In this episode of The Epic Score Podcast, host Gabe Shadid, founder of Epic Score, continues with Part 4 of the story of his journey into the world of audio and music.

Gabe opens up about the long road to creative confidence—and how believing in yourself is so important, but something many of us find difficult.

From early self-doubt that held him back, to unexpected validation from music libraries and others, Gabe shares real stories from his music career as it was slowly building with production music, tv themes and beta testing. You'll hear how external feedback, timing, and persistence slowly built momentum—even when confidence lagged behind results.

This episode is part reflection, part encouragement, and part behind-the-scenes look at what it's really like to build a career in cinematic and television music. If you're a composer, producer, or creative who's putting in the work but still questioning yourself, this conversation is a reminder to give yourself a chance—and let the work speak.

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To reach out to us directly email: podcast@epicscore.com

In this episode of the Epic Score Podcast, host Gabe Shadid sits down with Karen Cirillo, a senior creative director/editor whose career path proves there's no such thing as a straight line in Hollywood.

Karen's journey began as a receptionist at CBS before moving through the world of television promotion with relentless deadlines and sink-or-swim expectations. Along the way, she faced roadblocks, self-doubt, and moments where taking a risk was necessary to move forward. But taking those leaps led to a two-decade career at NBC where she ultimately became a senior creative director of promo.

🎬 This conversation digs into:

Starting at the bottom and learning on the job

The reality of promo, post, and "day-of" deadlines

Taking risks before you feel ready

Why careers never stop evolving

It's an honest, behind-the-scenes look at what it really takes to build a creative career—not through glamour, but through persistence, adaptability, and a willingness to step outside your comfort zone.

🎧 Subscribe to The Epic Score Podcast for in-depth conversations with the creators and executives shaping the sound of modern cinema.

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To reach out to us directly email: podcast@epicscore.com

In this episode of The Epic Score Podcast, host Gabe Shadid, founder of Epic Score, continues with Part 3 of the story of his journey into the world of audio and music.

In 1999, the technology in the industry was evolving and it was causing major changes in the workflows around LA. Gabe's mixing career came to a grinding halt, and switching to freelance became a necessity. From rock bottom and full of doubt to busy beyond belief, tune in for a roller coaster ride!

🎬 In this episode, you'll learn:

About the importance of making in-person personal connections

About a new naming suffix on the titles of Epic Score's current album release

About how Gabe entered the world of music software beta testing

How Pro Tools changed an entire industry

How Gabe bounced back from a major mixing career setback

If you're interested in the history of Epic Score and the promo industry in Los Angeles, this episode is a must-listen.

🎧 Subscribe to The Epic Score Podcast for in-depth conversations with the creators and executives shaping the sound of modern cinema.

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To reach out to us directly email: podcast@epicscore.com

In this episode of The Epic Score Podcast, host Gabe Shadid, founder of Epic Score, interviews Alex Black, CEO of the Sonoton Music Library, the largest privately owned production music catalog in the world. Alex has a long history on the executive side of production music. He has served as the Global Director of EMI's production music amongst other positions.

But he didn't start at the top! Find out about Alex's steps to push higher and higher into the industry. And how sometimes you just need to stick your neck out and take chances.

🎬 In this episode, you'll learn:

Each step in Alex's career path to some of the highest executive positions in the production music industry

How seemingly unrelated experiences can unexpectedly come together to help you take the next step in your career

What job opportunity inspired Alex to move from his native England to Germany

Current challenges in the music licensing industry and how Alex plans on facing them

If you're interested in trailer music, film marketing, music licensing, sync, cinematic composition, the history of epic music, or real career paths in the music industry, this episode is a must-listen.

🎧 Subscribe to The Epic Score Podcast for in-depth conversations with the creators and executives shaping the sound of modern cinema.

Subscribe to Epic Score's newsletter for events and more: https://go.epicscore.com/

To reach out to us directly email: podcast@epicscore.com

In this episode of The Epic Score Podcast, host Gabe Shadid, founder of Epic Score, continues with Part 2 of the story of his journey into the world of audio mixing and music composition.

As a new music editor in a busy studio, many opportunities and challenges were ahead. Every day seemed to bring something new, from building his editing/mixing chops, to getting a chance to work on the tv show America's Most Wanted, getting his first opportunity to create music professionally, moving to Los Angeles, and much more. There's never a dull moment.

🎬 In this episode, you'll learn:

About the Epic Score race car

How volunteering for a simple task ended up being an important step into the music world

How he got his first chance to work on the tv show America's Most Wanted

How he bounced back from being laid off

How he obtained his first music library composing opportunity

How he moved to Los Angeles from the East Coast

If you're interested in the history of Epic Score and how a novice music editor continues to find opportunities in the challenging world of entertainment, this episode is a must-listen.

🎧 Subscribe to The Epic Score Podcast for in-depth conversations with the creators and executives shaping the sound of modern cinema.

Subscribe to Epic Score's newsletter for events and more: https://go.epicscore.com/

To reach out to us directly email: podcast@epicscore.com

In this episode of The Epic Score Podcast, host Gabe Shadid, founder of Epic Score, interviews Tim Stoney, an Epic Score composer whose 9th album is arriving January 6th.

We'll get to meet Tim and hear about his journey into the world of music. It was anything but "standard". He'll share his story via his unique understated British, self-deprecating and humorous style.

Plus, we'll learn about a future Epic Score project in the works. And don't miss what his girlfriend thought of his plans to quit his day job and do music full-time!

🎬 In this episode, you'll learn:

How the game Legend of Zelda influenced his journey into music

Behind-the-scenes of his new Epic Score album launching January 6th

The moment he decided to take the risk to do music full-time

If you're interested in trailer music, film marketing, music licensing, sync, cinematic composition, or the history of epic music, this episode is a must-listen.

🎧 Subscribe to The Epic Score Podcast for in-depth conversations with the creators and executives shaping the sound of modern cinema.

Subscribe to Epic Score's newsletter for events and more: https://go.epicscore.com/

To reach out to us directly email: podcast@epicscore.com

In this episode of The Epic Score Podcast, host Gabe Shadid, founder of Epic Score, shares his first steps into the world of audio and music.

From classical piano studies at a young age to secretly training as a sound engineer, Gabe shares the initial part of his long and twisting journey that led him to epic music.

Gabe also reveals Spotify data about the listeners of Epic Score's music.

🎬 In this episode, you'll learn:

How music shaped Gabe's world His first moments of creativity in music

How he quietly trained himself on all the gear in a large post facility

How he attained his first job in the audio industry

If you're interested in the history of Epic Score and how a humble kid with no connections and no clear ambitions worked his way up in the challenging world of entertainment, this episode is a must-listen.

🎧 Subscribe to The Epic Score Podcast for in-depth conversations with the creators and executives shaping the sound of modern cinema.

Subscribe to Epic Score's newsletter for events and more: https://go.epicscore.com/

To reach out to us directly email: podcast@epicscore.com

In this episode of The Epic Score Podcast, host Gabe Shadid, founder of Epic Score, sits down with Yoav Goren, co-founder of Immediate Music—the company that redefined modern Hollywood trailer music.

From the groundbreaking use of Lacrimosa in the Spider-Man 2 trailer, to the creation of iconic albums like Trailerhead, Yoav shares how Immediate Music helped establish the epic, hybrid sound that now defines movie trailers worldwide. This conversation offers a rare, behind-the-scenes look at how trailer music evolved from obscurity into a genre of its own.

Yoav opens up about the early days of Immediate Music, the challenges of building a new musical category, and how creative risk-taking reshaped the way studios market films. Whether you're a composer, producer, filmmaker, or lifelong fan of epic music, this episode delivers invaluable insight into the business, creativity, and legacy behind some of the most recognizable trailer music ever made.

• How Immediate Music transformed Hollywood trailers

• The story behind Lacrimosa and Spider-Man 2

• Why Trailerhead became a defining moment for trailer music

• How epic trailer music became its own genre

• The relationship between Immediate Music and Epic Score

• Creative risks that changed the industry forever

• Advice for composers entering the trailer & sync world

If you're interested in trailer music, film marketing, music licensing, sync, cinematic composition, or the history of epic music, this episode is a must-watch.

🎧 Subscribe to The Epic Score Podcast for in-depth conversations with the creators and executives shaping the sound of modern cinema.

Subscribe to Epic Score's newsletter for events and more: https://go.epicscore.com/

To reach out to us directly email: podcast@epicscore.com