Joris de Man is a BAFTA-nominated and Ivor Novello winning composer known for compelling themes built around captivating melodies. From glitchy electronica to orchestral soundtracks, Joris has always focused on writing story-driven music that supports an emotional journey.

Well recognised for his work on the Playstation blockbuster Horizon Zero Dawn, Joris has been integral to the development of the series' soundtracks for Horizon Zero Dawn: The Frozen Wilds and Horizon Forbidden West, his themes for the game, and its main character Aloy providing a signature sound. He is also widely known for his work on the first three instalments of Guerrilla's Killzone franchise, FuturLab's Velocity series, and the MOBA hit, Vainglory. Outside of video games, Joris has also scored various films, including Studio Mir's 2018 short, Koji, and Mike Mort's stop-motion feature, Chuck Steel - Night of the Trampires.

A Dutch native born into a musical family, Joris was exposed to a variety of music from an early age. The son of classically-trained musicians, one a contemporary composer, the other a niche performer, he learned to appreciate diversity in sound since childhood. In his teens, Joris was active in the Atari demo scene, writing and releasing chiptune tracks as part of a group called Synergy. The limitations of the sound chip meant complex arrangements weren’t possible, and this forced an emphasis on writing stronger melodies, in an effort to extract the most, musically, from this early computer.

In the 1990s, Joris began producing audio for computer games, working on CD-i projects such as Dimo's Quest and The Apprentice. He emigrated to the United Kingdom and worked in various roles on the Bitmap Brothers' Z franchise. After his first stint in the UK, Joris returned to the Netherlands and worked at Lost Boys Games, out of which Guerrilla Games emerged, the team responsible for later franchises, Killzone and Horizon.

During this time, in a bid to woo publishers, Joris suggested Lost Boys record game themes using a live orchestra, and so his first AAA game title score was recorded with the Moscow Symphony Orchestra. Joris has since recorded with the Prague Philharmonic Orchestra, and some of London's finest session players at Air Lyndhurst and Abbey Road and other renowned studios.

When revisiting his digital audio background, we see Joris' aptitude for musical sound design on full display. A lover of all things synth, his sonic experimentation helps to form the foundation of some distinct sound palettes. He is an adept music producer with a critical ear and a penchant for creating unique soundscapes. But it is perhaps Joris’ ability to reach into the heart of the listener, with his sensitive, emotional themes, connecting the narrative arc of characters and story, that make his rich orchestrations so impactful and memorable.