Tristan Barton

Tristan Barton is a proud Yorta Yorta man and CQUniversity music alumnus whose career as a composer, producer and session drummer has continued to gain momentum on both national and international stages since he graduated with a Bachelor of Music. A multi-award-winning composer, Tristan is celebrated for music that is emotionally rich and cinematic, bringing depth and atmosphere to every project he undertakes.

Based in regional Queensland, he has established himself in the highly competitive world of screen music, exemplifying CQUniversity values and serving as an inspiring role model for students and communities. His compositions, which blend classical ideas with electronic and organic textures, have been commissioned by major brands including Audi, Tiffany & Co., Salvatore Ferragamo, Hot Wheels, Bugatti and Palmolive, and featured in film, television, public art and advertising.

In 2025 Tristan received a Queensland Music Award in the Music for Screen category for his composition Legend is Born. His other recent work includes the soundscape for Gulgi Burra (Ydinji – The Sand People) for the Cairns Festival, the bespoke soundtrack for the digital visual arts production FLOW for Outernet London, and the score for The Grey Line, a film exploring the life of Stolen Generations Noongar woman Helen Dwyer.

Tristan also collaborates closely with Australian artists and worked as a sound editor and producer with Usher’s musical director for the artist’s concert introduction at the 50th Anniversary of the Special Olympics in 2018. He mentors emerging musicians through the CQ Conservatorium of Music, sharing insight into composition, production and creative career pathways.

Tristan continues to demonstrate how world-class artistry can thrive from regional Queensland, conveying both universal emotion and deeply personal First Nations stories.