Award-Winning Independent Hybrid Music Composer
“One of the most diversely capable score writers of the next generation.” - Marvel Marketing Team
I’m Jesse Zuretti, independent hybrid composer working on Riot Games 2XKO aka Project L, but most notably working with Marvel from 2018 to 2023. The AAA game world shares parallels with the comic book/film world, allowing me to provide a wide-array of styles for beloved characters, cinematics, gameplay, stages, themes, and more.
For over 20+ years my mission has remained the same: connect with the musical empathy and reach for uncommon creativity. Whether it’s dark fantasy, fever dream horror, high intensity action, thought-provoking sci-fi, or wistful drama, I believe the music should always help you feel, remember, think, and want more of the story.
After working with Marvel for a few years, I made it a point to help encourage and enhance perspectives for students of music programs across America by speaking with those interested in a career in composing. I’ve spoken on panels at the GameSoundCon 2023, conducted presentations at Los Angeles Film School, Brooklyn College (Steiner), Denver University, and more.
I’ve also conducted a 2 month mentorship program comprised of aspiring composers of all diversities from around the world, who all now work professionally. As a composer without a formal degree in music, I advocate for the power of immutable passion, musical diversity, tireless networking, and above all: patience & persistence.
On top of composing for entertainment, I’ve been hired by some of the top producers and bands in Metal/Rock. I’ve worked bands like Brand of Sacrifice for the track “Purge”, Intervals with Aaron Marshall on their upcoming album (“Mnemonic” is the current single), Monuments on the track “Nefarious” for GodSlap & YouTuber penguinz0 aka MoistCr1TiKaL, with George Lever (Sleep Token, Loathe), Jens Bogren (Opeth, Devin Townsend), and many more.
I also play guitar & compose orchestra/synths for Metal Blade Records band Dååth (pronounced “doth”). I’ve also curated an extensive introductory composition course for URM Academy. I’m a proud endorsing artist for Adam Audio, Spitfire Audio, Fender/Presonus/EVH, Kiesel Guitars, Korg, Native Instruments, Spectrasonics, IceGiant, and many more.
I’ve been obsessed with music and film since I was a kid. Exploring the unknown, researching influences of influences, learning the deepest depths of music knowledge, watching more movies than The Pirate Bay has ever illegally uploaded - these are definably the hallmarks of a passionate person. It’s not enough to be passionate; you have to be able to communicate ideas into something audible and tangible, that serves a meaningful purpose. I believe I’ve found a way to make characters, emotions, settings, and themes into musical accompaniments that sonically paint a picture.
Yeah, but what about the nitty gritty stuff? Like my favorite…
Films that Shaped Me
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Beetlejuice, Batman (1989), Sicario, The Thing, Blade Runner, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Escape From New York, Casino Royale, Hereditary, Mandy, The Shining, The Good The Bad and The Ugly, Amour, Evil Dead 2, Hellraiser, Robocop, The Fifth Element, Léon: The Professional, Joker, The Dark Knight Rises, Back to the Future, Aliens, Total Recall, Terminator 2: Judgement Day, Captains Courageous, Little Lord Fauntleroy, One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest, American Psycho, Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, Dutch, Mission Impossible: Fallout, Bronson, Lord of the Rings, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Oldboy, War of the Worlds (both!), Se7en, Twelve Years a Slave, Goodfellas, A Clockwork Orange, Network — to name a few!
TV Shows that Shaped Me
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zerozerozero, Breaking Bad, Chernobyl, Gunsmoke, True Detective, Andy Griffith Show, Doug, Tales from the Crypt, Oz, Fringe, The Sopranos, The Boys, The Honeymooners, IT Crowd, Snuff Box, The Simpsons, ANY Hanna Barbera Cartoon (but especially Fantastic Four and Super Friends), Fawlty Towers, Doctor Who (4th Doctor!), Hey Arnold!, AAAHH!!! Real Monsters, Salute Your Shorts, Stranger Things, Family Matters, Knight Rider, Cheers, The Odd Couple, The Six Million Dollar Man, Star Trek (the Original), X-Files, Millennium, Fresh Prince, The Knick, Are You Afraid of the Dark?, Deadwood, Goosebumps, F is for Family, Kids in the Hall, Strangers with Candy, Farmclub (if you know, you know!), Saturday Night Live (70s-90s), Rick and Morty, Mr. Pickles — countless others!
Music That Shaped Me
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Depeche Mode, Tears for Fears, Meshuggah, Mazzy Star, Radiohead, Porcupine Tree, Mudvayne (LD50), Sikth, The Cranberries, Pat Metheny Group, Samuel Barber, Ochre, A Perfect Circle, Nine Inch Nails, David Bowie (especially 80s-90s), Frank Zappa, Marlena Shaw, Deathspell Omega, Carpenter Brut, Bjork, Failure, Seal, Genesis, Perry Como, Frank Sinatra, Duran Duran, Marty Robbins, Stone Temple Pilots, Pyotr Tchaikovsky, Perturbator, Esperanza Spalding, Wardruna, Pet Shop Boys, Massive Attack, Jaga Jazzist, Soundgarden, White Zombie, Filter, Limp Bizkit, Robert Glasper Jr, Sade, He is Legend, Snarky Puppy, The Cure, Earl Klugh, Slipknot, Sunno))), Tupac, Kendrick Lamar (TPAB), Decapitated, Mew, Opeth, Cave In, The Smashing Pumpkins, Katatonia, Knower, Pantera, Aesop Rock, Textures, Anathema — sheesh, I could go on!
Artists that Shaped Me
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Heironymous Bosch, Caravaggio, John Baizley, Rembrandt, Jacob Bannon, Florian Bertmer, Justin Bartlett, Eliran Kantor, Salvador Dali, Leonardo da Vinci, Mary Viola, Aaron Horkey, Damien Hirst, Quentin Blake, Tim Burton, Stradanus, Gustav Dore, Franz von Bayros, Egon Schiele, Gustav Klimt, Alphonse Mucha
Authors That Shaped Me
Video Games That Shaped Me
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HP Lovecraft, Annie Jacobsen, Stephen King, Alvin Schwartz, Bob Lazar, Neil deGrasse Tyson, Michio Kaku, Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, Stieg Larsson, Chuck Palahniuk, Joyce Carol Oates, Roald Dahl, Edgar Allan Poe, Dr. Seuss, Ethel Lina White, Henri-Georges Clouzot, Anthony Bourdain, Tom Clancy, Curtis Richards, Anne Rice, Joe Hill, Neil Gaiman, Bram Stoker, Shirley, Jackson, Steven Pressfield, Jacques Vallée
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Lies of P, Little Nightmares 2, Scorn, Doom Eternal, Quake, Battletoads, Marvel v Capcom, Mortal Kombat, Super Mario World, Blasphemous, Armored Core 6, Visage, Silent Hill Series, Kirby, and many more!
Educating, Inspiring, and Philanthropy
During the pandemic, my band, Binary Code, released a full-length record of cinematic post-progressive metal. 100% of the proceeds were donated to Suicide Prevention. Founded in memory of an individual who sadly took their own life in February of 2017, this cause was created to provide aid to those in need.
In 2021, I spearheaded and directed the Dave Gives Back fund, which donated 100% of its proceeds to Search and Rescue. An effort to raise funds for the fund was developed after missing hiker Dave Cook - who was never seen again after hiking the 14ers in Aspen, Colorado, in 2016. Dave left behind a wonderful family with whom Jesse became very close, which was an important part of getting the fund started.