David Fleming (composer)

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = David Fleming

| image =

| caption =

| background = non_performing_personnel

| birth_name =

| alias =

| birth_date =

| origin = New York, United States

| genre = Film score, electronic, ambient, Piano

| occupation = Film composer

| years_active = 2012–present

| associated_acts = Beyonce, Hans Zimmer, Gustavo Santaolalla, Atli Orvarsson

| website = {{URL|http://www.davidflemingmusic.com/}}

}}

David Fleming is an American composer. He works in the production of music for films, television, and interactive media. He has worked with composers Atli Örvarsson and Hans Zimmer. He won the ASCAP Screen Music Award for Television Score of the Year in 2024 for his work on The Last of Us. Some of his credits include Blue Planet II, Hillbilly Elegy, and Mr. & Mrs. Smith.

Career

=Early career=

David Fleming studied musical composition at State University of New York at Purchase. From there he started his career in New York advertising companies, creating music for ringtones and liquor commercials. He won the BMI Foundation's Pete Carpenter Fellowship and moved to Los Angeles where he began writing music for major films.{{cite web |last=Palrowitz |first=Darren |url=https://medium.com/@darren.paltrowitz/composer-david-fleming-on-mr-mrs-smith-hans-zimmer-more-paltrocast-exclusive-2e543fac0805 |title=Composer David Fleming On "Mr. & Mrs. Smith," Hans Zimmer & More — "Paltrocast" Exclusive |publisher=Medium.com |date=February 2, 2024 }}

=2017–present=

In 2017, Fleming co-composed the BBC series Blue Planet II (2017) alongside Hans Zimmer, starting a collaborative relationship that saw Fleming contribute to films like The Lion King (2019), Dune (2021), and Top Gun: Maverick (2022), and co-compose films together such as Hillbilly Elegy, The Unforgivable, and The Night Logan Woke Up.{{cite web |url=https://www.ascap.com/news-events/Events/2023/Sundance/Composer-Spotlight-Bios/Fleming_David |title=Sundance 2023 Composer Spotlight: David Fleming |publisher=ASCAP.com |date=January 1, 2023 }} Their work on Blue Planet II earned the score award nominations with the Jerry Goldsmith Awards and the International Film Music Critics Awards.

Fleming co-composed the original score for the television series The Last of Us (2023–present) with Gustavo Santaolalla. Fleming's work was inspired by real-world sounds within a decayed civilization. He largely worked on action-heavy music for the series, such as a large action sequence in the fifth episode. Like Santaolalla, he wanted to keep his score minimalistic and exercised restraint to match series co-creator Craig Mazin's goal of "having the viewer feel that they're part of the scene rather than be observing the scene". He selected specific instruments that paired appropriately with Santaolalla's work; rather than using a generic drum, he wanted one with "personality, whether it be a rusty barrel or like cracking wood or bowing, rusty metal".{{cite web |url=https://www.indiewire.com/2023/03/last-of-us-hbo-video-game-music-1234814153/ |title='The Last of Us' Score Finds Meaning in Silence |last=Shachat |first=Sarah |work=IndieWire |publisher=Penske Media Corporation |date=March 14, 2023 |accessdate=March 24, 2023 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230314140922/https://www.indiewire.com/2023/03/last-of-us-hbo-video-game-music-1234814153/ |archivedate=March 14, 2023 |url-status=live }}

In 2024, Fleming scored projects including Mr. & Mrs. Smith and Jim Henson Idea Man, for which he was nominated for Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Music Composition for a Series and Outstanding Music Composition for a Documentary Series or Special, respectively.{{Cite web |last=Burlingame |first=Jon |date=July 17, 2024 |title=Creative Arts Emmys Music Nominations: Hans Zimmer Lands Three Nods, Pasek & Paul Inch Closer to EGOT |url=https://variety.com/2024/artisans/news/creative-arts-emmys-music-nominations-hans-zimmer-lands-three-nods-pasek-paul-inch-closer-to-egot-1236075487/ |access-date=August 12, 2024 |website=Variety}} On June 7, 2024, Fleming performed his work to Mr. & Mrs. Smith at the Deadline Sound & Screen TV Event at Royce Hall at UCLA. Lead actor Donald Glover guided Fleming's score to focus on trust and the relationship between the characters.{{cite web |last=Jackson|first=Destiny |url=https://deadline.com/2024/06/mr-and-mrs-smith-david-fleming-music-theme-1235963444/ |title='Mr. & Mrs. Smith's David Fleming Says Just One Word Became Foundation For Series' Musical Theme – Sound & Screen TV |publisher=Deadline.com |date=June 10, 2024 }} For Jim Henson Idea Man, Fleming wanted to carry the spirit of Jim Henson through the score.{{cite web |last=Richlin|first=Harrison |url=https://www.indiewire.com/video/ron-howard-team-behind-jim-henson-idea-man-discuss-making-doc-1235009470/ |title=Watch Ron Howard and Team Behind 'Jim Henson Idea Man' Discuss the 'Genius' Behind 'The Muppets' and 'Sesame Street' |publisher=Indiewire.com |date=May 29, 2024 }} He also composed music for the film Damsel (2024).

Filmography

=Film=

Year ! Title ! Director(s) ! Notes ! Ref.
class="wikitable"
2012	Revenge for Jolly!	Chadd Harbold
2015	The Perfect Guy	David M. Rosenthal	Composed with Atli Örvarsson
2020	Hillbilly Elegy	Ron Howard	Composed with Hans Zimmer	style="text-align: center;" \| {{Cite web \|last=Roxborough \|first=Scott \|date=December 11, 2020 \|title=Hans Zimmer and David Fleming on Scoring 'Hillbilly Elegy' Under Lockdown (and After Zimmer Caught COVID-19) \|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/hans-zimmer-and-david-fleming-on-scoring-hillbilly-elegy-under-lockdown-and-after-zimmer-caught-covid-19-4103304/ \|access-date=August 12, 2024 \|website=The Hollywood Reporter}}
rowspan="2" \| 2021	South of Heaven	Aharon Keshales
The Unforgivable	Nora Fingscheidt	Composed with Hans Zimmer	style="text-align: center;" \| {{Cite web \|date=October 26, 2021 \|title=Hans Zimmer & David Fleming Scoring Nora Fingscheidt's 'The Unforgivable' \|url=https://filmmusicreporter.com/2021/10/26/hans-zimmer-david-fleming-scoring-nora-fingscheidts-the-unforgivable/ \|access-date=August 12, 2024 \|website=Film Music Reporter}}
2023	Americana	Tony Tost		style="text-align: center;" \| {{Cite web \|date=March 15, 2023 \|title=David Fleming Scoring Tony Tost's 'Americana' \|url=https://filmmusicreporter.com/2023/03/15/david-fleming-scoring-tony-tosts-americana/ \|access-date=August 12, 2024 \|website=Film Music Reporter}}
rowspan="3" \| 2024	Damsel	Juan Carlos Fresnadillo		style="text-align: center;" \| {{Cite web \|last=Danoff \|first=Owen \|date=March 21, 2024 \|title=Damsel Composer David Fleming On Medieval Horns, Dragons & Dune Memes \|url=https://screenrant.com/damsel-composer-david-fleming-interview/ \|access-date=August 12, 2024 \|website=Screen Rant}}
Jim Henson Idea Man	Ron Howard		style="text-align: center;" \| {{Cite web \|date=April 11, 2024 \|title=David Fleming Scoring Ron Howard's Disney+ Documentary 'Jim Henson Idea Man' \|url=https://filmmusicreporter.com/2024/04/11/david-fleming-scoring-ron-howards-disney-documentary-jim-henson-idea-man/ \|access-date=August 12, 2024 \|website=Film Music Reporter}}
Bando Stone and the New World	Donald Glover		style="text-align: center;" \| {{Cite web \|last=Magat \|first=Katrina \|date=July 14, 2024 \|title=7 Things Things You Need To Know About Childish Gambino's Mysterious IMAX Movie, 'Bando Stone and the New World' \|url=https://collider.com/bando-stone-and-the-new-world-childish-gambino-everything-we-know/ \|access-date=August 12, 2024 \|website=Collider}}
rowspan="2" \| 2025	The Alto Knights	Barry Levinson		style="text-align: center;" \| {{Cite web \|date=February 6, 2024 \|title=David Fleming to Score Barry Levinson's 'Alto Knights' \|url=https://filmmusicreporter.com/2024/02/06/david-fleming-to-score-barry-levinsons-alto-knights/ \|access-date=August 12, 2024 \|website=Film Music Reporter }}
Superman	James Gunn	Composed with John Murphy Includes "Superman March" composed by John Williams	style="text-align: center;" \| {{Cite web \|date=April 18, 2025 \|title=David Fleming to Compose Music for James Gunn's 'Superman' \|url=https://filmmusicreporter.com/2025/04/18/david-fleming-to-compose-music-for-james-gunns-superman/ \|access-date=April 18, 2025 \|website=Film Music Reporter}}

=Television=

class="wikitable"
Year ! Title ! Notes ! Ref.
2017 \| Blue Planet II \| 7 episodes \|
2022 \| The Night Logan Woke Up \| 5 episodes; with Hans Zimmer \| style="text-align: center;" \| {{Cite web \|date=March 16, 2023 \|title='The Night Logan Woke Up' Soundtrack Album Details \|url=https://filmmusicreporter.com/2023/03/16/the-night-logan-woke-up-soundtrack-album-details/ \|access-date=August 12, 2024 \|website=Film Music Reporter}}
2023–present \| The Last of Us \| 16 episodes; with Gustavo Santaolalla \| style="text-align: center;" \| {{cite web \|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/new-hbo-the-last-of-us-season-1-soundtrack-released-listen/ \|title=HBO's New The Last of Us Season 1 Soundtrack Released: Listen \|last=Minsker \|first=Evan \|work=Pitchfork \|publisher=Condé Nast \|date=February 27, 2023 \|access-date=February 28, 2023 \|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230227155309/https://pitchfork.com/news/new-hbo-the-last-of-us-season-1-soundtrack-released-listen/ \|archivedate=February 27, 2023 \|url-status=live }}
2024 \| Mr. & Mrs. Smith \| 8 episodes \| style="text-align: center;" \| {{Cite web \|last=Jackson \|first=Destiny \|date=June 10, 2024 \|title='Mr. & Mrs. Smith's David Fleming Says Just One Word Became Foundation For Series' Musical Theme – Sound & Screen TV \|url=https://deadline.com/2024/06/mr-and-mrs-smith-david-fleming-music-theme-1235963444/ \|access-date=August 12, 2024 \|website=Deadline Hollywood}}

class="wikitable"

Year

! Title

! Notes

! Ref.

2017

| Blue Planet II

| 7 episodes

2022

| The Night Logan Woke Up

| 5 episodes; with Hans Zimmer

| style="text-align: center;" | {{Cite web |date=March 16, 2023 |title='The Night Logan Woke Up' Soundtrack Album Details |url=https://filmmusicreporter.com/2023/03/16/the-night-logan-woke-up-soundtrack-album-details/ |access-date=August 12, 2024 |website=Film Music Reporter}}

2023–present

| The Last of Us

| 16 episodes; with Gustavo Santaolalla

| style="text-align: center;" | {{cite web |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/new-hbo-the-last-of-us-season-1-soundtrack-released-listen/ |title=HBO's New The Last of Us Season 1 Soundtrack Released: Listen |last=Minsker |first=Evan |work=Pitchfork |publisher=Condé Nast |date=February 27, 2023 |access-date=February 28, 2023 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230227155309/https://pitchfork.com/news/new-hbo-the-last-of-us-season-1-soundtrack-released-listen/ |archivedate=February 27, 2023 |url-status=live }}

2024

| Mr. & Mrs. Smith

| 8 episodes

| style="text-align: center;" | {{Cite web |last=Jackson |first=Destiny |date=June 10, 2024 |title='Mr. & Mrs. Smith's David Fleming Says Just One Word Became Foundation For Series' Musical Theme – Sound & Screen TV |url=https://deadline.com/2024/06/mr-and-mrs-smith-david-fleming-music-theme-1235963444/ |access-date=August 12, 2024 |website=Deadline Hollywood}}

==Other credits==

class="wikitable" ! Year ! Title ! Role ! Composer(s)
2012–2023	Chicago Fire	additional music	Atli Örvarsson
rowspan="4" \| 2013	Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters	additional music	Atli Örvarsson
A Single Shot	additional music	Atli Örvarsson
Evidence	additional music	Atli Örvarsson
The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones	additional music	Atli Örvarsson
2014–2015	Chicago P.D.	additional music	Atli Örvarsson
rowspan="3" \| 2014	Son of God	additional music	Hans Zimmer and Lorne Balfe
Divergent	additional music	Tom Holkenborg
Transformers: Age of Extinction	additional music	Steve Jablonsky
2015	Last Knights	additional music	Satnam Ramgotra and Martin Tillman
2016	Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows	additional music	Steve Jablonsky
rowspan="2" \| 2017	Transformers: The Last Knight	additional music	Steve Jablonsky
What Happened to Monday	additional music	Christian Wibe
2018	Believer	additional music	Hans Zimmer
rowspan="2" \| 2019	X-Men: Dark Phoenix	additional music	Hans Zimmer
The Lion King	Arranger "Never Too Late", producer "Be Prepared"	Hans Zimmer
2020	Wonder Woman 1984	additional music	Hans Zimmer
2021	Dune: Part One	additional music	Hans Zimmer
rowspan="2" \| 2022	Top Gun: Maverick	additional music	Harold Faltermeyer, Lady Gaga and Hans Zimmer
The Son	additional music	Hans Zimmer
2023	Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret.	additional music	Hans Zimmer
2024	Dune: Part Two	additional music	Hans Zimmer

Awards and nominations

class="wikitable" \|+ {{sronly\|Accolades}}
Award ! Year ! Category ! Nominated Work ! Result ! Ref.
IFMCA Awards \| 2017 \| Best Original Score for a Documentary Film \| rowspan="2"\| Blue Planet II \| {{nom}} \| align="center"\| {{Cite web \|title=2017 IFMCA Awards \|date=February 6, 2020 \|url=https://filmmusiccritics.org/awards-archive/2017-ifmca-awards/}}
Jerry Goldsmith Awards \| 2018 \| Best Documentary Score \| {{nom}} \| align="center"\| {{Cite web \|title=XIII Jerry Goldsmith Awards – Winners \|url=https://soundtrackfest.com/en/news/xiii-jerry-goldsmith-awards-winners/}}
ASCAP Screen Music Awards \| 2024 \| Composers' Choice: Television Score of the Year \| The Last of Us \| {{Won}} \| align="center"\| {{cite web \|url=https://variety.com/2024/music/news/ascap-screen-music-awards-spider-man-last-of-us-only-murders-composers-1235998145/ \|title=Scores for 'Spider-Man,' 'Last of Us,' 'Only Murders' Win the Composers' Choice Vote at ASCAP Screen Music Awards \|last=Burlingame \|first=Jon \|work=Variety \|publisher=Penske Media Corporation \|date=May 9, 2024 \|accessdate=August 9, 2024 \|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20240510052746/https://variety.com/2024/music/news/ascap-screen-music-awards-spider-man-last-of-us-only-murders-composers-1235998145/ \|archivedate=May 10, 2024 \|url-status=live }}
rowspan="2"\| Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards \| rowspan="2"\| 2024 \| Outstanding Music Composition for a Series (Original Dramatic Score) \| Mr. & Mrs. Smith {{small\|(for "First Date")}} \| {{nom}} \| align="center" rowspan="2"\| {{cite web \|url=https://www.emmys.com/bios/david-fleming \|title=David Fleming \|publisher=Academy of Television Arts & Sciences \|date=July 17, 2024 \|access-date=July 17, 2024 \|language=en-US}}
Outstanding Music Composition for a Documentary Series or Special (Original Dramatic Score) \| rowspan="2"\| Jim Henson Idea Man \| {{won}}
Hollywood Music in Media Awards \| 2024 \| Best Original Score in a Documentary \| {{nom}} \| align="center"\| {{cite web \|url=https://www.hmmawards.com/2024-hmma-nominations/ \|title=2024 HMMA Nominations \|publisher=Hollywood Music in Media Awards \|date=November 7, 2024 \|access-date=November 7, 2024 \|archive-date=November 8, 2024 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241108214011/https://www.hmmawards.com/2024-hmma-nominations/ \|url-status=dead }}

class="wikitable"

|+ {{sronly|Accolades}}

Award

! Year

! Category

! Nominated Work

! Result

! Ref.

IFMCA Awards

| 2017

| Best Original Score for a Documentary Film

| rowspan="2"| Blue Planet II

| {{nom}}

| align="center"| {{Cite web |title=2017 IFMCA Awards |date=February 6, 2020 |url=https://filmmusiccritics.org/awards-archive/2017-ifmca-awards/}}

Jerry Goldsmith Awards

| 2018

| Best Documentary Score

| {{nom}}

| align="center"| {{Cite web |title=XIII Jerry Goldsmith Awards – Winners |url=https://soundtrackfest.com/en/news/xiii-jerry-goldsmith-awards-winners/}}

ASCAP Screen Music Awards

| 2024

| Composers' Choice: Television Score of the Year

| The Last of Us

| {{Won}}

| align="center"| {{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2024/music/news/ascap-screen-music-awards-spider-man-last-of-us-only-murders-composers-1235998145/ |title=Scores for 'Spider-Man,' 'Last of Us,' 'Only Murders' Win the Composers' Choice Vote at ASCAP Screen Music Awards |last=Burlingame |first=Jon |work=Variety |publisher=Penske Media Corporation |date=May 9, 2024 |accessdate=August 9, 2024 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20240510052746/https://variety.com/2024/music/news/ascap-screen-music-awards-spider-man-last-of-us-only-murders-composers-1235998145/ |archivedate=May 10, 2024 |url-status=live }}

rowspan="2"| Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards

| rowspan="2"| 2024

| Outstanding Music Composition for a Series (Original Dramatic Score)

| Mr. & Mrs. Smith {{small|(for "First Date")}}

| {{nom}}

| align="center" rowspan="2"| {{cite web |url=https://www.emmys.com/bios/david-fleming |title=David Fleming |publisher=Academy of Television Arts & Sciences |date=July 17, 2024 |access-date=July 17, 2024 |language=en-US}}

Outstanding Music Composition for a Documentary Series or Special (Original Dramatic Score)

| rowspan="2"| Jim Henson Idea Man

| {{won}}

Hollywood Music in Media Awards

| 2024

| Best Original Score in a Documentary

| {{nom}}

| align="center"| {{cite web |url=https://www.hmmawards.com/2024-hmma-nominations/ |title=2024 HMMA Nominations |publisher=Hollywood Music in Media Awards |date=November 7, 2024 |access-date=November 7, 2024 |archive-date=November 8, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241108214011/https://www.hmmawards.com/2024-hmma-nominations/ |url-status=dead }}