Tim Hecker, one of the leading voices in experimental electronic music (sometimes referred to as “ambient”) joins The Film Scorer Podcast! Tim and I primarily talk about his score to the new film Infinity Pool, a psychedelic, nasty ride with an equally wowing, disorienting score. Among the stranger aspects of the score is that Tim actually utilized the sounds of Mediterranean cicadas, spending hours trawling through YouTube for the perfect samples before eventually turning them into a sort of Baltic banjo in a Deliverance homage for the regressive, yet future-forward dystopian mythical island state on which the film takes place. We then get into, among other things, the problematic nature of the “ambient” genre label and our increasing disconnect with music.
I’ve long been a fan of Tim’s music, with it actually acting as a gateway into stranger sounds (and, ironically, into ambient as well), so I jumped at the chance to talk to him about this score. This is actually one of my favorite interviews to date, in part because of how in-depth and candid Tim went into his thoughts on music, the industry, and the changing relationship between listeners and music. This led into a discussion on “ambient”, a genre that he’s often associated with. On this, he said “I object to the idea of the original characterization of ambient as sonic furniture in a room . . . I like music that can function full blast, like almost antagonistically present . . . It’s almost a corporate panacea for our anxious times. I want music to function on a lot higher level than just be a kind of auditory Xanax.”
You can find out more about Tim on his website. Infinity Pool is now available on demand and Tim’s score, as well as many of his other works, is available digitally on all major platforms. Although the score is not available there, most of Tim’s works are available directly through bandcamp.
Have a listen to our conversation below or wherever you get your podcasts (including Spotify and Apple Podcasts).
About Infinity Pool
“While staying at an isolated island resort, James (Alexander Skarsgård) and Em (Cleopatra Coleman) are enjoying a perfect vacation of pristine beaches, exceptional staff, and soaking up the sun. But guided by the seductive and mysterious Gabi (Mia Goth), they venture outside the resort grounds and find themselves in a culture filled with violence, hedonism, and untold horror. A tragic accident leaves them facing a zero tolerance policy for crime: either you’ll be executed, or, if you’re rich enough to afford it, you can watch yourself die instead.” Courtesy of Sony Music Masterworks
Editor’s Note: You can read a review of Tim’s score here.
