Hanan Townshend
Hanan Townshend is New Zealand composer known for his poetic ambient-orchestral film and commercial scores. He is a frequent collaborator with director Terrence Malick, breaking into film with his piano arrangements for Palme d’Or winning film, The Tree of Life. Townshend scored Malick’s To the Wonder (2014), with collaborations from acclaimed record producer and composer, Daniel Lanois. He went on to score Malick’s Knight of Cups (2015), as well as his IMAX documentary Voyage of Time (2016). He continues to collaborate with Malick, contributing original music and arrangements to upcoming projects. Other features he has scored include Carlo Hintermann’s The Book of Vision (2020), the opening film for Venice Critics’ Week starring Charles Dance, Oscar-nominated director Henry Alex Rubin’s Semper Fi (2019), and Julio Quintana’s breakout Netflix film Blue Miracle (2021).
Townshend has also gained acclaim for his work in documentary film, including collaborations with Academy Award-winning director, Megan Mylan’s film Simple As Water (2021), the Emmy-award winning docu-series Outcry (2020), the Emmy and Critics Choice award-winning Disgraced (2017) directed by Pat Kondelis, and Drew Xanthopolous’ Apple TV+ film Fathom (2021).
Townshend has scored commercials for brands such as Apple, Nike, Guinness, and Volvo, which have aired during high profile slots such as the Super Bowl, Apple Keynotes, and the Oscars. He frequently collaborates with 3x Academy award-winning cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki, scoring his ethereal work for brands such as Vanity Fair, Apple, and Kind.
Townshend’s music is described as poetic, spiritual, and sensitive. He enjoys approaching film scores exploring the internal world of the film's characters. He often pulls from the natural soundscape of his upbringing on a remote country farm overlooking the ocean, in which he was immersed as he studied music from the age of six.
Townshend has also gained acclaim for his work in documentary film, including collaborations with Academy Award-winning director, Megan Mylan’s film Simple As Water (2021), the Emmy-award winning docu-series Outcry (2020), the Emmy and Critics Choice award-winning Disgraced (2017) directed by Pat Kondelis, and Drew Xanthopolous’ Apple TV+ film Fathom (2021).
Townshend has scored commercials for brands such as Apple, Nike, Guinness, and Volvo, which have aired during high profile slots such as the Super Bowl, Apple Keynotes, and the Oscars. He frequently collaborates with 3x Academy award-winning cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki, scoring his ethereal work for brands such as Vanity Fair, Apple, and Kind.
Townshend’s music is described as poetic, spiritual, and sensitive. He enjoys approaching film scores exploring the internal world of the film's characters. He often pulls from the natural soundscape of his upbringing on a remote country farm overlooking the ocean, in which he was immersed as he studied music from the age of six.