Introduction
Rob Simonsen is an American composer located in Los Angeles.
Early life
Rob began playing the piano by ear at an early age. His grandmother was a voice teacher and music was around him in his family home. He would later study jazz piano performance and music theory while being enrolled at Southern Oregon University, the University of Oregon, and Portland State University.
Career
Rob's first break into film composing was through the independent feature Westender in 2003. In 2004 he teamed up with Mychael Danna and has provided additional music and arrangements on Surf's Up, Fracture, Moneyball and the Oscar-winning, Life of Pi. The two have co-composed the film (500) Days of Summer, and the television series Dollhouse, created by Joss Whedon. His work includes the Sundance Film Festival features The Way, Way Back and The Spectacular Now plus the Lionsgate feature film The Age of Adaline and most recently Gifted, Going in Style, and Love, Simon.
In 2009, he opened his own studio, while The Hollywood Reporter named him one of the '15 Composers Primed to Take Their Place on the A List.'
Simonsen's music can be heard in nearly all iPhone 5 ads - he appears as the conductor in the commercials as well. The iPhone 5 commercial titled 'Music Every Day' contains one of Simonsen's track, 'Red', which gained worldwide recognition.
Early in 2018 Rob's music also appeared in Coca-Cola Super Bowl TV spot titled 'The Wonder of Us'.
On September 6, 2019, Simonsen released his first 9 track solo album titled Rêveries under Sony Masterworks record label.
Awards
- World Soundtrack Award (nomination) - Discovery of the Year for The Spectacular Now, The Way, Way Back (2013)
- International Film Music Critics Award (nomination) - Best Original Score for an Action/Adventure/Thriller Film for Nerve (2016)
Discography
Studio albums
- Rêveries (2019)