From a studio in regional Queensland, Tristan Barton is building a global reputation — one soundtrack at a time.
The CQUniversity Bachelor of Music graduate has carved out a career composing for screen, creating music for major international brands, filmmakers and cultural organisations.
His path, however, did not begin with a plan to write for film.
Studying jazz drumming, Tristan says his early training opened his eyes to the wider possibilities of the industry.
"I was always a drummer, but I was fortunate enough to have composition classes at CQU. I also grew up listening to a lot of hip hop and rap which inspired me to start beat-making. This evolved into writing music for film," he says.
"Over the years, my music has evolved to incorporate a lot more electronic elements and sound design, that's what I've come to be known for."
He first broke into the field through music libraries, licensing original works before moving into freelance screen composition. That transition, he argues, required a completely different way of thinking about music.
"I have to be very considerate of the visual information and the story attached to these projects," Tristan notes.
"When there is a client on the other end asking me to compose, it is about aligning their vision with my sonic palette and trying to extract what it was they want for the project."
His sound has also been shaped by time overseas. He spent time on exchange in Japan, where he spent six months in Sendai completing the final part of his degree, calling it an "amazing experience".
That experience left a lasting mark on his work, particularly through the influence of taiko.
"As a drummer, one thing I really love is incorporating taiko, traditional Japanese drums," he says. "They are massive, big drum sounds, you hear them a lot in film music."
Some of Tristan's most meaningful work has centred on First Nations storytelling. A proud Yorta Yorta man, he says cultural care, as well as thinking about his own family and where he comes from, guides every decision.
"I have tried to approach these stories with a great sense of responsibility and care. I never take on every project when it is in a cultural space as I want to make sure I can fully appreciate and deliver on what they are after," he argues.
"I try to understand what the project means to the people behind it, and how I can incorporate culturally specific sounds while still being very respectful and not appropriating anything."
In a major milestone, Tristan's hard work was rewarded in late 2024 when Korean animation studio District Holdings commissioned him to extend and score an experimental 5D film. The project became his first to be mixed in Dolby Atmos and screened in London, New York, Korea and Australia.
"They first licensed one of my pieces and then commissioned me to extend it and build a completely bespoke score for the next 23 minutes of runtime," he said. "To go down to a studio in Brisbane and get that mixed was a pretty big milestone for me."
Further recognition has followed. In 2025, he won the Queensland Music Award for Music for Screen, and this year was named CQUniversity's 2026 Alumnus of the Year - Industry Excellence.
"It came as quite a surprise, something I neither expected nor ever envisioned myself receiving," he says.
Beyond composing, Tristan now mentors emerging musicians, determined to show students that music can be more than passion — it can also be a sustainable career.
"It's really important to give back, to inspire students and let them know that it is possible to make a sustainable career from music," he says. "There are a lot of different avenues you can take and there is still a lot of work out there for aspiring musicians."
