Moroccan born composer, Youssef Guezoum takes his adopted country by storm with two nominations at the HMMA, taking place Wednesday, November 20, 2024.
Having met Youssef Guezoum at the 14th Annual Catalina Film Festival in September, and we became fast friends on the boat ride back to Long Beach, CA. Guezoum is an American-Moroccan composer and orchestrator based in Los Angeles. Recently, he received two nominations for the prestigious Hollywood Music in Media Awards (HMMA): one for Best Score in a TV/Limited Series (Foreign Language) for ‘Deep State‘, and another for Best Main Title Score (Foreign Language) for ‘The Promise‘.
These two HMMA nominations make Geuzoum a true international sensation as he is a North African, educated in Europe, while being nominated for two West Asian series and being recognized in the United States.
HMMA is the first organization to honor original music—both song and score—in all forms of visual media from around the globe, including film, TV, video games, trailers, commercial advertisements, documentaries, and special programs. HMMA nominations often align with later nominations from other major awards shows, making them a key indicator of future recognition. The HMMA main event features live music performances, celebrity presenters, tributes to music industry icons, and awards for composers, songwriters, and artists. It also celebrates emerging and independent artists from around the world for their creative contributions. The awards provide a high-profile, red carpet experience that fosters valuable networking opportunities for industry professionals, composers, and artists.
Geuzoum‘s career spans multiple genres and media, including film, TV, video games, and trailers. His diverse credits include composing for ‘Power Rangers‘ (Saban Entertainment) and numerous well-known Middle Eastern TV series. He has also written music for major Hollywood studios like Paramount Pictures, Universal Music, and Lionsgate, with projects such as ‘CSI: Miami‘, ‘Secret & Lies‘, ‘Hell’s Kitchen‘, and ‘PGA Tour‘.
Born and raised in Marrakech, Morocco, Geuzoum was influenced by the city’s rich musical heritage, which blends sounds from the Atlas Mountains, Gnawa, and Andalusian music. This vibrant cultural backdrop sparked his lifelong passion for music. He began playing guitar at age 10 and went on to become the bassist for a rock fusion band called ‘The Marrakech‘, named to honor his hometown.
Alongside music, Geuzoum has always had a deep passion for film. As a child, he was captivated by movie soundtracks, which transported him into exciting worlds of action, suspense, and adventure. He studied piano at the Jette Academy of Music in Brussels, Belgium, and furthered his education with an Advanced Certificate in Film Scoring from California State University. Guezoum also worked at Creative Future in Canada, a company known for its sound design work on iconic films like ‘Terminator 2‘ and the ‘Harry Potter‘ franchise.
When composing, Geuzoum strives to capture the emotional essence of a project, blending his diverse musical influences with a strong understanding of both Western and global musical traditions.
I would like to wish my friend the best of luck in his HMMA nominations and living out his American Dream.
The HMMA awards take place on Wednesday, November 20, 2024 in Hollywood, CA.
For more information about the Hollywood Music in Media Awards visit: https://www.hmmawards.com/.
For more information about Youssef Guezoum visit: https://www.youssefguezoum.com/.
