Thematic Development of Severance

The development of the theme music for Severance involved finding a sound that encapsulated the show's unique narrative. Composer Theodore Shapiro initially conceptualized two distinct sound palettes to represent the contrasting worlds within the narrative: a cold, electronic sound for the Lumen Industries setting and a more organic sound for the outside world. This duality not only mirrored the theme of memory separation but also catered to the emotional depth of the main character, Mark, who had undergone a severance procedure to compartmentalize grief. The decision to use falsetto male voices in the organic sound palette was rooted in the desire to evoke Mark's internal struggles, adding an emotional resonance to the music.