Jake Monaco

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Jake Monaco
Jake Monaco by Gage Skidmore.jpg
Monaco at the 2024 WonderCon
Background information
GenresOrchestral, Classical, Ambient, Rock
Occupation(s)Composer, Arranger, Instrumentalist
Instrument(s)Guitar, Piano, Bass
Years active2007-present

Jake Monaco is an American film and TV composer. He currently scores Amazon Prime Video's The Stinky & Dirty Show , Netflix's Dinotrux , and Warner Bros. Animation's Be Cool, Scooby-Doo! . He also provided scores for Disney+ originals, specifically Cars on the Road , and Toy Story specials Lamp Life and Forky Asks a Question .

Contents


Career

Monaco began playing guitar in high school, [1] later touring with a group while attending the University of Richmond in Virginia. [2] A few years after graduating, his bandmates opted to take up non-musical professional careers.

At the suggestion of a friend, Monaco enrolled in a film scoring course at University of Southern California. He has stated that although he had never had interest in scoring as a child, it was these classes that piqued his interest, explaining that he was "sucked in" [2] to the world of scoring almost immediately.

Monaco began assisting for composer Christophe Beck after graduating from the USC program, and through this connection he has contributed music to The Hangover film series, The Muppets , and Get Hard . [3] Monaco credits the time he spent assisting Beck as key to his success as a scorer, and has described assistant positions as "some of the best education and experience a young composer can receive". [4] After assisting Christophe Beck for eight years, Monaco made the decision to begin scoring on his own. [2]

Monaco credits some of his inspiration as a composer to a stable of unorthodox stringed instruments he acquired from Rich Briggs. Monaco's studio includes custom-built guitars including a hub cap guitar, a copper pot guitar and a wine box bass. [5]

Discography

Feature films

YearTitleDirectorNotes
2010Role/Play Rob Williams
2012 Struck by Lightning Brian Dannelly
The Men Next DoorRob Williams
2013 Kilimanjaro Walter Strafford
Living on One DollarZach Ingrasci
Sean Leonard
Chris Temple
2014 Out to Kill Rob Williams
Let's Be Cops Luke Greenfield Composed with Christophe Beck
Playing It Cool Justin Reardon
2016 Kindergarten Cop 2 Don Michael Paul
Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie Mandie Fletcher
A Cinderella Story: If the Shoe Fits Michelle Johnston
Keeping Up with the Joneses Greg Mottola
2018 Scooby-Doo! and the Gourmet Ghost Doug MurphyComposed with Matthew Janszen
Dumplin' Anne Fletcher
2019Through the WindowsPetey Barma
Bret 'Brook' Parker
A Cinderella Story: Christmas Wish Michelle Johnston
2020 Walkaway Joe Tom Wright Composed with Christophe Beck
Think Like a Dog Gil Junger
2021 Flora & Ulysses Lena Khan
A Cinderella Story: Starstruck Michelle JohnstonComposed with Brittany Dunton

Short films

YearTitleDirectorNotes
2005StuckAdam Kargman
2007RoutineScott Brown
Union StationBeth Spitalny
2008Better than AstronautsJonathan Barenboim
Secret Circles, Hidden PrayersAmber Beard
The OrphanDan Treharne
2009RosesTrish Hadley
ElevatedJared Mark
Point of EntryZeus Quijano Jr.
2010Where Life IsCoyote Marino
A Tall TaleBrittany Biggs
I SuckJason Bowers
2011BlunderkindZak Mechanic
The LepidoctorJonathan Barenboim
2012The Road We've Traveled Davis Guggenheim
2013The Magic BraceletJon Poll
2017AgainAlexis Jacknow
2018Yellow is the New BlackSerguei Kouchnerov
Fabien Polack
2019Santa's Little HelpersBruno Chauffard
Derek Drymon
2020Lamp Life Valerie LaPointe
Out Steven Clay Hunter

References

  1. "Interview: Composer Jake Monaco - Movie Mom". Movie Mom. 2016-09-30. Retrieved 2017-01-19.
  2. 1 2 3 Geektown (2016-10-01), Interview With Composer Jake Monaco (And His Interesting Collection Of Instruments!) , retrieved 2017-01-19
  3. "How Jake Monaco uses custom instruments in his fantastic scores". The Audio Spotlight. 2016-10-12. Retrieved 2017-01-19.
  4. "JOB HACKS | How To Be A Self-Employed Composer". Inverse. Retrieved 2017-01-19.
  5. Composer Quest (2016-09-30), Jake Monaco's Studio Tour , retrieved 2017-01-19