Cristobal Tapia de Veer

Biography

Cristobal Tapia de Veer, often credited as Cristo, is a Chilean-born Canadian composer, arranger, producer, and multi-instrumentalist based in Montreal. Born on October 18, 1973, in Santiago, Chile, his unique and often unconventional approach to scoring for film and television has garnered him significant recognition and numerous accolades.   

Tapia de Veer's musical background is rooted in classical training, holding a Master's degree in Classical Music with a specialization in percussion from the Conservatoire de musique du Québec. However, his musical journey took a detour into the pop world in 2001 when he signed with Warner Music with his band One Ton, achieving success with their electro-dance single "Supersex World." This diverse musical foundation has undoubtedly contributed to his genre-bending and innovative scores.   

His breakthrough into television scoring came with the BBC mini-series "The Crimson Petal and the White" (2011), but it was his work on the cult British conspiracy thriller "Utopia" (2013-2014) that truly established his signature style. His scores for "Utopia" were lauded for their boundary-pushing soundscapes, blurring the lines between music and sound design, earning him a Royal Television Society Craft & Design Award.   

Since then, Tapia de Veer has become a sought-after composer for distinctive and often dark or unconventional projects. His notable works include the theme music for the AMC/Channel 4 series "Humans," the scores for "Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency," the "Black Museum" episode of "Black Mirror," and the critically acclaimed HBO limited series "The Third Day."   

His most recent and widely celebrated work is his score for HBO's "The White Lotus" (2021-present). His music for the series, characterized by its unsettling blend of human voices, primal rhythms, and atmospheric textures, has earned him significant praise, including multiple Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Music Composition and Outstanding Original Main Title Theme Music. He also won a SOCAN International Achievement Award in 2017 and has been named AV Composer of the Year by SOCAN multiple times.   

Tapia de Veer's film credits include "The Girl with All the Gifts," "Advantages of Travelling by Train," "Smile," and the upcoming "Smile 2" and "Babygirl."   

Known for his willingness to experiment and disregard conventional scoring techniques, Cristobal Tapia de Veer has carved a unique niche for himself in the world of film and television music, creating memorable and impactful sonic landscapes that often become integral to the storytelling.