Composer Nicholas Britell Talks About Creating The Sounds Of 'Star Wars Andor'

Star Wars

Oct 22

Music so often conveys motifs or themes for people across the board. It certainly has and maintains its own language. In terms of television and film, fans gage scenes based on the music. How are the characters feeling? What is about to happen? Star Wars has a long history of music speaking before the actors even appear on the screen. While fans typically associate Star Wars with large musical scores and fanfare, Andor is offering fans something different. And with the concept of difference in mind, the music has taken on new sounds as well. “It’s about dynamic connections” (Nicholas Britell, starwars.com). While there are larger moments with large music to match, there are also intimate moments, especially with Cassian himself.

Interestingly, Andor in comparison to the other intellectual properties of the franchise does not center on a main villain or a Skywalker. Showrunner, Tony Gilroy wanted to tell a smaller yet significant story. Without these characters and what they do leading up to Rogue One and A New Hope, there would truly be no Star Wars. Everything involved, including the music, is designed to showcase the gritty, grassroots-level ambition of the Rebellion. One interesting notation regarding the sounds is that “all the main titles are different. The first main title sort of sets the stage a bit, but each main title is a variation on that theme. And each time as we go, it’s related sometimes to what we’ve just experienced, and sometimes to what we’re about to experience” (Nicholas Britell, starwars.com). By episode twelve the complete series compiled together will make for a unique soundtrack for the series.

As events unfold, as Cassian learns who he is and is meant to be, the musical score aims to assist in the storytelling effort. As Britell himself explains to starwars.com, “the music, at the very beginning and like, even the first main title theme, for example, there’s like, a question. There’s a pulse, and then there’s another, and it sort of grows, and you are learning what it is as it happens, and then it has a crescendo and then it cuts out.” Fans can feel the energy in episode six, the music is intense, and the viewer feels as if they are on that freighter flying shotgun with Cassian as he pilots the crew to escape. Equally so, the fan is there with him when he leaves Maarva, with music demonstrating his internal conflict.

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