Christopher “Kimo” Kemp, originally from NYC, began his composing career by founding the Los Angeles office of Elias Arts in Laurel Canyon. He built the recording studio from the ground up, and soon began recording/mixing trailers, commercials, and films. Quickly he started composing full time. Years after the office relocated to Santa Monica, he would become a Senior Composer and Associate Creative Director. 

Since composing music for his first TV commercial, Levi’s “Street Kids”, directed by David Fincher (Fight Club, Seven, and The Game), Kimo has gone on to score original music for hundreds of national commercials, several film documentaries, and a number of acclaimed multi-media projects. Throughout his career, he has worked with Ad Agency producers/creatives and top-industry directors such as Phil Joanou, Martin De Thurah, Stephane Sednaoui, Matthew Rolston, and Noam Murro. Clients have trusted Kimo’s unyielding drive and collaborative nature to enhance their vision. 

Kimo has had multiple spots and campaigns run during Super Bowls (Budweiser, McDonald’s, Hyundai,etc.) The Jimmy Dean logo he composed ran for 15 years and was used on more than 20 different spots. He has worked with many of the premier session players in Los Angeles for years and has had multiple orchestras play his works. Nearly a billion people have heard his compositions and arrangements.

Throughout his career, he has composed music in virtually every genre and unique hybrid. Credits include the infamous E-Trade Superbowl spot “Monkey” (played live in the Raymond James Stadium during Super Bowl XXXV) as well as a 2005 AICP honor for eBay’s “Toy Boat.” He did the rearrangement of Universal’s logo for the 25th Anniversary of E.T. and the composition, “She Blows Herself Away,” for actress Rosanna Arquette’s feature film, All We Are Saying. In 2005, Kimo’s composition “Victory Theme” was recorded at Capitol Records for the Chicago Marathon, sponsored by LaSalle Bank. 

Clients have included Audi, Nike, Lexus, Mercedes, Intel, Microsoft, Kia, Acura, BMW, Bud Light, Good Year, Honda, Infiniti, Lincoln Financial Group, McDonald’s, Michelin, Microsoft, PayPal, Ebay, NBA, NFL, and Mattel. 

Other notable spots and campaigns include Budweiser’s, Bud Bowl, Taco Bell’s Chihuahua series, Yo Quiero Taco Bell, General Motors’, Maize, (Super Bowl XL). Additional honors include a 2006 AICP Award for the Nike “Swing” Spot featuring Tiger Woods and multiple Clio awards for such commercials as Coca-Cola’s “Mannequins,” eBay “Clocks” and Heal The Bay’s “Revenge.” In 2012 he was a Finalist in the “Music Adaptation” category at the London International Awards for his work on In Ocean’s Hyundai “All for One” Super Bowl Spot, an acapella version of the Rocky Theme “Gonna Fly Now.”

In 2014, following the sale of Elias Arts, Kemp formed his own music company 500 Windy Degrees, Inc.
and began freelancing for many of the industry’s most acclaimed commercial music companies. In 2020 he began composing his soon to be released 1st Album called Soodau with notable talent like Blair Sinta on Drums, Indian singer Prasana Khartik, and the incomparable pianist/composer Mike Garson who performed and recorded with David Bowie.