Cristobal Tapia de Veer

reference Cristobal "Cristo" Tapia de Veer, straight outta Chile and now rocking it in Montreal, might just be the mad scientist of TV and film soundtracks. The guy’s got a Master’s in classical percussion from the Conservatoire de Musique du Québec, but honestly, he’s way past “just” classical now. People toss around “musical genius” when they talk about him—Paste and NME both did—and you can see why. He’s the mind behind those wild, unforgettable scores in shows like “Utopia” (yeah, that conspiracy thriller that basically set the internet on fire), “The Crimson Petal and the White,” and “Série Noire.” Plus, he’s got a shelf full of awards: Emmys, BAFTAs, PRIX GEMEAUX, even a Golden Fipa. His soundtracks for “The Girl with All the Gifts” and “National Treasure” turned heads everywhere, and “The White Lotus”? Don’t even get me started. That tribal beat basically became the sound of television during the pandemic—he snagged two Emmys for it and got nominated again the next year. SOCAN even gave him an International Achievement Award, which, fun fact, usually goes to actual bands (think Arcade Fire). Jury duty at Canneseries, scoring honors for “Black Mirror” and “Humans,” and a cult following thanks to “Dirk Gently”—the guy’s resume is wild. Cristo’s not just composing music for TV; he’s straight-up redefining what a TV soundtrack can do.