1. Early Influences and Cross-Genre Roots
You’ve built a career across games, film, television, and live performance. What early influences shaped your unique blend of cinematic, electronic, and vocal-driven sound?
I grew up on ‘80s and ‘90s pop - singing along to Prince, MJ, Madonna, Whitney, and Aaliyah - alongside the sounds of NIN, Björk, and the Hackers Soundtrack. I also fell in love with Ella Fitzgerald, Miles Davis, Stravinsky, Ravel, and Debussy. I was lucky to have parents who encouraged my love of the arts and supported piano and voice lessons from a young age. I was a choir kid, played piano in the jazz band, and made music or performed any chance I got.
Living in NYC during college and my 20s also also shaped me profoundly. Being immersed by such a rich and diverse creative environment exposed me to new sounds, ideas, film, dance, and culture - all of which continue to influence my music.
2. From Viral Hit to Industry Recognition
Your track “Quicker Picker Upper” exploded on TikTok with over 20 million views and became a meme. How did that moment shift your career, and what do you think made the track resonate so widely?
What was cool about that project is that it was a brand partnership with Bounty that still allowed me to be fully myself and do my thing as an artist. I think what made it resonate was the empowering message - it lifted people’s spirits at a time when we really needed that, during the height of the pandemic. It reminded me how powerful music can be, and how far it can travel when people connect with it emotionally. The comments I received on YouTube were so heartwarming, and it was the first time I saw people on TikTok dancing to my music. That moment gave me renewed confidence and reinforced the importance of joy and authenticity in my work.
3. Scoring for Screens Big and Small
Your music has appeared in shows like Bones, Dance Moms and The Young and the Restless, as well as in campaigns for Boots and Bounty. TV, advertising and games each come with their own workflows, timelines and creative constraints. How do those differences shape the way you compose for each medium?
When I’m writing for myself or creating music for general sync placements, there’s usually more freedom with creativity and time, unless I’m working to a brief. When I’m scoring to picture, deadlines and feedback loops provide structure and momentum. Pressure and limitations can actually be a good thing - they help me make decisions quickly, work efficiently, and recognize when something is finished. With commercials, there’s typically a tight turnaround and very specific messaging to hit. In games and film, the story and emotional arc of the characters, or the player experience, drive the musical choices. There’s a beauty to all of it for me.
4. Game Music as Narrative Voice
When working on titles like Legends of Venari or CAPCOM Fighting Collection 2, how do you use music to tell a story or build a world without using words?
For both projects, I was given a direction and then had creative freedom within that space. Legends of Venari had a synthwave aesthetic, while CFC2 called for EDM infused with traditional Japanese instruments. That was a fun challenge, especially working with the shamisen, which I hadn’t used before. Yoko Honda Gaalaas, the music director for the tracks I arranged for CFC2, provided wonderful guidance and I learned a lot from her expertise. Music as the universal language that it is, doesn’t need words to tell a story or build a world. Through notes, textures, instrument combinations, phrasing, rhythm, emotion…all of it shapes the narrative depending on how you use it.
5. Bridging Artistry and Authorship
As BECA, you’ve performed at SXSW and Sundance, and had airplay on NPR and KCRW. How does your personal artistry as a performer feed into your work as a composer for other mediums?
Performing as BECA shaped my understanding of how music lands emotionally in a live setting and how to connect with an audience in an immediate, visceral way. Making records, collaborating with other producers, and playing shows helped me hone my musical voice and style. While I studied more traditional classical composition at Juilliard, I was also experimenting with electronic music, which gave me a broader palette to work from. Making dance pop felt like a natural extension of my background in songwriting and performance, while also shaping how I think about energy and movement. My background as a vocalist also helps me think about phrasing and breath, even when writing instrumental cues, as I’ll often sing as I write. These experiences continue to inform my work in film, television, and games.
6. Collaboration Across Industries
You’ve worked with game developers, film directors, and live performers. How do you adapt your creative process depending on the collaborators or industry?
For each project, I start by deeply listening and understanding what the needs are - whether the direction is clear and detailed or more open-ended. I bring my own ideas to the table, experiment to see what works, and develop the approach that feels most compelling. Once I present the music, I see what resonates and refine based on how it lands. Everyone communicates differently, and I do my best to translate each collaborator’s perspective into musical choices. When I work with live performers - whether I’m the one performing or directing players for a media score, concert piece, or song - it brings an added layer of human emotion that can be incredibly powerful. Across all mediums, I approach the process with empathy, curiosity, and clear communication. My goal is always to support the creative vision in a way that feels true and authentic to the story, characters, and world.
7. Future Sounds and Evolving Identity
Your music sits at the intersection of electronic, cinematic, and vocal-driven genres. Where do you see your sound evolving n8. Advice for Multi-Hyphenate Creators
You’ve successfully navigated multiple creative paths, from viral music to AAA games and live stages. What advice do you have for artists who want to diversify their careers across mediums like you have?
8. Advice for Multi-Hyphenate Creators
You’ve successfully navigated multiple creative paths, from viral music to AAA games and live stages. What advice do you have for artists who want to diversify their careers across mediums like you have?
Staying curious and open to learning has been essential for me. The music industry is always changing, and so are we as artists and humans. Collaboration has been one of my biggest teachers. Working with people across different disciplines and styles has pushed me in ways I couldn’t have predicted. It’s okay if your path isn’t linear. Some of the most meaningful projects I’ve worked on came from unexpected places. Follow what lights you up, build genuine relationships, and remember that your mix of skills and experiences is a strength - not something to downplay. The more you create, the more clarity you gain. Make it a practice. And don’t be afraid to pivot - some of the most exciting growth happens just outside your comfort zone.