Here we are, season 6, episode 2, things are in motion, momentum is building, and I’m joined by one of my favorite composers: Cristobal Tapia de Veer (The White Lotus, Smile)! Cristo’s latest project is the 2026 BBC adaptation of Lord of the Flies, featuring some incredible child actor performances and an increasingly psychedelic and psychotic score. We focus our conversation around that score, but inevitably veer off into different directions, also covering some of his past works with Lord of the Flies director and his longtime collaborator Marc Munden as well as Smile director Parker Finn, our shared interest in metal, the inspiration and magic of the unknown, and plenty more. I even ask point-blank about what happened in The White Lotus. How does he answer?
A lot of our conversation revolves around the extent that a composer (or any other collaborator) can express themselves on a project. I don’t think anyone disputes that a director or showrunner dictates things and gets to make decisions. For a composer, that means writing music that fits and supports their vision. But, so often, the more trust that a director/showrunner has in their composer, and the more room that they give the composer to imbue their own artistry and discretion into the score, the better things turn out. Although this is only the second episode of the season, at this point I’ve conducted five interviews and a similar idea has come up in almost every one.
Cristo’s score for Smile 2 is one of my favorite recent scores, particularly given how uncompromising it is, poking its fingers directly into the eyes (and ears) of the audience. It ended up among my favorite scores of 2024 and my favorite scores of the 2020s (so far). A must listen.
Cristo’s score for Lord of the Flies, and much of his other music, is available on all major platforms while the show itself is available on Netflix.
Have a listen to our conversation below or wherever you get your podcasts (including Spotify and Apple Podcasts). Enjoying these interviews? Show the love by subscribing and leaving a rating or review!