Alumni Profile: Trygge Toven

Since graduating from California Lutheran University in 2005, Music Producer Trygge Toven has added multiple screen credits to his resume. He has worked on big-budget projects including “Black Panther,” “Avengers: Infinity Wars” and “Guardians of the Galaxy 2” and Netflix productions such as “Always Be My Maybe” and “Dolemite Is My Name.”

An entrepreneur who has started fivecompanies since his teenage years, Toven has used strategic thinking along with strong communication skills to establish a career in the entertainment industry. 

Studying at Cal Lutheran also allowed him to gain experience in several areas across his major, multimedia.

Acquiring “deep knowledge” in the classroom 

“At CLU, I took courses in filmmaking, audio recording, music production, design and screenwriting, which all apply to my job as a music supervisor and music producer today,” Toven said. “I developed a deep knowledge of filmmaking and music production that allows me to communicate with directors, producers and composers about the craft, while I also understand where musicians and artists are coming from.”

His discipline of study interested Toven because it gave him the chance to experiment with different areas to develop content. “I enjoyed the opportunity to try out many things within the multimedia major,” he said. Toven cites two of his professors, Dan Restuccio and Timothy Hengst, MA, for spurring his artistic endeavors and fostering a professional environment for him and his fellow students.

“They really encouraged us to act like we were already professionals and not to be afraid of taking big swings creatively, which was invaluable.” 

The opportunity to build close relationships with CLU faculty and the close community inherent on campus drew Toven to attend Cal Lutheran coupled with two other reasons.

“My father was a professor at Pacific Lutheran University in [Tacoma] Washington. I always wanted to go to Southern California, and CLU felt familiar with the added allure of Hollywood,” he said.

Toven held a 10-month internship at the Hollywood-based Refused TV Productions, a company that specialized in music videos and management. From there segued into a job where he could edit on-air segments for FUEL TV, while also attending Cal Lutheran. 

Pursue creativity each day

In the nearly two decades since he earned his bachelor's degree, Toven has built an impressive roster of artistic projects as demonstrated on his LinkedIn profile. He expresses gratitude for having opportunities to work in an industry where it is often difficult to find and maintain success.

“I truly enjoy the chance to help portray emotions on the screen and through music,” he said. “I believe we should all pursue our creativity on a daily basis, and I’m very lucky that I’m able to do that on a professional level.”

Toven began working in high school when he launched his first company, Nipponracing.com, an aftermarket car parts e-commerce site. “I loved the idea of connecting people to what they love,” he said.  Even though he maintains a busy schedule as a music producer and teaches classes through Vidsyn, he manages to find ideas and initiate new ventures. His most recent one, Anti Journal, is a mobile app that aims to bring its users “clarity and freedom from stress and anxiety so you can access your creativity and do your best work.”

According to Toven, Anti Journal arose out of a personal need as he has struggled with overcoming blocks and fear with his own creative work. “It’s made for anyone trying to get creative work done. It is also just the first of a set of tools to help people access their creativity,” Toven said. 

His entrepreneurial undertakings have given him an understanding of the value of initiative, leadership and marketing in the entertainment world. Moving up the ranks, Toven has held titles with increasing responsibility, including “music coordinator,” “music consultant,” “music supervisor” and “music producer.” He explains these designations vary according to industry. 

“Music producer is responsible for overseeing the creation and recording of the music for a record or a film. Music supervisor is responsible for overseeing the music for a film or TV series. This includes giving creative options to directors, managing the music budget, acquiring rights to use the music, communicating with the composer and acting as a conduit for all things music on the project,” he said.

A music consultant is typically another name for a music supervisor Toven said.

Work has not come to Toven without obstacles. From the beginning, he realized establishing contacts and building his reputation is a process. 

“The entertainment industry is still essentially an apprenticeship. Either you know someone, and you get in, or you have to work under someone. The biggest challenge for me was realizing that I wasn’t going to just bust in all by myself. It takes time to make a name for yourself, so help as many people as you can along the way,” he said. 

When asked which music projects he appreciates most, Toven mentions two. “I truly enjoyed the collaborative process of working on “Dolemite Is My Name” with Craig Brewer. From putting the on-camera band together to recording songs with Craig Robinson, Eddie Murphy and Da’Vine Joy Randolph, it was such a pleasure to work on.”

The second project that he names is the series “Westworld.” The show, which starred an ensemble cast including Thandiwe Newton, Ed Harris, Jeffrey Wright and Anthony Hopkins, ran for four seasons on the streaming service formerly known as HBO. Toven collaborated with show creators Lisa Joy and Jonathan Nolan on the sci-fi Western. 

“It involved considering each music selection on so many levels,” said Toven. “Our composer, Ramin Djawadi, would typically cover the songs, so we would find recognizable song ideas that not only spoke to the overarching theme of the show but also enhanced the scene emotionally. And with no lyrics, the audience was along for the ride figuring out what each song meant for the story.”

Toven offers some direction for students wanting to pursue a career in musical entertainment. 

“My best advice would be to go work under a bunch of different positions that interest you. Don’t be afraid to try a few out and don’t stay if you don’t think it’s for you. And in the meantime, just start making as much content as you can. You’ll learn so much by trial and error or what works and what doesn’t. Hang in there: If you’re starting from zero as I did, it can take a while to get your foot in the door,” he said. 

Hear Toven’s most recent work as music supervisor on the series “Secret Invasion.”