An
exclusive look at the details that went into crafting the film’s synth-heavy
soundtrack
Composer Daniel Lopatin and filmmaker Josh Safdie
sat down with Moog Music to discuss
the soundtrack of ‘Uncut Gems,’ the latest Safdie brothers crime thriller
featuring Adam Sandler, Kevin Garnett, Idina Menzel, and The Weeknd.
Watch
“Behind The Soundtrack: Uncut Gems with Composer Daniel Lopatin”
here:
In
this in-depth documentary, Lopatin details the creative process behind scoring
a film that blends compulsive gambling, cosmic new age music, the NYC Diamond
District, addiction, and the NBA.
“It
needs to be majestic. It needs to be rich. It needs to be new. It needs to feel
like it can’t be transient. It can’t be small. So I was always really, really
trying to find through that alchemical process what textures would
emerge…You’re just praying for those moments. And when they happen, you just
hold onto them for dear life.” – Daniel Lopatin
Moog began a dialogue with Lopatin at the beginning of the scoring process, which coincided with the artist’s initial exploration of the Moog One synthesizer. Through studio visits and sound design, Moog and Lopatin developed a synergy that helped birth the unique sounds the composer had envisioned for the film’s soundtrack—sounds that nod to the synth-heavy scores and compositions of electronic music icons. This kind of creative collaboration, the instrument company notes, has always been the heart and soul of its business.
The ‘Uncut Gems’ soundtrack was released in December on Warp Records.
subscribe to Moog Music’s YouTube channel to be notified about more releases like this.
About
Uncut Gems:
From
acclaimed filmmakers Josh and Benny Safdie comes an electrifying crime thriller
about Howard Ratner (Adam Sandler), a charismatic New York City jeweler always
on the lookout for the next big score. When he makes a series of high-stakes
bets that could lead to the windfall of a lifetime, Howard must perform a
precarious high-wire act, balancing business, family, and encroaching
adversaries on all sides, in his relentless pursuit of the ultimate win. (Source:
A24)
Following a record-setting US opening this December, Uncut Gems will be released theatrically Friday Jan 10 and streaming internationally Jan 31 via Netflix. The film stars Adam Sandler, NBA Champion Kevin Garnett, Lakeith Stanfield, Idina Menzel, Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye, and Julia Fox, and has screened to rapturous response from critics and audiences at the Telluride, Toronto and New York film festivals, winning awards from New York Film Critics Circle and National Board of Review as well as being named New York Magazine’s best film of the year and 200+ other Best of 2019 lists. (Source: A24)
About
Daniel Lopatin:
Daniel
Lopatin is a Brooklyn-based musician, composer, and Mercury Prize nominated
producer who also records and performs as Oneohtrix Point Never. Daniel has
released numerous critically acclaimed albums, including his most recent Age
Of (2018, Warp Records). In 2018 he premiered a sold-out live multimedia
concert MYRIAD composed from Age Of at the Park Avenue Armory
(New York) followed by sold-out performances at prestigious venues worldwide
including The Barbican, London and Walt Disney Concert Hall, Los Angeles.
His
original film scores include Josh and Benny Safdie’s Uncut Gems (2019)
and Good Time (2017) for which he received the Best Soundtrack Award
at the 2017 Cannes Film Festival, and Ariel Kleiman’s Partisan (2015).
His other film work includes contributions to Rick Alverson’s The Mountain
(2019) and Sofia Coppola’s The Bling Ring (2013).
Lopatin
has been commissioned and exhibited by Sadie Coles HQ, London (2019), The Park
Avenue Armory, New York (2018), Frieze Projects New York (2017); Hammer Museum,
Los Angeles (2016); Holland Festival (2014); Tate Britain, London and MoMA PS1,
New York (both 2013); Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Washington, D.C.,
and Saatchi & Saatchi, London (both 2012); and The Museum of Modern Art,
New York (2011) among others. He has collaborated with numerous artists
including James Blake, Ishmael Butler, Kelsey Lu, Iggy Pop and his production
credits include Anohni, FKA Twigs, David Byrne and Nine Inch Nails among
others.
Follow Moog Music
Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube
Follow Daniel Lopatin