Justin Marshall Elias is a renowned composer, actor, and musicologist, recognized for his captivating minimalist, alien, and atmospheric piano compositions for film and art. He is best known for his score to the feature "Circle" and short film "Teens Like Phil," as well as his work with Music Vine, premiering music for filmmakers. Elias' Instagram project "Music+Art" has garnered a significant following, as he composes music for up-and-coming visual artists and promotes new art across mediums.
Born in California, Elias spent most of his life in Idaho, where he was influenced by the quiet beauty of the state. He began his musical journey as a musicologist, experimenting with new sounds and compositions while studying Sound Design at Montana State University. Elias' music is characterized by its ambient, electronic, and abstract qualities, often incorporating an experimental edge.
As an actor, Elias has performed in feature and short films, commercials, webisodes, and has received critical acclaim for his work on stage. He was born in Palo Alto, California, and relocated to Eagle, Idaho, at the age of eight. Elias began exploring his interest in music in middle school, eventually becoming a self-labeled "musicologist" to gain an understanding and appreciation for all types of music.
Elias' grandfather encouraged him to play an instrument, believing music was vital to a good life. He joined the marching band in high school, playing the alto saxophone. By the time he was a senior, Elias had mastered professional broadcasting and film-making software and hardware. He was hired as a technical director by an audio visual and presentation technology services company, managing workers more than twice his age.
After graduating high school, Elias began his undergraduate study at Boise State University, eventually transferring to Montana State University to pursue film-making. While working on films in college, he continued to find himself pulled towards a single element in film, sound. Elias scored many student films and garnered several awards and nominations for film composition and sound design.
After graduating MSU, Elias briefly returned to Idaho and was cast as "Garry Lejeune" in the play "Noises Off" at the StageCoach Theater, winning the 2011 Masque Award for Best Actor. He was cast for two television commercials during the play's run and eventually relocated to Los Angeles in 2010. Elias has since become a sought-after composer, exhibiting a wide stylistic range and command of electronic composition. He is known for his ability to work in creative partnership with a film's director when composing to picture.
