Let the Music Lead | Yuxin Lu on Emotional Scores, Instinct, and Writing What Feels True
Description
In this episode, Mishu sits down with Chicago-based composer and sound designer Yuxin Lu to talk about slowing down, trusting your musical instincts, and finding your voice between two sonic worlds. They get into what happens when the work goes quiet for a while, how spotting a feature film changes the way you see structure, and why Yuxin refuses to fake a genre they can’t stand behind.
Yuxin blends intimate piano work, synth-forward energy, and a cross-cultural musical language shaped by both Chinese and Western traditions. Their work spans film scoring, sound design, sync production, and solo releases like the 2021 EP Pink Area. They also bring experience from Paramount/MTV’s First Time Composers initiative and collaborations with 5 Alarm Music and Jingle Punks.
This conversation dives into process, honesty, restraint, and how to write music that actually fits the picture — not just the temp track.
We talk about:
→ What a spotting session really looks like, and how it shapes the entire score
→ Why it matters to admit the genres you can’t do (and how that builds trust)
→ Writing emotional piano vs. high-energy synth beats — and living in both worlds
→ The difference between a score that supports a scene and one that performs over it
More from Yuxin:
Website: sourlyx.com
Instagram: @sourlyx
Listen to more episodes at mischiefpod.com and follow us on Instagram and TikTok at @mischiefpod
Produced by @ohhmaybemedia
United States
