Clay Lewis is a film composer, producer, and engineer whose work brings together orchestral storytelling, modern technology, and the musical influences that shaped him growing up.

Lewis began his musical journey as a jazz drummer in middle and high school before becoming a hip-hop producer in Philadelphia. Those early experiences with rhythm, production, jazz, hip-hop, and R&B continue to shape his voice as a composer today. Drawn to moving melodies and distinctive sonic worlds, he loves experimenting with unusual textures, sounds, and production techniques to give each film an identifiable musical character.

His approach to scoring is rooted in the belief that a film's music should feel inseparable from the world on screen. Inspired by the bold, unconventional soundscapes often associated with A24 films, Lewis is especially drawn to horror and thriller projects that allow him to explore experimental textures and unexpected sonic ideas. At the same time, he has a deep love for the emotional storytelling, memorable themes, and expansive orchestral writing of animated films such as How to Train Your Dragon and The Incredibles.

As a Black composer who grew up immersed in hip-hop, jazz, and R&B, Lewis aims to bring those influences into conversation with his love of orchestration, technology, and sonic experimentation. His goal is to create unforgettable film scores with musical identities that are as distinctive as the stories and characters they accompany.

Lewis earned a Bachelor of Science in Music with a minor in Computer Science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and is currently pursuing his Master of Music in Screen Scoring at the University of Southern California Thornton School of Music. His technical background allows him to seamlessly integrate advanced software workflows, music production, and acoustic orchestration in his creative process.