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

Short films

YearTitleDirectorNotes
2005StuckAdam KargmanN/a
2007RoutineScott BrownN/a
Union StationBeth SpitalnyN/a
2008Better than AstronautsJonathan BarenboimN/a
Secret Circles, Hidden PrayersAmber BeardN/a
The OrphanDan TreharneN/a
2009RosesTrish HadleyN/a
ElevatedJared MarkN/a
Point of EntryZeus Quijano Jr.N/a
2010Where Life IsCoyote MarinoN/a
A Tall TaleBrittany BiggsN/a
I SuckJason BowersN/a
2011BlunderkindZak MechanicN/a
The LepidoctorJonathan BarenboimN/a
2012The Road We've Traveled Davis Guggenheim N/a
2013The Magic BraceletJon PollN/a
2017AgainAlexis JacknowN/a
2018Yellow is the New BlackSerguei Kouchnerov
Fabien Polack
N/a
2019Santa's Little HelpersBruno Chauffard
Derek Drymon
N/a
2020Lamp Life Valerie LaPointe N/a
Out Steven Clay HunterN/a

References

  1. "Interview: Composer Jake Monaco - Movie Mom". Movie Mom. 2016-09-30. Archived from the original on 2017-02-02. 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