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Biography
Native of Bordeaux, France, Laurent Eyquem (pronounced /AAY/-kem) began his classical training as a pianist at 6 years of age at the urging of his father, a musician with the Bordeaux Orchestra. This marked the beginning of a life-long passion for music that has spanned
30 years, and culminated in an auspicious beginning to his career as a composer for film.
At just 16 years of age, Laurent joined a 14 piece orchestra, performing with musicians many years his senior and honing his skills as a composer – gaining knowledge that he would later use to promote the Baroque Orchestra of Montreal and in his career as a composer. While music continued to play a central role in his life, Laurent devoted several years to working in senior management in the humanitarian field organizations such as the Red Cross before turning his full attention to composing.
Laurent’s film-scoring debut for Léa Pool’s Mommy’s at the Hairdresser met with critical and industry acclaim, garnering three major nominations in 2009, one each for the Genies, the Jutras (both the Canadian equivalents of the Academy Awards) and one for the ADISQ awards (a Grammy equivalent).
All this just a few years after surviving a series of personal setbacks, including what could have been a fatal accident in 2003. This ‘triple crown’ of nominations marked a major accomplishment for a film scoring debut, and a personal victory for a man who surgeons thought would never play piano again.
Laurent’s troubles began in 2000 when he lost his younger sister and only sibling in the crash of the Air France Concorde. In the aftermath of this tragedy, his father developed an aggressive form of cancer and died 3 short years later. Shortly after, Laurent fell from a rooftop, surviving the 30 foot fall but suffering serious injuries. A series of operations in Canada and Europe,
2 years of daily physiotherapy and sheer force of will have perfectly restored his ability to play piano and compose.
Today, with these difficult chapters behind him, Laurent channels his life experience into eloquent and powerful music for film. He has developed a reputation among producers and directors as a versatile, prolific and collaborative composer. Laurent composes music for both North American and International markets.
He is known for his original style – sometimes described as evoking shades of Georges Delerue and Dario Marianelli – that enhances the emotional weight of the visuals it supports. Rooted in the classical tradition and influenced by his European sensibilities, Laurent’s compositions are powerfully evocative and emotionally charged.
With compositions ranging from intimate and spare solo pieces to large orchestral works, Laurent has the versatility to create music across a variety of themes and styles.
Laurent records his projects with soloists and orchestras from around the globe, and regularly works with musicians from the Symphonic Orchestra of Montreal and live orchestras in Moscow (Mosfilm) and Bulgaria (Bulgarian National Radio’s Studio One, Sofia). Laurent serves as lead orchestrator on all of his projects, and has a strong Los Angeles-based support team in place to deliver top notch results.
Laurent is a French citizen and also holds a Canadian and EU Passport making his work eligible for a wide range of international film tax credits. He currently divides his time between Los Angeles, Montreal and Paris.
There is no feeling, except the extremes of fear and grief, that does not find relief in music.
George Eliot (1819-80), [Mary Ann Evans] British writer
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