?

This past spring, I conducted LA LA LAND live-to-picture at the Hollywood Bowl. I've used large headphones when conducting in the studio, but for a concert, you don't want to look encumbered by headphones, so in-ear seemed like the best way to hear the click and playback tracks from the movie.

How do they help you do what you do better?

I really like hearing the orchestra acoustically, so a single ear monitor was exactly what I needed. I don't like hearing a mix of the orchestra in headphones, so being able to hear the playback tracks in one ear, and the real orchestra in the other ear worked great.

What is your favorite thing about the product, fit, isolation, sound quality, and why?

They were comfortable and the sound was great. I think my favorite part though was watching my ear getting mapped.

What made you decide on Ultimate Ears?

Our music supervisor suggested Ultimate Ears, and they worked great. I'm doing the show a few more times this year, and next year, and I plan on wearing the UE monitor.
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