Jason Rivera is a Puerto Rican, Los Angeles-based composer and multi-instrumentalist who writes music that blends emotional depth with sonic curiosity. Raised in a musical household—his father an upright bassist in a salsa band and his grandfather a guitarist—Jason grew up surrounded by instruments and analog recordings. By the age of four, he was already playing and writing music, drawing inspiration from the Fania All-Stars to John Williams.
Jason’s work spans narrative film, e-learning, branded content, and sound design-driven projects. Most recently, he composed the score for the award-winning short film Tip, which earned him Best Music at the 2024 Scream Queen Shockathon Film Festival and Best Original Score in a Short Film at the 2024 ICE Cinefest Film Festival. His scoring credits also include Caught! (2023), Corruption (2023), Nina (2023), and Help Wanted (2022), among others. He is currently scoring the upcoming drama Promises, directed by Jessica Hernandez Wynn.
In 2021, Jason’s music for the e-learning course Disarming Microaggressions was recognized with three Telly Awards, following his earlier commission to score content for Liberty Mutual’s DEI training programs.
Before focusing on music for media, Jason performed and recorded as a member of the electro-indie duo Some Go Haunting. Their work garnered international attention after winning beIN Sports’ beIN the Beat songwriting competition, leading to a live recording session at the legendary Hit Factory Criteria studio in Miami and a global broadcast during the Real Madrid vs. FC Barcelona El Clásico pre-show. Their collaborative track “Kids of Summer” with Wu-Tang affiliates Black Knights further showcased Jason’s genre-crossing musicality.
His music has aired on KCSN (88.5 FM) and The Independent FM and has been featured in outlets such as BuzzbandsLA, Voyage LA Magazine, The Deli Magazine, and Arena Music. He is a member of the Composers Diversity Collective, ASCAP, and is published by Sony Music Publishing.
Jason earned his Film Scoring Certificate with distinction from UCLA Extension. He approaches each project as an opportunity to tell deeper stories through sound—blending emotion, texture, and intention into every cue.
Film Credits - Composer
Promises: dir. Jessica Hernandez Wynn, 2024 (in production)
Caught!: dir. Conor Geary, 2023
Corruption: dir. Blanca Samperio, 2023
Nina: dir. Jessica Mei Gershen, 2023
Tip: dir. Anthony Rory Tran, 2023
Help Wanted: dir. Conor Geary, 2022
Stolen Goods: dir. Sharieff Walters, 2022
Way Out: dir. Colette Phair, 2022
Disarming Microaggressions (e-Learning course) *winner of 3 Telly Awards: dir. Joel Lesko, 2021
Harper Quinn (trailer): Liberty Mutual Insurance, 2020
#Cancelled: dir. Bryan Ibo, 2019
Backpack: dir. Alex Campbell, 2019 (additional music)
Chasing Eagle Rock: dir. Erick Avari, 2015 (additional music)
Forest Fire in Tandem: dir. Michael Woody, 2006
Awards
Best Music - “Tip”, Scream Queen Shockathon Film Festival, Nashville, TN, 2024
Best Original Score in a Short Film - “Tip”, ICE Cinefest Film Festival, Cincinnati, OH, 2024
Semi-Finalist, International Songwriting Competition, Nashville, TN, 2015
First Prize, beIN Sports beIN the Beat Songwriting Competition, Miami, FL, 2014
Affiliations
ASCAP
Composers Diversity Collective
Sony Music Publishing
Teaching
Private Composition/Piano/Guitar Instruction, 2012-PRESENT
Digital Music Courses, 2018-PRESENT
Education
UCLA Extension, Los Angeles – Film Scoring Certificate (Earned with Distinction) 2016
New Jersey City University – B.F.A., Painting & Drawing 2003
Private Study
Hollywood Film Music Seminars with Dr. Norman Ludwin
Orchestration I & II with Dr. Norman Ludwin, AFM Local 47
Classical Guitar at Silverlake Conservatory of Music
Composition/Orchestration/Piano with David Rhodes
Guitar/Composition with Jared Barkan
Drums/Percussion with Michael Advensky
Technical Skills
Cubase 10.5 – Live Audio Recording, MIDI Sequencing, Scoring to Picture, Mixing
Logic Pro X – Live Audio Recording, MIDI Sequencing, Scoring to Picture, Mixing
Sibelius 7.5 – Professional Score and Part Preparation