Tom Salta
Composer/Producer/Artist
ASCAP award-winning and BAFTA-nominated composer Tom Salta is one of the most versatile and prolific music artists/producers working in film, television, advertising, and video games. Renowned for crafting emotionally engaging soundtracks for multimedia, Salta has received widespread industry acclaim for his world-class produced hybrid scores featured in film, television, and video games such as Red Barrels’ THE OUTLAST TRIALS, Arkane Studios’ DEATHLOOP, Machine Games’ WOLFENSTEIN: Youngblood & Cyberpilot, Microsoft’s iconic HALO series (Best Original Soundtrack Award at Game Developers Conference), Ubisoft’s PRINCE OF PERSIA: The Forgotten Sands and RED STEEL (IGN Award for Best Original Score), Tom Clancy’s GHOST RECON and H.A.W.X series, as well as the epic theme music for the record-breaking online multiplayer game PLAYERUNKNOWN’s BATTLEGROUNDS, which has sold more than 75 million units with over 700 million players.
Most recently, Salta metamorphosed his musical persona to compose the score to Red Barrels’ latest co-op multiplayer horror game, THE OUTLAST TRIALS. The musical palette utilized in The Outlast Trials ranges from haunting orchestral compositions to the depths of dark organic and synthetic textures, culminating in moments of pure aural pandemonium. Salta's incorporation of unnerving diegetic music — spanning eerie pastiches of mid-century styles — creates an unsettling contrast that deepens the overall experience of the score. The Outlast Trials soundtrack is a spine-tingling journey through the very essence of fear and despair. Red Barrel’s Audio Director, Francis Brus, adds, "In the realm of horror, music is not just an accompaniment; it's the conductor of fear, the orchestrator of tension, and the unseen hand that grips our hearts in a symphony of terror. This unique soundtrack didn't just complement "The Outlast Trials" but became an integral and unforgettable part of the bone-chilling odyssey into the terror that the game offers. Fans can anticipate a terrifying and immersive soundtrack that masterfully accompanies the game's horror-filled world. Tom Salta's meticulous craftsmanship will deliver a sonic experience that heightens every emotion, from spine-tingling tension to heart-pounding suspense. Prepare to be captivated by haunting melodies, chilling soundscapes, and all-out madness."
Prior to The Outlast Trials, Tom was the lead composer for the smash hit video game of the year contender DEATHLOOP from Arkane Studios and Bethesda Softworks. Described as “An absolute banger of a soundtrack that amplifies action and accentuates the tension” (GameSpot) and “A fantastic soundtrack that keeps the vibe electric” (Shacknews), the music plays a foundational role in transporting the player into this richly artistic world. It supports a wide range of action with a “late ‘60s” inspired hybrid score, ranging from mysterious ambiances to psychedelic and progressive rock to swing band and cinematic orchestral music. As Arkane Studios’ audio director Michel Trémouiller describes, “Moving from a hazy, mysterious atmosphere to palpable tension to the most exhilarating fights, Tom’s original score carries Deathloop‘s gameplay with great dynamism and vivacity. From the ground up, Blackreef Island owes much of its identity to Tom’s themes and original compositions created with a unique vision and distinctive flair.”
Salta is a TEDx presenter and has spoken internationally at industry conferences, universities, and schools about the art, craft, and business of music for games and interactive entertainment. He has spoken in Washington D.C. and continues to champion and educate through mentoring Grammy Advocacy and his “Tom Salta Masterclass Series.”
In 2023, Salta released the software application “Auto-Bounce,” which saves composers, producers, and songwriters countless hours by automating the process of exporting stems, multi-tracks, and mixes. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to MusiCares to support mental health initiatives and services for musicians. It is part of Salta’s continuing efforts to educate and advocate for mental health and wellness, giving music creators more freedom to spend less time in the studio.
Salta’s other notable collaborations include 343 Industries and Microsoft Studios’ re-imagined soundtracks to HALO: Combat Evolved Anniversary and HALO 2: Anniversary, as well as composing the original scores for HALO: Spartan Assault and HALO: Spartan Strike (the first HALO video game to be released on Apple devices). Additionally, Salta returned to the beloved sci-fi franchise to score the animated series HALO: The Fall of Reach adapted from the best-selling novel and produced by the award-winning animation studio Sequence. His third solo outing in the iconic HALO universe, Salta also composed, arranged, and produced the first original pop song in the franchise’s history, “Take This Life,” featured exclusively on HALO: The Fall of Reach soundtrack.
Prior to his composing career, Salta toured with and worked on releases by a diverse array of popular recording artists. After several years of touring, Salta became increasingly immersed in studio work, producing, remixing, and songwriting. Recording under the artist name “Atlas Plug,” Salta released the critically acclaimed electronic/orchestral music album “2 Days or Die,” which quickly caught the attention of leading music supervisors. His album introduced a new hybrid sound to the visual entertainment industry at large, garnering high-profile placements on numerous television shows, international commercials, and movie trailers, simultaneously launching his music career in video games, which he continues to embrace as a cutting-edge and powerful musical voice in modern scoring.