Yutaka Yamada

Yutaka Yamada, born in 1989, isn’t your average music composer—he’s got an absolutely wild range. He’s originally from Japan but now calls Los Angeles home, and let’s be real, this guy’s résumé is stacked. He got his start after crushing it at the Vienna Instruments Strings Arrangement Contest back in 2009, and he’s been on a roll ever since. The dude didn’t just stick to one lane either; he’s worked with pop and EDM artists, which, honestly, just shows off how flexible he is with his sound. If you’ve ever binged “Tokyo Ghoul” or lost sleep over “Alice in Borderland” on Netflix, you’ve definitely heard his work. “Tokyo Ghoul” alone? The music blew up online—130 million views, no joke. He’s also behind the soundtracks for “Great Pretender” and “Vinland Saga,” which are both seriously top-tier. Oh, and you know Eminem? Yeah, even he sampled Yamada’s “Glassy Sky” on his “Kamikaze” album. That’s a flex. Yamada’s not just about anime either. He scored “Cry Me a Sad River,” a massive hit in China, and Sony’s live-action “Kingdom,” which snagged him a Japan Academy Film Prize. Even Riot Games called him up for “League of Legends” tracks like “Spirit Blossom” and “Ahri’s Theme.” In 2023, he took home the Jerry Goldsmith Award for “Vinland Saga Season 2.” These days, he’s repping with Soundtrack Music Associates, working out of Sonic Fuel Studios in LA, and still shaking up the global music scene.