Josh Atchley

Josh Atchley is a composer for film and television whose work emphasizes atmosphere, restraint, and narrative clarity. His scores are shaped by tone first—supporting story and performance rather than drawing attention to themselves.

He occasionally collaborates with his wife, Emmy Award–winning composer Denise Santos, including on projects such as Parallel and The Last Resort. Coming from a rock and electronic background, Josh brings a modern sensibility to traditional scoring, blending texture, rhythm, and orchestral language when the story calls for it.

His career has included opportunities to work alongside Hans Zimmer on commercials, television, and film, as well as recording large orchestras on projects ranging from epic historical scores such as The Rising Hawk to darker crime thrillers. His work also spans contemporary genres, including a hip-hop–inflected crime score on Superfly, produced by Joel Silver of the Matrix and Die Hard franchises.

Based in Los Angeles, Josh works closely with directors and creative teams to craft music that feels inevitable—serving the story with precision, mood, and intent.