By Becca Lennard

Hollywood, Los Angeles, is a place where most of us could only ever dream of living but it is here that Wrexham girl Joanne Higginbottom, now calls home.

Music lover Jo was just 22 years old when she landed her dream job, immediately after graduating from the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama with a First Class Bachelor’s Degree in Music Technology and Composition.

Whilst at the RWCMD, Jo contacted music producer and composer Tyler Bates, whose most notable scores include the epic action film ‘300’ and Guardians of the Galaxy. He offered her a month long internship whilst she was completing her degree.

Jo impressed Bates so much during this time that upon graduating in 2010, she was quickly offered a job out in Hollywood as his assistant.

Now aged 30, Jo, who grew up in Little Acton, is an accomplished musician, composer and producer who works alongside some of the most celebrated in the industry. Just last year, her work was recognised by the RWCMD when she was made an Honorary Associate of the college.

“I still remember applying to the Conservatoire whilst at Yale College and thinking it was unlikely I would be accepted in such a prestigious program, so for them to celebrate my successes now feels like a real achievement,” she said.

Jo recounts one of her proudest moments of her career as when she had her first composer credit for the TV show Samurai Jack and attending the live premiere of the first three episodes where she was asked to perform for the opening of the show.

“It's great to see the amalgamation of hundreds of people's work on the big screen for the first time and to celebrate that together at the after party. They can be a lot of fun!” said Jo.

Another of her proudest achievements is more recently co-scoring her first feature film, The Public, which is written and directed by Emilio Estevez who also stars in the film alongside Alec Baldwin and Christian Slater.

“We recorded the score at Capitol Records with an amazing ensemble of musicians and I worked with Emilio directly until the movie was completed,” she added.

A typical day for Jo includes waking up at 6.30am and getting to her studio by 8.30am where she spends around 11 hours a day writing music! In her studio you will also find an array of musical instruments including the drums, guitar, piano, percussion and clarinet, all set up ready as inspiration for her writing. Jo enjoys the variety in her music writing and aims to be as diverse in musical genres as possible.

“It keeps you on your toes scoring action one day, then rock music the next, followed by horror close after,” she said.

“It's a wonderful feeling to be in a movie theatre and have an audience be scared because of a horror movie you scored or laugh at a comedy you were an integral part of,” she added.

One of Jo’s favourite films to work on was Deadpool 2 starring Ryan Reynolds. She remembers fondly how they were constantly laughing during production of the film.

“We had a blast the day we recorded choir at Fox studios in Hollywood.”

“Tyler Bates offered to the director that he could change the lyrics to anything he felt more appropriate,” she said.

Because of this, the film’s soundtrack album became the first ever to include a ‘parental advisory’ sticker!

In her spare time, Jo, who has just finished writing additional music on her latest film John Wick 3, enjoys going out for dinner and drinks with her friends, keeping fit and visiting the cinema which she claims is an opportunity to do some research for her composition.

She enjoys travelling with her husband Cody who also works in the same industry as a writer for television and film.

“Last year we backpacked through China and Japan which was an incredible experience! Later this year we have plans to travel to France and Belgium together after spending Christmas in Wrexham with my family.”

Although Jo has no plans to move back to the UK, she misses her family back home greatly.

“I wouldn't be where I am without them,” she said.

“I would also like to thank my nephew Harvey for being my biggest fan,” she added.

Jo attributes her success to the support given by her family towards her career and new life in LA.

“I have lived here for 8 years and am very happy to call it home. I met my husband here and we both love the opportunities that come with being in a bustling city like this.

“There is nowhere else I would be able to thrive in my career path other than LA.”