In this episode I’m talking to Award Winning TV, Film and Theatre composer and sound designer Isobel Waller-Bridge.

In this episode of Sync Music Matters Isobel reveals how she finds musical inspiration in anything but music. In fact when talking about inspiration, she references people like Francis Bacon, Tilda Swinton and Anne Carson. 

But Isobel also shares her love for composers like Ennio Moriccone, Danny Elfman, Gustav Mahler and Wendy Carlos amongst others. 

We also dig into the prevalence of drone based music in modern film score and her love for it… as well as Detroit Techno. 

We go under the skin with her work on the Netflix series Munich: The Edge of War as well as her recent project with the Philharmonia as part of their climate change season. 

We also talk about her electronic score for Vita and Virginia and how the instructions from director Chanya Button were “lazers and no piano!”

Isobel Waller-Bridge’s recent TV soundtracks include, Emma, Black Mirror – Rachel Jack and Ashley Too, Vanity Fair, Vita & Virginia, The Split and Fleabag. And recent theatre credits include Woyzeck at the Old Vic and Knives in Hens at the Donmar Warehouse

Isobel’s eclectic scores move seamlessly between sweeping orchestral and analogue electronica, often blurring the lines between music and sound design.

She won Best Composer at Underwire Film Festival and winner of Best Sound Designer at Off West End Theatre Awards

Film Scores by Isobel Waller Bridge

Munich – The Edge of War OST

Emma OST

Vita and Virginia OST

Have a listen to some of the music that has inspired Isobel Waller-Bridge

George Benjamin

Silvina Milstein

Let it Be – The Beatles 

Emma  

Atonement – 

Ennio Moriccone

PJ Harvey

Danny Elfman

Danny Elfman – Edward Scissorhands (OST)

The Social Network 

Thomas Newman – American Beauty OST

Hans Zimmer – Dune OST 

Daniel Avery 

John Hopkins

Bernard Hermman – Taxi Driver OST

Hildur Guðnadóttir – Joker (OST) 

Mica Levy – Monos 

Jóhann Jóhannsson – Sicario OST

Jóhann Jóhannsson – Arrival (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

John Williams – E.T. The Extra Terrestrial 

Wendy Carlos – The Shining 

Wendy Carlos – Clockwork Orange

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs