Keefus Ciancia is an American film and television composer, music producer, and musician. He has won an Ivor Novello Award, BAFTA, and a BMI Film & TV Award. He has composed and produced music for True Detective, Killing Eve, London Spy, The Fall, and Spider-Man 2.
He has produced albums for such artists as Benji Hughes, Kimbra, Everlast, A Fine Frenzy, and Étienne Daho. As a keyboardist and pianist he has performed with Elton John, Mike Patton, Iggy Pop, T Bone Burnett, and Everlast. Ciancia has worked extensively with T Bone Burnett as a film and TV composer, co-producer, and as a band member of The Invisible Light. He is currently a member of the musical groups Unloved, Vincent & Mr. Green, and The Invisible Light.
Early life and career Ciancia was born in Denver, Colorado. He played classical piano as child, and as a teenager played in various bands including his high school band. His band teacher sent a musical piece that Ciancia composed to various colleges and he was awarded scholarships to University of North Texas and USC. After moving to Los Angeles in the early 1990s Ciancia began working as a hip-hop session musician, recording with Ice Cube, Dr. Dre, South Central Cartel, and E-40. During that same period, he began working with Lonnie Marshall and they formed the band Weapon of Choice.
Career Ciancia is a multi-instrumentalist, film and television composer, music producer, and recording artist. He has composed music for the TV series True Detective, which earned him an Emmy nomination. He also won a BAFTA Award for composing music for the TV series Killing Eve, and an Ivor Novello Award for his music in London Spy. Ciancia produced the Emmy award-winning theme song for the TV series Saving Grace, titled "Saving Grace", by Everlast.
He has worked on numerous recording projects with T Bone Burnett dating back to 1997, when Burnett heard Ciancia's music on a local radio station (KRCW) in Los Angeles and began a working relationship with him as a session musician. Ciancia co-produced and co-composed music on The Ladykillers and the HBO series True Detective. He teamed up with Burnett as an artist on The Invisible Light: Spells and The Invisible Light: Acoustic Space.
He also co-produced and co-wrote Sleeping Tapes with Jeff Bridges.
Ciancia has performed live with Elton John, Mike Patton, Iggy Pop, T Bone Burnett, and Everlast. He has produced albums for such artists as Kimbra (Vows, The Golden Echo), Everlast, Nikka Costa (Pro Whoa), Cassandra Wilson (Thunderbird, Closer to You: The Pop Side), and Unloved.
Ciancia was a keyboardist and co-producer for Everlast (1998–2007) whom he toured with extensively and recorded on albums Whitey Ford Sings the Blues, Eat at Whitey's, and White Trash Beautiful. He later co-produced Love, War and the Ghost of Whitey Ford as well as producing Everlast's Emmy Award-winning theme song, "Saving Grace", for the TV series Saving Grace.
He has been a member of musical groups The Invisible Light, Unloved, Vincent & Mr. Green, The Jade Vincent Experiment, and Weapon of Choice.
Musician and recording artist The Invisible Light Ciancia teamed up with T Bone Burnett on the albums The Invisible Light: Spells and The Invisible Light: Acoustic Space."T Bone Burnett Plans First Concert Tour in 20 Years" The Selma Times, Page 9, April 10, 2006
Unloved Unloved was formed in 2013 in Los Angeles, and is composed of Jade Vincent, Keefus Green (Ciancia), and David Holmes. Holmes met Ciancia and Vincent during the time when the duo had started a regular Tuesday night residency at the Rotary Room in Los Feliz. The band has released four albums – 2016's Guilty of Love, 2019's Heartbreak, 2022's The Pink Album, and 2023's Polychrome and Killing Eve'r Ode To The Lovers (Killing Eve Unloved release soundtrack, seasons 1, 2, 3, & 4).
Vincent & Mister Green / The Jade Vincent Experiment Singer-songwriter Jade Vincent and Ciancia formed Vincent & Mr. Green as an offshoot of their first musical project, the Jade Vincent Experiment, an experimental, film-noir band who played the Los Angeles club scene in the mid- to late 1990s."Scoring the Clubs" LA Weekly, Page 119, January 29, 1998"Local Underground" LA Times, Page 104, January 8, 1998 They have been collaborating since 1993. Film credits for the duo include True Detective, Killing Eve, Baby Driver, and Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood. They have released two albums as Vincent & Mr. Green, 2004's Vincent & Mr. Green and 2010's Smash Up. They have also released one album, 1998's Moy, as the Jade Vincent Experiment.
Weapon of Choice Keefus Ciancia was a founding member of Weapon of Choice in 1992. They played a mixture of experimental, rock, alternative, funk, hip hop, jazz, and reggae, which frontman Lonnie Marshall dubbed Nutmeg. The group shared the stage with the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Jane's Addiction, Fishbone, and the P-Funk All Stars, and were known for selling out venues in Seattle. Ciancia recorded four albums with the band, Nut-Meg Sez "Bozo the Town" (1994), Highperspice (1996), Nutmeg Phantasy (1998), and Color Me Funky (2004).Perfect Sound Forever Nutt Gone Yet: An Interview With Lonnie "Meganut" Marshall from Weapon of Choice
Film and TV music TitleCreditsYearEricComposer2024Great ExpectationsComposer 2023He's WatchingComposer2022Limitless with Chris Hemsworth Composer2022Killing Eve - Season 1, 2, 3 & 4Composer 2021Made for Love - Season 1 & 2Composer2021Living in the Future's PastComposer 2018Baby Driver Recording artist2017Devil's Gate Composer2017EyewitnessComposer2016Mindhorn Composer2016Criminal Activities Composer2015Strangerland Composer2015London Spy Composer2015 - 2016As Above, So Below Composer2014True Detective – Season 1, 2, & 3 Composer2014, 2015, 2019A Place at the Table Composer2014 - 2015The Fall - Season 1, 2 & 3 Composer, music producer2013 - 2016Diana Composer, music producer2013Nashville– Season 1Composer, music producer2012 - 2013The Hunger GamesKeyboards2011Good Vibrations Composer2011Motel Life Composer2011Brandon Generator Composer, music producer2011Saving Grace - Season 1, 2, 3 & 4 Composer (theme song: "Saving Grace")2008 - 2010K7Composer 2006The Poughkeepsie Tapes Composer2007Superbad Keyboards, farfisa organ2007Across the Universe Musician2007Shadowboxer Composer2005Don't Come Knocking Composer/performer2005Spider-Man 2 Composer (featured song)2004The Lady Killers Music producer2004Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya SisterhoodMusic producer2002AliComposer2001
Awards {|class="wikitable sortable" !Year !Nominated work !Category !Award !Result |- | 2019 || True Detective || Outstanding Music Composition for a Limited Series, Movie or Special || Emmy Award|| |- | 2019 || Killing Eve || Original Music || BAFTA|| |- | 2016 ||London Spy || Best TV Soundtrack|| Ivor Novello Award|| |- | 2013 ||The Fall || Original Score|| RTS Craft & Design Award|| |- | 2010 || Saving Grace || Music Scoring|| BMI Film & TV Award||
Selected discography YearAlbumArtistCredit2023Killing Eve'r Ode To The Lovers (vinyl release)UnlovedBand member, producer, synthesizers, bass, programming, arrangingGreat Expectations Soundtrack Keefus CianciaComposer, producer, arranger, keyboards, bass, drums, programmingPolychromeUnlovedBand member, producer, synthesizers, bass, programming, arranging2022The Pink AlbumUnlovedBand member, producer, synthesizers, bass, programming, arrangingThe Invisible Light - SpellsT Bone BurnettArtist, keyboardsMade for Love - Season 2 SoundtrackKeefus CianciaComposerAlegoríaGaby MorenoEngineer, keyboards, synthesizer2021The Virus X ExperienceÉtienne DahoProducer, arranger, interpretation, keyboards, programmingMade for Love - Season 1 SoundtrackKeefus CianciaComposer2019The Invisible Light: Acoustic SpaceT Bone Burnett, Keefus Ciancia, and Jay BelleroseArtist, keyboardsHeartbreakUnlovedBand member, producer, synthesizers, bass, programming, arranging2017Lust for LifeLana Del ReyKeyboards, interludesWho Built the Moon?Noel Gallagher's High Flying BirdsKeyboards2016NowShania TwainProducer, keyboardsPure ComedyFather John MistyKeyboards, samples2015I Love You, HoneybearFather John MistyPerformerSleeping TapesJeff BridgesCo-producer, keyboards2014BlitzÉtienne DahoComposer, producerTrue RomanceCharli XCXKeyboardsYou Only Live ForeverJohn GoldProducer, keyboards, programmingThis Is Where We ArePriscilla AhnComposerThe Golden EchoKimbraProducer2013The Diving BoardElton JohnKeyboardsMore LightPrimal ScreamPiano, bellsThe Great PretendersMini MansionsKeyboards, samplingYour TurnMarc Ribot's Cermanic DogKeyboard, samplingFanfareJonathan WilsonMoog synthesizer This Is Where We ArePriscilla AhnProducer, keyboards, samplingTanita TikaramTanita TikaramKeyboards, piano, synthesizer 2012Storm & GraceLisa Marie PresleyKeyboardsThe Hunger GamesSecret SistersKeyboards, pianoFear FunFather John MistyPiano, synthesizers, mellotronPinesA Fine FrenzyKeyboards, piano, producer, programming, pump organ, vibraphone2011Jeff BridgesJeff BridgesPiano, keyboardsVowsKimbraProducerT-Bone Burnett Presents The Speaking Clock Revue: Live from the Beacon TheatreT Bone BurnettKeyboardsI'll Never Get Out of This World AliveSteve EarleMellotron ReverieJoe HenryPiano, keyboards2010The UnionElton John and Leon RussellKeyboardsWomen + CountryJakob DylanKeyboardsThe Long SurrenderOver the RhineKeyboardsSilent MoviesMarc RibotSoundscape, keyboardsSmash UpVincent & Mr. GreenBand member, producer, musicianWe Walk This RoadRobert Randolph & the Family BandKeyboardsPro WhoaNikka CostaProducer, piano, keyboards2009Closer to You: The Pop SideCassandra WilsonProducer, piano, keyboardsA Stranger HereRamblin' Jack ElliottPiano, keyboardsBlood From StarsJoe HenryPiano, keyboards, vibraphone2008A Love ExtremeBenji HughesComposer, producerPebble to a PearlNikka CostaClavinet, Moog synthesizer, voice boxSaving Grace theme songEverlastProducerLegend of Kung Folk, Pt. 1Ben TaylorProducer, keyboards, drum programming, MoogPain LanguageDJ Muggs vs Planet AsiaKeyboards2007The StoryBrandi CarlileKeyboardsA Hundred Miles or More: A CollectionAlison KraussPianoLove, War and the Ghost of Whitey FordEverlastProducer, bass, piano, composer, drums, keyboards, programming, engineerSaving Grace theme songEverlastProducer2006The True False IdentityT Bone BurnettPiano, keyboardsThunderbirdCassandra WilsonProducer, bass, piano, strings, arranger, bass (electric), keyboards, programming, engineer, synthesizer stringsSlimkid3's CafeTre HardsonProducer, composer, musician2005Extraordinary MachineFiona AppleKeyboardsRetrospective: 1995–2005Natalie MerchantHammond B3Hell Yes remixBeckProducer, re-mix, musicianE-Pro remixBeckProducer, re-mix, musician2004White Trash BeautifulEverlastKeyboardsShamrocks & ShenanigansHouse of PainKeyboards, bassUnfinished SymphonydaKAHMoog synthesizer, clavesVincent & Mr. GreenVincent & Mr. GreenBand member, producer, composer, musicianColor Me FunkyWeapon of ChoiceBand member, keyboards2002C'mon, C'monSheryl CrowOrgan, keyboards, clavinet, string samples2001The IDMacy GraySynthesizer, Farfisa organ, composer2000Eat at Whitey'sEverlastKeyboards, performer1998Whitey Ford Sings the BluesEverlastKeyboards, performerNutmeg PhantasyWeapon of ChoiceBand member, keyboards1996HighperspiceWeapon of ChoiceBand member, keyboards, vocalsMoyThe Jade Vincent ExperimentBand member, producer, composer, musicianI Am L.V.L.VBand member, producer, composer, musician1995Foe Life (featuring Ice Cube)Mack 10Keyboards1994'N Gatz We TrussSouth Central CartelKeyboards, Moog synthesizer, clavesNut-Meg Sez "Bozo the Town"Weapon of ChoiceBand member, keyboards1993Bop Gun (One Nation)Ice CubeKeyboards
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