John Gray is a multi-award winning film composer, having written both orchestral and electronic scores for film – some of which have been finalists and winners at The Emmys, Sundance, Montreal, Venice, Berlin, IDFA, HOTDOCS and Sydney international film festivals - to name a few.
He has also released and toured nationally in rock bands, released experimental work for installations and radio airplay, and created electronic soundscapes for internationally acknowledged films.
A screen-composition graduate of AFTRS, his drama features include the AFI-nominated ‘Kokoda’, 'What Lola Wants', ‘Coffin Rock’ and ‘The Bet’ which was in competition at the Sydney Film Festival. He recently finished scoring the latest instalment of the iconic Australian ’Blue Murder’ franchise.
He has also composed for the critically acclaimed feature documentary ‘The Opposition’, the AACTA-nominated documentary 'I Am A Girl', the Emmy award winning SBS documentary series 'Go Back to Where You Came From', ABC’s auspicious 'Great Southern Land' and the documentary audience award winner at the 2014 Sydney Film Festival 'Love Marriage in Kabul'.
Awards / Nominations
Nominated Best Music for a Mini Series – AFI / AACTA 2017 – for 'Blue Murder'
Winner Best Original Song Composed for the Screen – APRA/AGSC Australian Screen Music Awards 2007 – for 'The Bet'
Winner Best Original Score – Sony Tropfest 2007 – for 'Real Thing'
Nominated Best Music for a Feature Documentary – 2015 Milan International Film Festival – for 'Surgery Ship'
Nominated Best Music for a Feature Documentary – 2014 APRA/AGSC Australian Screen Music Awards – for 'I Am a Girl'
Winner European Union Film Award 2005
Winner International Emmy Award 2013 Best Non-Scripted – for 'Go Back to Where You Came From 2'
Winner ‘Golden Rose’ for Best in Show and ‘Rose d’Or’ for Best Factual at Lucerne 2012 – for 'Go Back to Where You Came From'
Winner ‘Logie’ for Best Factual 2012 – for 'Go Back to Where You Came From'
Winner South Australian Music Industry Awards – his band “Big Things Flying” won 3 awards including Best New Band/Artist
Selected non-film Commissions
Legs on the Wall dance company– 2008 Beijing Olympics
‘ArtNode Sculpture Park’ john gray (2003 – Newcastle University – Fine Arts)
‘Drug Poetry’ john gray / newaural net (2000 – Independent) – WOMADELAIDE 2001
Opening of 1998 Biennial National Australian Poetry Conference - '‘Wider than Any Suburb’ john gray / newaural net / Mike Llad (1998)
‘Transglobal Express’ john gray / newaural net (1999 – Independent) ‘Earshots’ – an ABC JJJ experimental audio-art initiative
‘Trains’ john gray / newaural net (1999 – Independent) ABC Radio National’s ‘The Listening Room’
Selected Discography
‘Into One’ Project (1997 – Independent)
‘Building a Better Mousetrap’ Roadshow Music (1996 – Roadshow Music)
‘Dear Prudence’ Big Things Flying (1996 – Roadshow Music)
‘Shine’ Big Things Flying (1995 – Roadshow Music)
‘of rust and stardust’ Big Things Flying (1995 – Roadshow Music)
‘Turning to Blue’ Big Things Flying (1993 – Independent)
‘Coo’ Coo (1997 – Independent)
John has played on many other albums
Selected Live
Big Things Flying (1994-1998)
newaural net (founded 1996) experimental
John has been involved in countless other recording and live projects.