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Oli Julian – Kleptomaniacal Music – Scoring The Twits for Netflix
In this episode of Sync Music Matters, I chat with composer Oli Julian, the man behind the gloriously mischievous scoring of The Twits for Netflix
Known for his work on Sex Education and Catastrophe, Oli brings his signature blend of fun, rhythm and emotional punch to Roald Dahl’s anarchic world with a soundtrack he describes as “kleptomaniacal”
The new film, featuring the voices of Margo Martindale and Johnny Vegas as the grotesquely dysfunctional Mr and Mrs Twit, is anything but conventional and neither is its score. Oli takes us behind the scenes of a sonic palette that includes Bulgarian choirs and what he calls “flatulent” baltic brass, giving the film an irreverent and delightfully chaotic tone.
He tells the story of how, during one of his early meetings, he found himself playing the musical saw over Zoom –Â a moment he jokes might have sealed the deal.Â
But beneath the playfulness, there’s a deep sense of craft and authenticity to Oli’s work. We talk about how his first dalliance with making music came in the from of a humble four-track recording of Wonderwall by Oasis.Â
As a drummer, Oli admits he’s “rhythmically led,” and it shows — the propulsive energy of his cues often drives the emotional core of a scene. For him, groove and feel aren’t just musical ideas, they’re emotional anchors.
During our chat, a familiar theme emerges – one shared by so many composers: the importance of authenticity and being confident in what you create.Â
The Twits might be a story about the world’s most horrible couple, but under Oli Julian’s mischievous baton, it’s also a celebration of the beautifully bizarre – proof that even the strangest sounds can make perfect sense when they come from an honest place.
Oli Julian Website
Oli Julian Instagram
(00:00:00) Introduction
(00:03:00) Interview with Oli Julian – What was your path into music?
(00:13:35) Creating a Unique Sound?
(00:15:20) Under The Skin: Scoring The Twits
(00:26:38) Working with David ByrneÂ
(00:28:30) Winning an RTS award (Drama vs Comedy)Â
(00:34:05) Renegade NellÂ
(00:40:46) Getting a TasteÂ
(00:49:41) Quickfire Questions
