Joost Diederen - Multimedia Composer & Sound Designer
Up-and-coming Dutch media composers show their recent work and tell us who they are
Hi! I’m Joost Diederen (1997), a composer and sound designer based in Amsterdam. With a dual perspective as both composer and sound designer, I love experimenting at the intersection of music and sound. I’m drawn to creating both compelling thematic material and unique sonic identity tailored for each project - exploring how sound in a holistic approach can best capture a film’s essence. Over the years I have gained experience in everything from working as a boom operator on set to running orchestral recording sessions as a composer.
In 2023 I completed my master’s degree in film composition at the Film Scoring Academy of Europe in Sofia, Bulgaria, where I received the Mychael Danna Scholarship. While in Sofia, I composed and conducted for diverse ensembles, ranging from a 22-piece string section to a full 84-piece orchestra with choir, collaborating closely with musicians, conductors, and score supervisors. The academy, founded by Andy Hill, former vice president of music production at Disney, features a distinguished faculty. I was fortunate to receive guidance from industry experts like Conrad Pope, known for his work as John Williams’ orchestrator, and game composer Mikolai Stroinski, celebrated for his scores for The Witcher and Diablo.
Before my master’s, I graduated with honors from the University of the Arts in Utrecht, with a bachelor’s in Composition for the Media. Since then, I’ve gained experience working on short audiovisual projects, including scoring the short film Waar Thuis Was, which won "Best Score" at the Independent Film Festival in Los Angeles. Another project, Schaduwvolk, received critical acclaim and won the ‘Gouden Hert’ at the Go Short film festival in Arnhem.
In addition to freelance work for clients like Blokker, BCC, and art projects such as Toonzaal 15, I also worked as a music assistant to Vidjay Beerepoot in Los Angeles - contributing to major Disney animated shows like Minnie's Bow-Toons and Super Kitties.
Project Video’s
Monster Train Suite
What if music and sound could shape a film’s narrative from the very beginning? For my master’s thesis, I wrote an original screenplay and used AI to create storyboards for my own animation film. Monster Train's score is fundamentally based on train sounds that are translated into the orchestra, using the sound of rhythmic rail clatter, claxon chords and steam as sound motives.
In this video, you’ll hear a musical sneak peak for Monster Train—an animation project I’m currently developing and seeking funding for. Monster Train is a dynamic storyboard about a train that comes alive and devours its passengers, where music and sound are integral, uniting the story slides and driving the narrative.
The idea for Monster Train began with my master’s thesis, where I explored how diegetic sound effects could function as recurring motifs within a soundtrack. I did research on how to translate real-life sounds into the orchestra and how to build an entire score around them. This inspired me to write my own screenplay and use the sound of trains as a groundwork for the story. With the help of AI tools like Midjourney, I was able to create my own storyboards and visualize the narrative.
The score features experimental orchestration, merging processed orchestral recordings with literal onomatopoeia. I reimagined train horns as haunting chords, converted the rhythm of train wheels into complex 11/8 time signatures, and had strings blow into their instruments to mimic steam. Alongside these effects, thematic melodic passages add a mystical, emotional layer essential for the story's tone. The compositions were recorded with a 38-piece orchestra in Sofia, Bulgaria.
For me, Monster Train represents pushing boundaries in film sound. Sound and music are often considered late in production, but I’m passionate about integrating them from the start, making sound a fundamental part of the creative process.
Feel free to reach out if you want to know more about this project!
Faller för dig (Highlights)
A young woman navigates love, loss, and the overwhelming pain of moving on after a life-shattering tragedy.
Music composed by Isak Lundberg & Joost Diederen
Sound Design by Joost Diederen
52-string ensemble recorded with the European Recording Orchestra
Directed by William Gruber
Waar thuis was (highlights)
A secluded family’s peaceful life unravels as mysterious stones hit their home, threatening both the house and their unity.
Music and Sound Design by Joost Diederen
Written and Directed by Youri Smaal
Music recorded with The Dutch String Collective
More New Chefs in Town
New Chefs in Town is made possible by Norma Plus
