On October 15, 2024, Lena Ruiz, a celebrated musician and composer based in Los Angeles, sat down for an intimate conversation at the RedCat Theater, reflecting on her journey from indie pop artist to film composer. Known for her hauntingly beautiful melodies and intricate lyrics, Ruiz’s evolution into the world of film scoring has been one of the most exciting developments in Los Angeles’ contemporary music scene.
Ruiz, originally from the Bay Area, made a name for herself in the late 2010s as an indie pop singer-songwriter. Her debut album Blue Skies was praised for its unique blend of melancholic pop and experimental sound. However, over the past few years, Ruiz has expanded her repertoire, moving into the world of film composition. Her breakthrough came in 2022 when she composed the score for the critically acclaimed film Underneath the Stars, which earned her a nomination for Best Original Score at the Los Angeles Film Awards.
During her conversation at RedCat, Ruiz spoke candidly about her shift from personal songwriting to the collaborative process of composing for film. “Music for me has always been about emotion. When I was writing pop music, it was about expressing my personal experiences and stories,” she said. “But when I started composing for film, I had to think beyond myself—about how music could enhance the storytelling, set the tone, and immerse the audience in the world of the film. It’s a whole new kind of art form.”
Ruiz’s transition into film scoring was not without challenges. Early in her career, she struggled to break into the industry, where many film composers are trained in classical music or orchestration. “There was a moment where I wasn’t sure if I would make it,” Ruiz shared. “But then I realized that my background in indie music, where I was mixing digital sounds with traditional instruments, could bring something fresh to film scores.”
Her most recent project, the soundtrack for the upcoming science fiction film Parallel Worlds, is a testament to her growth as a composer. The score, which blends ambient electronic textures with orchestral elements, is a departure from her earlier work but still retains the emotional depth that characterizes her music. “With Parallel Worlds, I wanted to create a soundscape that felt otherworldly yet intimate,” Ruiz explained. “It’s about evoking the feeling of being on the edge of reality—like you’re in a world that’s familiar but not quite right.”
Beyond film scores, Ruiz continues to produce her own music, and she is actively involved in the Los Angeles music scene. She is a frequent collaborator with other musicians, including composer Julian Patel, with whom she worked on Underneath the Stars. Together, they have been working on a new experimental project that fuses classical music with electronic beats, pushing the boundaries of what can be done in both the music and film industries.
Lena Ruiz’s journey from indie pop artist to film composer reflects the fluidity of today’s music landscape, where genres are no longer as defined and musicians can carve out their own creative spaces. For her, the key to success has been staying true to her emotional instincts and embracing collaboration. “I think that’s the magic of music—it’s universal,” Ruiz said. “Whether it’s a pop song or a film score, it’s all about connecting with people and telling stories.”
As she continues to make waves in both the music and film industries, Lena Ruiz remains one of Los Angeles’ most exciting and innovative voices, reshaping how music and storytelling intersect.
