It was a big night for music in film at the 7th annual Society of Composers & Lyricists (SCL) Awards in Los Angeles. Oscar-winning composer Ludwig Göransson and songwriter EJAE emerged as the evening’s top winners, each taking home major honors at the ceremony hosted by Kevin Bacon and his composer brother, Michael Bacon. The event celebrated the year’s best in movie, TV, and game music – but Göransson and EJAE stole the spotlight.
Göransson, known for his work on Black Panther and Oppenheimer, scored two SCL Awards for his latest film project. He won Outstanding Original Score (Studio Film) for the thriller Sinners, directed by his longtime collaborator Ryan Coogler. He also picked up Outstanding Original Song (Drama/Documentary) for “I Lied to You” from Sinners, a soulful ballad he co-wrote with Raphael Saadiq. (The Göransson-Coogler duo’s fruitful partnership earned them a special Spirit of Collaboration Award as well, underscoring their creative chemistry across multiple films.)
In the music for animation category, rising songwriter EJAE snagged a win for Original Song (Comedy or Musical) with “Golden.” The catchy K-pop-inspired track from the animated film KPop Demon Hunters – which EJAE co-wrote with composer Mark Sonnenblick – continued its awards-season hot streak by taking the SCL trophy. (“Golden” is already an Oscar-nominated song and previously won a Golden Globe and Grammy this year, making EJAE’s victory at SCL yet another accolade for the hit tune.)
The SCL Awards also honored scores and songs from across the industry, from Bryce Dessner’s haunting Train Dreams score to Cristóbal Tapia de Veer’s memorable theme for The White Lotus. But the night belonged to Göransson and EJAE, who solidified their status as standout talents in the composing world.
