Score: The Podcast

Icelandic composer Herdís Stefánsdóttir talks about crafting a modern score for the Victorian-era THE ESSEX SERPENT on AppleTV+, alongside co-composer Dustin O’Halloran, and her score to Y: THE LAST MAN on FX. How her path from law-school dropout to writing music for dance students worried her parents. Plus, how Herdís ended up working with the late Jóhann Jóhannsson (ARRIVAL, THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING) and meeting Hildur Guðnadóttir (JOKER) in Reykjavik — and what its like scoring films and television with Icelandic musicians. Interview by Matt Schrader on MORE SCORE.

Anna talks about her hit show Yellowjackets, her father Lenny’s legacy in music and at Warner Bros., Randy Newman’s generous coaching of her early music, and making music that you are passionate about. Interview by Robert Kraft on More Score!

Composer Natalie Holt talks about her theremin-infused score for Marvel’s LOKI, her first love of film music (John Williams’ E.T.), and how incredible it was to be able to utilize a new theme from John Williams for OBI-WAN KENOBI. Plus, how her pop string quartet helped pay the bills and led her into film composing — and why she threw an egg at Simon Cowell on Britain’s Got Talent in 2013. Interview by Matt Schrader on MORE SCORE.

Composer Mac Quayle (AMERICAN HORROR STORY, MR. ROBOT, GASLIT, AMERICAN CRIME STORY: IMPEACHMENT) talks about how he scaled up his music team to be able to take on multiple shows he loves. What he thought about Danny Elfman's Coachella performance and what it means for composers. Plus, how getting stoned in a college music theory class — he flunked the assignment — helped him discover the value of experimental music (with his NY-based band Fibre.) Interview with Matt Schrader and Kenny Holmes on MORE SCORE!

Composer John Lunn (DOWNTON ABBEY: A NEW ERA) talks about scoring six seasons of one of TV’s most prolific successes, and the transformation into a hit movie franchise. Why A NEW ERA (out today) is the score he’s most proud of, the joy of scoring at Air Lyndhurst with 70-piece strings, and why the quiche in the Air cafeteria is so delicious — as Robert can attest! Interview by Robert Kraft and Matt Schrader on MORE SCORE! MORE SCORE is a fan-supported show available on Patreon, Apple Podcast and Spotify. To support for $10/month and get full episodes from inside the film score world, use the links below: Apple (iOS 15 or later): http://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/... Spotify (via Anchor): http://anchor.fm/score/subscribe Patreon: http://Patreon.com/MoreScore

Hesham Nazih is a composer based in Cairo, and the first Egyptian composer to score a Marvel project with MOON KNIGHT. In this interview, Hesham details how he got the job, the spectacular vocal effects in the music, and the difference between the Hollywood sound of Egypt and the real thing — and how they’ve grown together. Plus, Hesham’s story of being unable to afford musical training, and his process of self-teaching from playing in bands to meeting young filmmakers who needed scores. And the lesson one filmmaker shared with him about being unafraid to say “no” when you don’t believe in the project. Interview by Matt Schrader.

Breton Vivian is an English-Australian composer known for his scores to Yellowstone (with Brian Tyler) as well as the recent miniseries 1883. We talk about how working at Brian’s studio (and helping him move it) helped Breton come into his own as a composer. Plus, the different ways themes, unique solo instruments, and orchestra can play together in western-inspired score. He also talk about his entry into film scores (growing disillusioned with the UK band scene) and how there’s no substitute for taking lots of meetings with potential creative collaborators. Interview by Matt Schrader on MORE SCORE.

Composer Joseph Stephens (EASTBOUND & DOWN, VICE PRINCIPALS, UPLOAD) talks about creating songs and score for the dark comedy THE RIGHTEOUS GEMSTONES on HBO, how he works directly with Danny McBride on the songs and lyrics, and his strange path to scoring through several experimental bands. Plus, how he sources musicians and plugs in virtually, post-pandemic! Interview with Kenny Holmes and Matt Schrader on MORE SCORE!

The composing duo MONDO BOYS is behind some of the big breakout indie films of the last half decade (SHUT IN, FATMAN, SILK ROAD). They talk about their unusual path from experimenting as teenagers in San Diego in the late 1990s, to their process creating some of the most original and polished hybrid scores in Hollywood today. Mike Schanzlin and Mike Griffin discuss the origin of their MONDO BOYS moniker, their workflow together, why thinking like a director helps them musically, and how a few virtuoso instrumentalists can make a good score great. Interviewed by Matt Schrader.

In this special episode of MORE SCORE on Patreon, Robert Kraft speaks to Russian composer Dmitry Selipanov about fleeing his home in Moscow because of the war. With his family now sequestered in a temporary home in nearby Georgia (possibly never returning to his home or music studio), Dmitry discusses the most difficult decision he’s ever had to make for his family’s well being, and his hopes that his successful film scoring career may one day be able to continue in another country. NOTE: This is a free sample episode of MORE SCORE. MORE SCORE is the premium offseason bonus show of SCORE: THE PODCAST, with regular interviews, behind-the-scenes materials, and a whole lot more. You can subscribe on several platforms here: PATREON (best option with subscriber levels & merch): http://Patreon.com/MoreScore APPLE PODCASTS: Click "Subscribe" on the Score: The Podcast show page. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/score-the-podcast/id1357882784 ALL OTHERS: Click the link in our show description to subscribe.