LOS ANGELES — Creative audio network Squeak E. Clean Studios (www.squeakeclean.com) has promoted Rob Barbato to executive creative producer following six years as a creative director with the company. He will oversee the company’s creative direction and presence, fusing his composing and producing expertise.
Photo (L-R): Rob Barbato and Justin Hori
A composer, producer and multi-instrumentalist, Barbato has toured and recorded as a sideman of singer/songwriter Cass McCombs, and is also a member of the UK post-punk band The Fall. He has produced records for Bleached, Kevin Morby and La Sera, and composed music for Nickelodeon’s Sanjay and Craig, IFC’s Maron and the main title sequence for Comedy Central’s The Gorburger Show. On the commercial side, Barbato’s work includes original compositions for Apple, Lexus, Nike, Honda, Facebook and Target. He has also scored two feature-length films.
Also at Squeak E. Clean, creative director Justin Hori will transition from the Chicago shop to its Los Angeles studios, where he will head up the West Coast effort. After studying music theory and composition at Columbia College, Hori pursued stints at Comtrack and Comma Music, eventually moving to open their Los Angeles office. He recently scored the dark comedy feature Big Gold Brick, starring Andy Garcia, Lucy Hale, Megan Fox and Oscar Isaac. The film will premiere in 2022. In his new role, he will continue to support clients that include Apple, Reebok, Adidas, Volkswagen and Budweiser.
“So stoked to have these two incredible and powerful creative forces in our company and making moves,” says Squeak E. Clean Studios ECD/partner Sam Spiegel. “We couldn’t be happier to have Justin back in LA, and Rob taking on a bigger role using his powerful brain for a more broad strategy and creativity. These two dudes are not just amazing at what they do and super smart, but they’re great people with the utmost moral and creative integrity.”