Transcenders

Composer collective Transcenders have determined the rhythm of numerous blockbuster television series and films with diverse and dynamic scores. The Los Angeles-based trio - Brian Lapin, Terence Yoshiaki, and Mike Fratantuno - have elevated the atmosphere of EMMY® Award-winning staples such as Black-Ish and the cultural phenomenon Gossip Girl. The composers have enjoyed a long career together, and have rallied around the same spirit of creative unity since their days together in the Black Eyed Peas, writing and performing on the GRAMMY® Award-winning songs "Let's Get It Started" and the #1 smash "Where Is the Love?" [feat. Justin Timberlake], among other hits. On a break from touring, these three lifelong musicians united as Transcenders and quickly made their presence known in the world of composing. Between providing tunes for Superbad, Knocked Up, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, The 40-Year-Old Virgin, and Chris Rock's I Think I Love My Wife, they broke through by supplying the music for two seasons of the fan favorite Friends spin-off Joey. In 2007, the trio began a six-season run on Gossip Girl, bringing the show to life with a celebrated score. Receiving critical acclaim, Stereogum notably described the opening credits theme as "iconic." After scoring eight seasons of Black-Ish, six seasons of Madam Secretary, and two seasons of Not Dead Yet for ABC, they recently completed season two of Michelle Buteau's Netflix series Survival Of The Thickest, and are looking forward to season three! Transcenders are also working on Going Dutch for FOX and Season three of Maya Rudolph's Loot for AppleTV.

At the same time, Transcenders continue to amplify and diversify their impact beyond the studio. During 2021, the collective launched the TRN Music Academy as a philanthropic division of the company. The mission of TMA is to provide music education to kids who would otherwise not have access to it, and connect students from all over the world through music. Having started two successful music education programs in the KwaZulu Natal region of South Africa, TMA joined forces with the Bloom Arts Foundation to create Futures In Tune [FIT]. FIT now connects students in Los Angeles with students in South Africa, Mumbai, and Zambia, and provides cross-cultural learning opportunities using the universal language of music. "Diversity in both genre and culture have been important to us since day one," adds Brian. "We feel like we've always represented the melting pot of Los Angeles, so making cross-cultural learning a part of our mission continues to motivate and inspire us." In the end, the bond of friendship is at the heart of Transcenders, and it drives everything they do. "We want people to connect to what we're doing," says Mike. "A composer's superpower is the ability to change how people feel through music. We hold that responsibility in the highest regard."