Intellimusica

Together Again The BBC/Hulu limited series Normal People has been recommended to me for years. I’ve always loved the music, and I was deeply familiar with the minimalist piano soundtrack by Irish composer Stephen Rennicks long before I actually watched the show. Having just finished […]

To the High Fells “I took a walk in the woods and came out taller than the trees.” — Henry David Thoreau I love trail running—even more than playing guitar. I live in Western Pennsylvania, where the topography is a relentless series of foothills building […]

What Do You Know? I’ve seen Alex Garland’s Annihilation a few times now. If you haven’t watched it, it’s a beautiful, unsettling science fiction trip. Starring Natalie Portman and directed by Garland (Ex Machina), the film follows a biologist into “The Shimmer”—a mysterious zone where […]

The Luck Is Ours Alone While Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon focus on the high-stakes maneuvering of kings, queens, and Great Houses—A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms offers a refreshing, more intimate look at George R.R. Martin’s world. Based on the Tales […]

Can’t Help falling in Love Elvis Presley’s performance of “Unchained Melody” — recorded just weeks before he passed — is one of the greatest moments in American Rock & Roll history. I eventually arranged that piece myself. Not quite as dramatic as Elvis, but his […]

Leaving the Reach A Game of Thrones spinoff has a new composer! Welcome, Dan Romer — you are totally awesome. The soundtrack for A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is inextricable from the show. The music feels like a hidden character or bard lending unspoken […]

Your Choices, Your Actions This sentimental, acoustic-driven song accompanies a scene in the latest Superman movie where Clark expresses fear that he was sent to Earth to “hurt people,” based on a message from his biological parents. Pa Kent counters this with a quietly powerful […]

Chains of Love I love the concept of the Wuthering Heights soundtrack; pairing the hyperpop energy of Charli xcx with a romantic period piece is an inspired choice. It’s a fascinating departure for Charli xcx, whose typical sound is up-tempo and experimental, rather than the […]

I Love You Too Much The Book of Life (2014) is a visually stunning tribute to Mexican culture and the traditions of Día de los Muertos. Produced by Guillermo del Toro, the film uses a striking “wooden doll” animation style, giving the characters the charm […]

Taboo I watched Taboo way back in 2017, and I honestly still think it’s great. If you’re into historical fiction with a heavy dose of mud, mysticism, and Tom Hardy being intensely brooding, this is definitely your show. The story is set in the soot-stained, […]

ocean eyes I’m still struck by the artistry of Billie Eilish’s debut, “dont smile at me”. She brought such a dark and unique sound to pop music—and remarkably, she was only 15 when it was first released. Beyond the music, I loved her unconventional “orthography” […]

Variation 15 (Dunkirk) While Hans Zimmer served as the principal composer for Dunkirk, the score’s soft, ambient, and melodic textures were crafted by Benjamin Wallfisch and inspired by Sir Edward Elgar (1857–1934). The film’s most poignant theme is a reimagining of Elgar’s “Nimrod” from his […]