Juan Dussán: Crafting the cinematic soundscapes of 'Chasing Light' with Seaboard 2
The New York-based film score composer shares his process behind making ‘Memoria’
Juan Dussán is a composer whose work spans film, trailers, and commercials, in addition to being a music content creator. His passion for film music ignited at a young age, inspired by iconic soundtracks such as Harry Potter, Titanic, and The Matrix, while simultaneously making homemade movies with friends. “I was always drawn to instrumental music that felt cinematic, so discovering that composing for film was an actual career path in music was absolutely life-changing,” he recalls. The intersection of music and storytelling drew him in, as he recognized how music intensifies emotions, adds depth, and allows us to remember stories more vividly.
Dussán's latest pursuit sees him scoring the soundtrack to 'Chasing Light', a film from director Travis Roberston released in January this year. To celebrate the release of the motion picture soundtrack, we caught up with Juan to learn more about his creative process and the significant role Seaboard 2 played in bringing his sonic ideas to life.
A meeting of creative minds: Collaborating on Chasing Light
Dussán’s collaboration with Chasing Light director Travis Robertson began through Instagram. "I thought his work was inspiring––you don’t get to see many serious film directors who also take content creation seriously. It’s something frequently looked down upon in the industry," Dussán explains. After a FaceTime call discussing Chasing Light, he was immediately intrigued. "I had been looking to score a feature film for a long time without any luck, so the potential of being part of a project like this got me really excited."
Travis provided some musical influences, but largely allowed Dussán creative freedom. “I developed two main themes,” Dussán explains. The first represents Max’s journey, bouncing between strings and synths. The second, inspired by the mother figure, embodies the mother-son bond and is usually heard on the piano.” As these two themes intertwine throughout the film—sometimes weaving together, sometimes standing alone— they create a musical dialogue that reflects the story’s emotional arcs.
Crafting the sound of Memory
Memory plays a crucial role in Chasing Light, with fragmented recollections shaping the narrative. Dussán’s track Memoria initially served as his pitch for the project, written based only on a brief synopsis and a few images. "It was an exercise in capturing the essence of the story without visual influence but rather through its core meaning,” explains Dussán. “Although Travis didn’t specify instrumentation, he shared vivid descriptions of a climactic moment where memories flash rapidly, which guided my initial creative direction. Memoria features those blinking, fluttering qualities, reflecting fragmented memories. I think my ability to connect with the film’s concept and the creative choices I made musically played a key role in securing the project."
The impact of Memoria on the director and team led to Dussán being brought on board for the full score. Once he saw the film, his approach became even more intuitive. "Scoring a film is about pacing the musical storytelling to support the narrative and add meaning we don’t always see on screen. For Chasing Light, my goal was to carry the story with a memorable theme that was flexible enough to be used in multiple emotional scenarios."
Creative conversations and sonic explorations
Dussán begins scoring with deep conversations with the filmmaker, to gather as much information as possible about the story, characters, and the filmmaker’s vision. "These early discussions are usually non-musical and instead more personal—I also want to know who I’m working with, understanding their personality, cinematic style, and favorite pieces of music. It’s important to establish compatibility since scoring a film is a long-term creative collaboration."
Having studied classical piano for many years, Dussán also likes to draw from jazz and other genres. “It’s a creatively freeing process where I let the story elements sink in and bring them to life through the piano.” His writing process typically starts with improvisation at the piano, though conceptual thinking about instrument interactions plays an equal role. "The early stages are abstract and creatively open. Once we have a clearer idea of the musical palette and themes, the process becomes more technical as I start scoring to the visuals."
Unexpected moments in the creative process also shaped Chasing Light. "Seeing the actual film with no music was incredibly stimulating. After writing the main theme, I could pinpoint where it would work best. Another breakthrough was realizing the expanded creative space I had with a feature film compared to short films. I developed musical cues that spanned multiple scenes, allowing the music to breathe and the thematic ideas to build up naturally." Dussán also noted the importance of having supportive collaborators who are on board with your ideas, but unafraid to provide critical creative feedback to further the creative process.
A modern soundscape
Dussán describes the sonic palette of Chasing Light as deeply nostalgic and emotional, blending strings and electronic elements to evoke those feelings. Instead of a traditional orchestral score, they wanted to pursue something modern and different.
"In the story, the main characters in the present are always accompanied by strings and other acoustic instruments like guitars and woodwinds,” explains Dussán. “We only hear electronic elements like synths and leads slowly creeping into the score when the characters begin to understand what is really going on. By the end of the film, you can hear a cool combination of both sonic worlds playing together in consonance." The piano appears selectively, reinforcing key emotional moments. "It plays when Max is close to feeling resolution and being home."
Seaboard as a source of inspiration in Chasing Light
Dussán has been an avid user of the Seaboard 2 to help shape his score, regularly reaching for it at the start of his creative process. "I love it! It has an organic, expressive quality that feels almost like playing a fretless string instrument, but you can use whatever crazy sound you want with it." For Chasing Light, the Seaboard played a crucial role both in early idea generation and later refinements. “I love using it to spark new ideas or to add ear-candy and textural elements to a cue during the final stages of writing. It’s a tool I rely on for both experimentation and refinement when developing themes and motifs.”
The Seaboard also allowed him to express emotion in a way that would have been unachievable with other instruments. “It bridges electronic textures with the expressiveness of an acoustic performance,” he explains. “It allows people like me to have an organic, expressive outlet for musical ideas that are impossible to play on the piano.”
"I used a synth lead from Equator 2, performed by me on the Seaboard. The synth, which has a rich, electric guitar-like character, became a central voice, especially towards the end of the film. I also love supporting the mix with expressive pads and soundscapes." Dussán sees expressive MPE instruments like the Seaboard as shaping the future of film scoring. “They are incredible tools for achieving complex, immersive soundscapes that used to be time-consuming and nearly impossible to perform live.”
"There’s been less demand for traditional epic, thematic orchestral writing and more toward clear thematic ideas where the 'themes' can be soundscapes, effects, or unique musical textures with a distinctive character. Instruments like the Seaboard push those boundaries, making it easier to create sounds you've never heard before."
"Every time I pick up the Seaboard and jam with it, I end up creating something I didn’t expect—sometimes it’s exactly what the film needs, and sometimes it’s not. But that’s the magic of it. It’s a truly inspirational tool."
Just as Dussán was drawn to the dramatic world of film music in his youth, countless aspiring film composers today struggle to navigate an extremely competitive climate. Drawing on his experience, Dussán shares three key pieces of advice that helped him on his journey.
Let go of your ego and be open to breaking the rules.
“This comes from my experience in the classical world, where I was taught traditional rules of composition—counterpoint, harmony, and form. Those fundamentals are incredibly important to know, but in film scoring, the most successful composers are often those who know how to break those rules. Creativity and emotional impact matter more than tradition. Film music isn’t about proving your knowledge of theory; it’s about serving the story.”
Master the technical side of your craft.
“It’s no longer about handing a handwritten score to a director and asking them to imagine the final product. Today, your demo is the product. Directors expect to hear something that sounds finished, so your production and mixing skills should be just as strong as your compositional skills.”
Be proactive about your career—promote yourself, share your work, and embrace self-promotion.
“Film scoring is an incredibly competitive and small industry. Not only is it hard to stand out musically, but it’s also hard to make a name for yourself. Social media and content creation are some of the most powerful, low-cost tools you can use to propel your career. Sharing your authentic journey, your work, and your creative process online helps you build an audience and connect with people you wouldn’t otherwise meet. It’s one of the biggest reasons I’ve been able to get where I am today.”
What’s next for Juan Dussán?
Dussán is currently involved with the CAMP Film Festival, a new initiative in partnership with Patreon designed to help content creators break into the film industry with the belief that the future of Hollywood lies in the younger generation of creators."I love that mission, and I’m honored that they reached out to me to be part of it and score a few films,” he enthuses. “I’m working with some truly talented filmmakers, and I can’t wait for these films to come to life."
Additionally, he will perform live at the festival with ATLYS, a string quartet with which he frequently collaborates. "It’s going to be a beautiful celebration of music and storytelling, and I’m incredibly excited to share my work on the live stage."
Juan Dussán’s journey is a testament to passion, perseverance, and the evolving landscape of film composition. As he continues to shape narratives through sound, his work stands as an inspiration for composers navigating the ever-changing world of film music.
Discover more from Juan Dussán on his official website, follow his creative pursuits on Instagram, and listen to ‘Chasing Light — Original Motion Picture Soundtrack' in full on Spotify.
Learn more about Chasing Light on Instagram, and watch the trailer here.
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