Justin Hori has returned to Squeak E. Clean Studios after an eight-month break during which he expanded Human Worldwide into Chicago. The creative director will work from the Chicago office.
Hori has made a name for himself as a talented composer. He has crafted the sound for branded content and original music for award-winning projects with clients such as Apple, Reebok, Adidas, Volkswagen and Budweiser.
Hori spent five years five and a half years as creative director at Squeak E. Clean from 2013 to 2019, creating tracks like Da Diddy Da for Apple’s 2018 iPad campaign, and the anthem for Adidas’ 2016 Your Future is not Mine, which earned him a Silver at the Clio Music Awards and the Cannes Gold Lion for Best Use of Original Music. Other notable wins include D&AD Pencils, The One Show Awards, Clios and AICP Awards.
Squeak E. Clean Studios co-executive creative director, Sam Spiegel, commented, “Justin is such a tremendous talent and also a great person to work with. We couldn’t be more thrilled to have him back in the family.”
“I’m excited to collaborate with Sam and the team again from a creative perspective,” Hori added. “Squeak E. Clean Studios has such an artist-driven culture and that helps keep a fresh approach to my work, both within and outside of advertising. I’m psyched to be back.”
Hori’s musical prowess was formed in the Chicago music scene. He began as a DJ at 13 in hip-hop and underground electronica before taking his first part-time job slinging records at the legendary Gramaphone Records. After studying music theory and composition at Columbia College, where he accumulated extensive learning as well as a client base for future projects, he worked at Comtrack and Comma Music, before moving to open Comma Music’s Los Angeles office. He returns to Squeak E. Clean Studios.
Hori is currently scoring the upcoming dark comedy feature film, Big Gold Brick, his first independently-scored feature film, which stars Andy Garcia, Lucy Hale, Megan Fox and Oscar Isaac. The reunion also sets the stage for future collaborations outside of adland for Hori with Spiegel, whose first full-length album in 10 years, Random Shit From the Internet Era, will be out on April 5, 2020 via Spectrophonic Sound.
