Grimstad joined the faculty at Yale University in 2007, initially in the Department of English, and later moved to the Humanities Program.<ref name=”YaleProfile” /> In 2013 he published the book ”Experience and Experimental Writing” with [[Oxford University Press]]. He currently serves as the Director of Undergraduate Studies for the Humanities major. In 2014, he received the Sarai Ribicoff ’79 Award for Teaching Excellence.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Teaching Awards |url=https://yalecollege.yale.edu/faculty-staff/teaching/teaching-prizes |website=Yale College |access-date=20 June 2025}}</ref> He has also taught at [[Columbia University]] and New York University.
Grimstad joined the faculty at Yale University in 2007, initially in the Department of English, and later moved to the Humanities Program.<ref name=”YaleProfile” /> In 2013 he published the book ”Experience and Experimental Writing” with [[Oxford University Press]]. He currently serves as the Director of Undergraduate Studies for the Humanities major. In 2014, he received the Sarai Ribicoff ’79 Award for Teaching Excellence.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Teaching Awards |url=https://yalecollege.yale.edu/faculty-staff/teaching/teaching-prizes |website=Yale College |access-date=20 June 2025}}</ref> He has also taught at [[Columbia University]] and New York University.
== Music and film composition ==
== Music and film composition ==
Grimstad composed the original scores for several independent films, including:
Grimstad composed the original scores for several independent films
* ”[[Frownland (film)|Frownland]]” (2007)
* ”[[Heaven Knows What]]” (2014)
* ”[[Jobe’z World|Jobe’z World]]” (2018)
* ”[[Thirst Street]]” (2017)<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Zacharek |first=Stephanie |title=”Thirst Street” Is a Wild, Dreamy Ride |url=https://time.com/4942330/thirst-street-review/ |magazine=Time |date=August 11, 2017 |access-date=20 June 2025}}</ref>
* ”[[The Sweet East]]” (2023)<ref name=”:2″>{{Cite web |title=Paul Grimstad {{!}} Composer, Music Department, Actor |url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2563293/ |access-date=2025-06-20 |website=IMDb |language=en-US}}</ref>
For ”Thirst Street”, Grimstad composed a synth-heavy score inspired by [[Gabriel Yared]], and contributed an original song performed in the film by actress [[Lindsay Burdge]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Paul Grimstad on Thirst Street |url=https://headstuff.org/entertainment/film/film-interviews/paul-grimstad-on-thirst-street/ |website=HeadStuff |access-date=20 June 2025}}</ref>
”The Sweet East”{{‘}}s opening credits sequence features actress [[Talia Ryder]] singing Grimstad’s original song “Evening Mirror,” composed specifically for the film.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Fluxblog » Blog Archive » A Cat That Lost Its Black |url=https://www.fluxblog.org/2024/01/a-cat-that-lost-its-black/ |access-date=2025-06-20 |language=en-US}}</ref>
”The Sweet East”{{‘}}s opening credits sequence features actress [[Talia Ryder]] singing Grimstad’s original song “Evening Mirror,” composed specifically for the film.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Fluxblog » Blog Archive » A Cat That Lost Its Black |url=https://www.fluxblog.org/2024/01/a-cat-that-lost-its-black/ |access-date=2025-06-20 |language=en-US}}</ref>
American composer, writer and actor
Paul Grimstad is an American actor and composer for film to several independent films and published essays in prominent venues, and teaches in the Humanities Program at Yale University.
Early life and education
Grimstad earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Wisconsin–Madison.[1] He later earned a Ph.D at New York University.
Career
Academia
Grimstad joined the faculty at Yale University in 2007, initially in the Department of English, and later moved to the Humanities Program.[1] In 2013 he published the book Experience and Experimental Writing with Oxford University Press. He currently serves as the Director of Undergraduate Studies for the Humanities major. In 2014, he received the Sarai Ribicoff ’79 Award for Teaching Excellence.[2] He has also taught at Columbia University and New York University.
Music and film composition
Grimstad composed the original scores for several independent films.
The Sweet East‘s opening credits sequence features actress Talia Ryder singing Grimstad’s original song “Evening Mirror,” composed specifically for the film.[3]
Outside of film, Grimstad composes and produces original songs in the avant-pop genre.[4] On September 30, 2025, Grimstad will simultaneously release SONGS, a new avant-pop record, Music For Film, a compilation of his film score work, and Live at Baby’s All Right, a live EP.[5]
The Guardian reviewed Grimstad’s album, ‘SONGS’ with the following, “ And then there’s Songs, his debut album, released this month alongside Music for Film, a compilation of his scores. A maniacal odyssey of prog, jazz, boogie rock, psych and pop, Songs pays homage to the hi-fi chaos of 70s art-rock classics such as Todd Rundgren’s A Wizard, a True Star, rarely staying in one lane for more than a couple of minutes across its breakneck 16-track, 40-minute runtime. Performed, produced and engineered entirely by Grimstad, Songs is catchy, hilarious and terrifying in equal measure: passages of sleek funk-pop rub up against snatches of psychotic haunted-house laughter and songs indebted to Philly soul at its sleaziest. Grimstad is an astoundingly talented producer, and it’s a credit to his skill that, despite all the bird coos and whiplash-inducing changes of pace, Songs is a delight to listen to – lush and ludicrous in all the right ways.” – Shaad D’Souza The Guardian Playlist
Selected discography
Albums
Acting career
In addition to composing the film’s score, Grimstad played a supporting role in Ronald Bronstein’s 2007 independent film Frownland. The film was later added to the Criterion Collection.[6]
Grimstad appears in director Paul Thomas Anderson’s film One Battle After Another as the character Howard Sommerville.[7] He also has a role in the Josh Safdie film Marty Supreme.
Writing and cultural criticism
Grimstad is also a literary and cultural critic whose essays have appeared in numerous prominent publications. His work covers topics such as jazz, contemporary music, literary aesthetics, and audiobook culture. Select contributions include:
Podcasts
Grimstad has appeared on various podcasts discussing music and cultural theory, including:
- Natural Method – Episode 33: “Stalking the Dread Moray Eel”
- n+1 Podcast – “On Frank Zappa”[11]
