- Source: Carla Patullo
Carla Patullo is an American composer, musician, singer, and songwriter. She won a Grammy Award for her album So She Howls in 2024 and has composed music for film and TV shows such as Maxine, This is Jessica, and Lotte that Silhouette Girl. She has performed with Sandra Bernhard, Liza Minnelli, and Rufus Wainwright, among others.
Early life and education
Her grandmother's interest in music and singing influenced her to compose music of her own. She began taking piano and voice lessons as a child and played the saxophone in her high school jazz band. She graduated from Minnechaug Regional High School, received a bachelor's degree in music from the Berklee College of Music, and later studied film, TV, and video game scoring at Berklee's campus in Valencia, Spain where she earned a master's degree in music.
Career
Patullo formed and fronted the band, White Widow while she was in college. They released three studio albums, No Wood to Knock On (2005), Black Heart (2009), and White Widow: A Psychological Thriller (2012). After releasing Black Heart, she signed a publishing deal which led to their songs being placed in TV shows such as Ellen DeGeneres and the Young and the Restless.
Their single, Promises, from their third album, White Widow: A Psychological Thriller, was featured on Dance Moms.
Patullo served as musical director (keyboards, guitar, and vocals) for Sandra Bernhard on her "I Love Being Me, Don't You" and "Kiss Me on the Lips Texas" tours. She is the owner and producer at The Soundry recording studio in Los Angeles, California.
In 2024, Patullo won a Grammy Award for her album, So She Howls, for Best New Age, Ambient, or Chant Album. The album features the vocal ensemble, Tonality, and the Scorchio Quartet led by violist Martha Mooke.
Patullo has composed music for films, Maxine, Letter to Anita, L.A.: A Queer History, My Name is Maria De Jesus, Everybody Dies... Sometimes, and others. She cites musical influences as Laurie Anderson Alexandre Desplat, Ennio Morricone, Danny Elfman, and Thomas Newman.
In 2018, Patullo's animated documentary, Lotte That Silhouette Girl, was a contender for the Academy Awards' short list for "Best Documentary" (Short Subject) in 2018. In that same year, she was selected to participate at the Sundance Institute's Film Music Program at Skywalker Sound where she composed the film score for the horror-comedy Porno, which premiered at SXSW.
Discography
2024 - Everybody Dies... Sometimes (soundtrack) - composer
2023 - So She Howls
2023 - Maxine (soundtrack)
2021 - Apotheke (single)
2019 - Porno (soundtrack)
Awards
2024 - Grammy Award - So She Howls - Best New Age, Ambient, or Chant Album (winner)
2020 - Hollywood Music in Media Award - Everybody Dies...Sometimes - Best Score - Short Film (live action) winner
2022 - Hollywood Music in Media Award - Aptoheke - Best Video (independent) winner
2018 - AmDoc Film Festival - Lotte That Silhouette Girl - Best Short
2021 - Florida Film Festival - Apotheke - Animated Shorts Competition - (nomination)
Selected filmography
2024 - Bitterroot - composer
2024 - The Place Between - composer
2023 - Everybody Dies... Sometimes - composer
2023 - Maxine - composer
2021 - Ara, untamed - original score
2021 - Apotheke - composer
2021 - This Is Jessica - composer, performer
2021 - L.A.: A Queer History - composer
2020 - Worry Dolls - composer
2020 - Finjan - composer
2020 - Were You Gay in High School? - composer
2019 - Porno - vocalist, composer
2018 - Lotte That Silhouette Girl - orchestrator, songwriter, lead vocalist, sound designer
2018 - Choke - composer
2017 - Jeanne Cordova: Butches, Lies & Feminism - composer
2017 - My Name is Maria De Jesus - composer (theme music), sound mixer
2017 - Pizza Face - composer
2016 - Spa Night - additional music
2016 - Teen Titans Go! - songwriter
2015 - Clambake - original score
2015 - Cheese Dog: The Movie - vocalist, composer
2015 - Cinderella, a Shadow Ballet orchestrator, vocalist
2014 - Letter to Anita - composer
External links
Carla Patullo at IMDb