Ludwig Göransson

Ludwig Göransson (/ˈɡɔːrənsən/;^[2] Swedish: [ˈlɵdːvɪg ²jœːranˌsɔn]; born September 1, 1984), is a Swedish film composer. His work includes Fruitvale Station, the Rocky franchise entry Creed and super hero film Black Panther. He is known for his work on U.S. TV sitcoms Community, Happy Endings, and New Girl.

Göransson is also known as a record producer. He collaborated with Donald Glover on Glover's rap releases Camp, Because the Internet, and "Awaken, My Love!"^[3][4] under the Childish Gambino pseudonym. "Awaken, My Love!" was awarded a Grammy for the track Redbone. He has also produced for other recording artists such as Haim, Chance the Rapper and Pell.

Early life

Göransson was born and raised in Linköping, Sweden. He began music lessons at a young age and went on to graduate from the Royal College of Music in Stockholm. In 2007 he moved to Los Angeles to study at the University of Southern California Scoring for Motion Picture and Television program. It was at USC that Ludwig met Ryan Coogler. The pair would eventually go on to work together on Fruitvale Station, Creed and Black Panther. Soon after graduating USC he began work assisting Theodore Shapiro known for films such as Along Came Polly, The Devil Wears Prada, Idiocracy, and Tropic Thunder to name a few. Ludwig's first break came in 2009 as the composer for the comedy Community.

Film Composer

In 2013 Ludwig's first feature film came from fellow former USC graduate Ryan Coogler. Ludwig composed the score to Coogler's critically acclaimed drama Fruitvale Station, based on the fatal shooting of 22-year-old Oscar Grant on January 1, 2009. The film won the Grand Jury Prize and Audience awards in the Dramatic category at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival, also taking home the Avenir Prize and Un Certain Regard awards at the Cannes Film Festival.

In August 2013, Göransson signed a management deal as a composer for Jay-Z's label, Roc Nation.^[5]

That year he also composed the music for the movie We're the Millers.

In 2015 Coogler and Göransson again worked together this time on the critically acclaimed Rocky franchise film Creed.

By 2016-17 he was scoring True Memoirs of an International Assassin, Central Intelligence and Everything, Everything.

In 2018 Göransson and Coogler arrived at their third collaboration Black Panther.^[6] Göransson set out to create a score that would sit somewhere between traditional African instrumentation and a traditional superhero score. In order to do this he travelled to Senegal to research traditional African music and instruments. There he met musician Baaba Maal whose voice is featured in the score who sings in his native Fula language.^[7]

Record Producer

In 2010 when Donald Glover first approached producer and composer Ludwig Göransson about his side project, Childish Gambino, the two were working on the set of Community. Since then they have released three albums Camp, Because the Internet, and "Awaken, My Love!". Inspired by Parliament Funkadelic and black power music of the ‘70s, "Awaken, My Love!" Göransson served as producer and writer for every song on the album. In November, they earned four Grammy nominations for their work, including Album of the Year and Record of the Year for "Redbone." ^[8]

In 2012, Göransson produced HAIM's debut EP and helped establish the band with a brand new sound on the song "Forever". He also produced two songs on HAIM's debut album Days Are Gone.

On May 5, 2018, This Is America was released. Produced by Gambino and Ludwig Göransson the song features a gospel-style choir and background contributions from various American rappers Young Thug, Slim Jxmmi, BlocBoy JB, 21 Savage, Quavo and Offset. "This Is America" debuted at number one on the US Billboard Hot 100, becoming the 31st song to do so in the chart's history.

Discography

Songwriting and production credits

Filmography

Awards and nominations

References

External links

• Ludwig Göransson on IMDb
• Official website at the Wayback Machine (archived February 7, 2011)