Education
Kaufman began playing piano at the age of 5 and later studied music theory at the New School for the Arts and Academics, which was also where he started playing guitar.
Kaufman began playing piano at the age of 5 and later studied music theory at the New School for the Arts and Academics, which was also where he started playing guitar.
In 2003 he took a job as engineer/studio assistant for Charlie Clouser (ex-Nine Inch Nails). With Clouser, Kaufman assisted on Helmet’s 2004 Interscope Records release Size Matters. In addition, he assisted Clouser on scoring the horror film Saw.
In early 2007, Kaufman composed the score for Josh Eisenstadt’s full length horror film Dark Reel, starring Edward Furlong.
While scoring Dark Reel, Kaufman simultaneously produced the first Civil Defense of the singer/songwriter Samuel Markus and The Only Ones. In 2006, he became co-owner of the Nashville-based publishing company, The Song Factory, along with his father, Jim Kaufman, Senior and Jennifer Johnson.
Currently, Kaufman owns and operates recording studios in Los Angeles, California, and in Sedona, Arizona.
After a stint in a local Phoenix area band, Projex, he began his professional music career as the guitar player and founding member of the industrial alt metal indie band, Opiate for the Masses.